How parents can help children practice empathy in a digital world Buffy Swinehart for Aflac Nov 9, 2026 Nov 9, 2026 Updated 4 mins ago 0 A group of people putting hands up in heart signs in the air. Studio Romantic // Shutterstock Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Buffy Swinehart for Aflac kAmt>A2E9J :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E =6DD@?D J@F 42? E6249 E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@?] (96? D@>6@?6 :D DECF88=:?8[ :E :D?VE 2=H2JD 62DJ E@ <?@H E96 C:89E E9:?8 E@ D2J @C 5@[ 2?5 D@>6E:>6D :EVD 6G6? 92C56C E@ C64@8?:K6 H96? DFAA@CE :D ?66565] r9:=5C6? 2C6 DE:== =62C?:?8 9@H E@ ?2G:82E6 E9@D6 >@>6?ED] x? E@52JVD 5:8:E2= H@C=5[ H96C6 :?E6C24E:@?D @7E6? 92AA6? E9C@F89 D4C66?D[ 56G6=@A:?8 E96 23:=:EJ E@ F?56CDE2?5 2?@E96C A6CD@?VD 766=:?8D[ A6CDA64E:G6[ 2?5 6IA6C:6?46D 364@>6D 6G6? >@C6 6DD6?E:2=] qJ E6249:?8 6>A2E9J 62C=J[ J@F 42? 96=A 49:=5C6? 3F:=5 DEC@?86C C6=2E:@?D9:AD[ D9@H 4@>A2DD:@? 7@C @E96CD[ 2?5 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ 2 <:?56C H@C=5]k^Am People are also reading… Pilot and passenger die in small plane crash near Hamburg Clarinda volleyball celebrates 21-win season, honors top performers at annual banquet What you need to know about Shenandoah adding high school soccer Shenandoah's new esports program already making history, state tournament next 9 from Shenandoah receive WIC Academic All-Conference award Shenandoah Cheerleaders 'hit zero' in competition debut Clarinda cheerleaders prepare for performances in Hawaii, Florida Shenandoah volleyball celebrates big strides, standout players at season-ending banquet What will Rob Sand do as Iowa governor? His record offers clues 3 area players reach state to highlight tennis season Green, Scamman earn all-conference recognition Susan Smith seeks release 32 years after killing sons Shenandoah's O'Rourke runs personal best in 2nd state XC appearance 3 injured after pickup rear-ends horse and buggy in Ringgold County Page, Fremont County voters show up on Election Day kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]27=24]4@>^23@FE\27=24^4@CA@C2E6\D@4:2=\C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ^36J@?5\H@C5D^Qmpfl24k^2m 6IA=2:?D 7:G6 5:776C6?E H2JD E92E A2C6?ED 42? E6249 E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ D9@H 4@>A2DD:@? 2?5 6>A2E9J 5FC:?8 (@C=5 z:?5?6DD (66< W}@G] h\`b[ a_aeX 2?5 6G6CJ 52J[ 2?5 H9J E96 H@C5D J@F 49@@D6 :? 52:=J 4@?G6CD2E:@?D >2EE6C]k^Amk9bmpD< BF6DE:@?D 2?5 E2=< E9C@F89 C62=:DE:4 D:EF2E:@?D E@ 96=A 2G@:5 4@?7FD:@?  k^9bmkAm#2E96C E92? D:>A=J E6==:?8 49:=5C6? E@ Q36 C6DA64E7F=[Q 96=A E96> E9:?< k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]65F]4@>^3=@8^9@H\E@\E6249\<:5D\E@\EC62E\6G6CJ@?6\H:E9\C6DA64E\2\E62496C\D\AC24E:42=\8F:56QmE9C@F89 C62=\=:76 D:EF2E:@?Dk^2m] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :7 2 4=2DD>2E6 D66>D BF:6E[ H:E95C2H?[ @C D9@CE\E6>A6C65[ 6?4@FC286 49:=5C6? ?@E E@ ;F>A E@ 4@?4=FD:@?D] x?DE625[ E96J >:89E 2D< E96>D6=G6D[ Qr@F=5 D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 36 8@:?8 @?nQ @C D:>A=J 4964< :? H:E9 2 <:?5 BF6DE:@?] w6=A:?8 49:=5C6? A2FD6[ 4@?D:56C 2?@E96C A6CD@?VD A6CDA64E:G6[ 2?5 =625 H:E9 4@>A2DD:@? E62496D E96> E92E 6>A2E9J :D =6DD 23@FE 92G:?8 E96 A6C764E C6DA@?D6 2?5 >@C6 23@FE >2<:?8 D@>6@?6 766= D66? 2?5 F?56CDE@@5]k^Am k9bms6>@?DEC2E6 6>A2E9J 2?5 <:?5?6DD 2E 9@>6k^9bmkAmr9:=5C6? 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D4:6?46:?D:89ED]@C8^>@56=:?8\:?\49:=5\56G6=@A>6?E\9@H\<:5D\=62C?\3J\H2E49:?8^QmA:4< FA @? ?@?G6C32= 4F6Dk^2m E92E 25F=ED FD6 E@ :?E6C24E H:E9 @E96CD[ 7C@> 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J >6>36CD E@ ?6:893@CD 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ H@C<6CD] |@56=:?8 2AAC@AC:2E6 3692G:@CD :? 6G6CJ52J :?DE2?46D >2J 96=A 49:=5C6? D66 9@H @E96CD =:DE6? H:E9@FE :?E6CCFAE:?8[ 2A@=@8:K6 H96? 2 >:DE2<6 92D 366? >256 2?5 @776C 2 <:?5 86DEFC6 H:E9@FE 36:?8 2D<65]k^AmkAms6>@?DEC2E6 E92E 6>@E:@?D 2C6 A@H6C7F= E@@=D[ E@@[ 2?5 42? 36 2 8F:56 E@ 96=A 49:=5C6? 492??6= 96=A7F= 766=:?8D] p E9@F89E7F= H@C5 42? >2<6 2 5:776C6?46[ 3FE 6>A2E9J :D D66? >@DE :? 9@H J@F D9@H FA 7@C @E96CD] r9:=5C6? 42? =6G6C286 E96D6 766=:?8D :?E@ 24E:@?]k^Am k9bm&D6 3@@<D E@ 96=A 49:=5C6? D66 E96 H@C=5 E9C@F89 D@>6@?6 6=D6’D 6J6Dk^9bm Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= {:3C2CJ @7 |65:4:?6[ 3@@<D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|rebf_fab^Qm@?6D E92E 7@DE6C D@4:2=\6>@E:@?2= =62C?:?8k^2m[ 96=A 49:=5C6? 6?4@F?E6C :?E6C24E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C @H? 52:=J =:G6D] $E@C:6D E92E E9@F89E7F==J 6IA=@C6 7C:6?5D9:A[ 7CFDEC2E:@?[ 72:C?6DD[ 36=@?8:?8[ 2?5 C6DE@C2E:@? 96=A 8:G6 J@F?8 C6256CD 2 D276 H2J E@ 6?4@F?E6C D@4:2= 2?5 6>@E:@?2= 492==6?86D] %9C@F89 492C24E6CD[ 49:=5C6? 42? D66 E92E 766=:?8D 2C6 ?@C>2=[ E92E A6@A=6 >2J C6DA@?5 5:776C6?E=J E@ E96 D2>6 6G6?E[ 2?5 E92E C6=2E:@?D9:AD 42? C64@G6C 27E6C 2 >:DE2<6]k^Am kAmp7E6C 7:?:D9:?8 2 DE@CJ[ 4@??64E :ED E96>6D E@ 6G6CJ52J D:EF2E:@?D] pD< H92E 2 492C24E6C >:89E D2J E@ :?4=F56 D@>6@?6[ 9@H E96J 4@F=5 2A@=@8:K6[ @C H92E >:89E 96=A E96> 42=> 5@H? :7 E96J 2C6 766=:?8 2?I:@FD] %96D6 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 96=A 3C:586 E96 82A 36EH66? F?56CDE2?5:?8 <:?5?6DD :? 2 DE@CJ 2?5 AC24E:4:?8 :E :? C62= =:76]k^Am k9bmqF:=5 <:?5?6DD :?E@ @C5:?2CJ 72>:=J =:76k^9bmkAm(96? 49:=5C6? 2C6 5:28?@D65 H:E9 2 D6C:@FD :==?6DD[ >2?J >2J ?@E <?@H E96 C:89E H@C5D @C 24E:@?D E@ 6IAC6DD 6>A2E9J 2?5 4@>A2DD:@?] x? 255:E:@? E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D:4<=646==2?6>:2?6HD]4@>^?6HD^?6H\27=24\49:=5C6?D\3@@<\DFAA@CED\J@F?8DE6CD\D45\42?46C^RTbpTftTbpE6IETbsTafq6J@?5Ta_(@C5DTafTa_D9@HDTa_9@HTa_6>A2E9JTarTarTa_y2A2?TarTa_2?5Ta_}@CE96C?Ta_xC6=2?5QmFD:?8 49:=5C6?’D 3@@<D E@ C2:D6 2H2C6?6DDk^2m 23@FE DA64:7:4 42FD6D[ DF49 2D 42?46C @C D:4<=6 46== 5:D62D6[ E96C6 2C6 >JC:25 D>2== 24ED @7 <:?5?6DD 49:=5C6? 42? AC24E:46 E@ 96=A 62D6 E96 2?I:6EJ 7@C 49:=5C6? F?56C8@:?8 EC62E>6?E 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D H9:=6 DFAA@CE:?8 E96 4@>>F?:E:6D :?G@=G65[ >2?J @7 H9:49 42? 36 5@?6 2D 2 72>:=J[ :?4=F5:?8ik^Am kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ66c4h5gh3b34372c4g73`ceba3dbe7bcdQm(C:E6 E92?<\J@F ?@E6D E@86E96C[ ?@E @?=J 7@C 8:7ED[ 3FE 2=D@ 7@C D@>6@?6’D E:>6 @C E9@F89E7F=?6DD]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ63ga636a3gfe62`dge62gc2_3b3caaahbQmv:G6 2 9F8[ 2 9:89\7:G6 @C 2 D>:=6 E@ 3C:89E6? D@>6@?6’D 52J]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65a35a5bahb7b2g6d7aabf5dbbaeae_72Qm~776C E@ 96=A 2 ?6:893@C 42CCJ 8C@46C:6D[ 3C:?8 2 >62= E@ 2 7C:6?5[ @C DA6?5 E:>6 H:E9 2 4=2DD>2E6 E@ >2<6 E96> 766= DA64:2=]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ64gg_a24be2c63774_``ahachhec2e``7Qmr@?D:56C G@=F?E66C:?8 2D 2 72>:=J 2?5 49@@D6 2? 24E:G:EJ 49:=5C6? 42? F?56CDE2?5 2?5 E2<6 A2CE :?[ DF49 2D D@CE:?8 5@?2E:@?D @C 96=A:?8 2E 2 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?E]k^=:mk^F=m k9bm}FCEFC6 <:?5?6DD 2?5 96=A :E 8C@Hk^9bm kAmr9:=5C6? >2J 766= 6?4@FC2865 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D:>A=JADJ49@=@8J]@C8^A@D:E:G6\C6:?7@C46>6?E]9E>=QmC6A62E A@D:E:G6 3692G:@CDk^2m H96? 25F=ED ?@E:46 :E DA64:7:42==J] r9@@D6 2 E:>6[ DF49 2D 2E 5:??6C @C 365E:>6[ E@ 92G6 49:=5C6? D92C6 @?6 <:?5 24E E96J 82G6[ C646:G65 @C H:E?6DD65] |2<6 DA246 7@C D>2== 6I2>A=6D 2?5 D92C6 255:E:@?2= H2JD E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96 86DEFC6 =@?8 27E6C E96 24E :D 4@>A=6E65]k^AmkAm#64@8?:K:?8 H96? D@>6@?6 >2J ?665 DFAA@CE :D @?=J E96 7:CDE DE6A] t>A2E9J 4@>6D E@ =:76 H96? 49:=5C6? EFC? E92E 2H2C6?6DD :?E@ 24E:@?] $>2== 86DEFC6D[ =:<6 :?G:E:?8 2 4=2DD>2E6 E@ ;@:? 2 82>6[ >2<:?8 C@@> 2E E96 =F?49 E23=6[ @C 4964<:?8 :? @? 2 7C:6?5[ 42? >2<6 2 >62?:?87F= 5:776C6?46] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ E6249:?8 49:=5C6? E@ =:DE6?[ 7@==@H 4F6D[ 2?5 >66E 7C:6?5D H96C6 E96J 2C6 96=AD E96> F?56CDE2?5 E92E ECF6 6>A2E9J 368:?D H:E9 F?56CDE2?5:?8 C2E96C E92? 2DDF>AE:@?D]k^Am kAmu@C A2C6?ED 2?5 72>:=:6D[ E96 <:?5 @7 6>@E:@?2= DFAA@CE E92E 4@DED ?@ >@?6J 42? 92AA6? 6G6CJ 52J] }@G] h DE2CED (@C=5 z:?5?6DD (66<[ 3FE 6G6CJ52J <:?5?6DD <?@HD ?@ 3@F?5D] tG6CJ >@>6?E :D 2 492?46 E@ >2<6 D@>6@?6 6=D6 766= 36EE6C]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HDC@@>]27=24]4@>^q6J@?5\(@C5D\p\49:=5C6?D\3@@<\E92E\4@>7@CED\2?5\8:G6D\324<Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]27=24]4@>^23@FE\27=24^4@CA@C2E6\D@4:2=\C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ^36J@?5\H@C5D^Qmk6>mpfl24k^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am 0 Comments Originally published on newsroom.aflac.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular The Kid Whisperer: Families are hierarchies, led by adults What a strange world we live in that I have to make the point that adults are the heads of their households. The evidence for the apparent nee… Searching for your next home? Now you can see nearby childcare options The 74 reports that Redfin has partnered with Winnie to integrate childcare options into property listings, aiding homebuyers in finding nearb… Survey finds working moms are not getting the support they need to breastfeed Aeroflow Breastpumps reports that a survey reveals many working mothers lack support for breastfeeding at work, with 79% wanting to continue b… The Kid Whisperer: How to take away entitled parents’ ability to be right Dear Kid Whisperer, I am at a school with a demographic that has quite a few entitled students who don't think the rules apply to them, and so… America’s caregiver crisis is also a mental health crisis BetterHelp reports America’s caregiver crisis doubles as a mental health crisis, with 63 million caregivers facing emotional and financial strain.
The Kid Whisperer: Families are hierarchies, led by adults What a strange world we live in that I have to make the point that adults are the heads of their households. The evidence for the apparent nee…
Searching for your next home? Now you can see nearby childcare options The 74 reports that Redfin has partnered with Winnie to integrate childcare options into property listings, aiding homebuyers in finding nearb…
Survey finds working moms are not getting the support they need to breastfeed Aeroflow Breastpumps reports that a survey reveals many working mothers lack support for breastfeeding at work, with 79% wanting to continue b…
The Kid Whisperer: How to take away entitled parents’ ability to be right Dear Kid Whisperer, I am at a school with a demographic that has quite a few entitled students who don't think the rules apply to them, and so…
America’s caregiver crisis is also a mental health crisis BetterHelp reports America’s caregiver crisis doubles as a mental health crisis, with 63 million caregivers facing emotional and financial strain.
