4 REASONS WHY LEARNING PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IS IMPORTANT FOR KIDS

Maple Bear Nursery discusses the value of teaching children prosocial behaviour, at school and in life, to create a kinder, brighter future.

If you listen to experts anywhere these days, you will no doubt hear some discussion around the fact that it is only a matter of time until robots replace humans. We are told that automation is transforming the workplace, and consequently, that the jobs and societies of the future are unlike the world we are currently familiar with. Yet, we all know that, no matter how many robots we may inundate our world with, there are human traits that simply cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence. These traits are the ones that humanity inherently depends on: creativity, love and kindness.

WHAT IS PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR?

Collectively, these innate human senses and behaviours can be defined as prosocial behaviour. It may also be defined as the inclination to do something for someone else, to care about people's feelings and to recognise one's own impact on the planet and the creatures we share it with. Essentially prosocial behaviour can be thought of as voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another person. In an increasingly individualistic world, nurturing prosocial behaviour in children is one of the most impactful ways educators can help the next generation connect and care for others and the environment.

Below, we discuss four reasons why Maple Bear Nursery regards teaching prosocial behaviour as a critical part of empowering children to build a better future.

DEVELOPING EMPATHY