UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Michele Borba

In our current all-about-me culture, more and more children have become absorbed in their own selfie-obsessed world filled with technology, distractions, and peer pressure. To help these kids become responsible, kind, and helpful citizens, renowned educational psychologist Michele Borba has written the book UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World.

In UnSelfie, Borba highlights the importance of developing empathy among our children, pointing out how it has become an important characteristic that adults are now seeking. She dives into the scientific evidence supporting the need for empathy in our lives and explains her nine “empathy-building road trip map” including nine tools that adults can use to teach children to become more empathetic. Borba also addresses a number of topics surrounding the need for children to be aware of their own emotions and how to interact with each other and adults in a respectful manner.

Borba explains that adults have a key role in developing empathy in children, and she provides them with tips and strategies to do so. Borba puts emphasis on the need for parents and educators to lead by example and she shows them how to recognize an empathy deficiency, as well as introduce children to different types of people, cultures, and opposing viewpoints. She explains the importance of making sure children have good role models and engage in conversations to broaden their understanding of the world. Moreover, Borba emphasizes the need to create an environment in which children can develop trust, play respectfully, and nurture meaningful relationships.

Borba stresses the benefits of empathy, namely the ability to drive innovation, creativity, better relationships and team collaboration, while reducing anxiety, bullying, judgment, and misunderstanding. She explains that empathy can result in children being more forgiving, understanding, responsible, kind and generous, and also advocates for teaching children to exercise emotional intelligence and regulate their own feelings.

Finally, Borba emphasizes the importance of developing resiliency in our children, which she claims is the key to success in school and life. She explains the concept of “bouncing back” and provides guidelines for adults to instill the values of self-confidence, persistence, and a positive attitude in their kids.

In UnSelfie, Borba demonstrates how empathy can be the foundation for raising socially responsible children, and she provides us with the tools and resources to nurture more compassionate citizens. The book is essential reading for all parents, educators, and caregivers looking to teach children to embrace the power of empathy and make a positive difference in the world.