How Reading Builds Empathy in Children: Storytelling Activities for Schools

Have you ever finished a book with your child or student, only to discover they suddenly see things a bit differently—maybe more patiently with a classmate, or more curious about someone else’s feelings? I’ve watched it happen countless times: a story opens the door for a conversation about empathy that might never have happened otherwise.

Stories give kids a safe way to step into someone else’s shoes. They’re not just reading about magical lands or exciting adventures—they’re practicing what it means to see the world through a different lens. I’ve found that when I share a story during an Abracabully assembly, students light up with understanding, making connections between the characters’ challenges and their own lives.

So, how can we use stories as a pathway to empathy?

• Read diverse stories together: Choose books with characters from different backgrounds, facing a wide range of challenges and joys. After finishing, ask, “How do you think they felt?”
• Pause and reflect: When a character faces a tough choice, stop and discuss: “What would you do? How would you feel in that situation?”
• Connect stories to real life: Bring stories into discussions about friendship, conflict, or inclusion at school. It helps children make those compassionate leaps from fiction to reality.
• Create your own stories: Invite children to imagine another person’s point of view and write a short story or draw a picture about what that character might experience.

It’s amazing to see how quickly understanding can grow when kids are encouraged to imagine life from different angles. Suddenly, differences become a source of curiosity rather than confusion. These skills—empathy, perspective-taking, understanding—don’t just help students get along, they lay the groundwork for compassionate communities, both in and out of school.

If you want to bring these kinds of conversations to your students or school, my anti-bullying and character development assemblies use magic and storytelling to inspire empathy and kindness in a fun, impactful way. You can read more about the programs and request details right on my programs page.

Thank you for championing stories that open hearts and minds. Together, we’re raising readers—and empathetic citizens—one page at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can reading help children practice empathy?

Stories invite children to consider another person’s feelings, choices, and experiences. Discussion helps connect those ideas with everyday friendships.

What questions can teachers ask during a read-aloud?

Ask “How do you think they felt?”, “What would you do?”, and “How would you feel in that situation?” Pause at meaningful choices and invite different perspectives.

Bring an Educational Assembly to Your School

Explore Words & Wands, a reading and magic assembly for schools in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Ask Mike about your date or call 866-479-1110.

By Michael Kirschner, school assembly presenter.