Kids + Arts Camps = Empathy

We’re talking a lot about gratitude this year, and in order for kids to understand gratitude, they must first understand other’s people’s feelings. The more they can feel what others feel, the more empathy they have. If they feel empathy, they’re more likely to want to help people because they’ll put themselves in another person’s shoes, as the saying goes. But how do you nurture empathy in kids? How do you encourage them to care about others?

Some local Beijing artists have ideas, and it starts with the winter camps they offer.

Tie is the program director at TIE Family Club, a language and art center driven by the desire to transform lives and improve communities through language and art. He believes that empathy serves an even bigger purpose to “help children to build a sense of security and stronger relationships with other children.” The arts can help, he says, because “art is intertwined with feelings, emotions, and creativity, therefore it can induce greater empathy in people, especially children.”

His winter camps integrate storytelling, music, and drawing, all to help children observe and experience the world around them. He’ll use illustrations to “focus on the expressions of the characters and try to feel their feelings; music stimulates the autonomic nervous system which controls feelings and emotions, so they will feel connected and feel empathy,” and the entire camp builds not just on their skills as artists but will also have “transformative powers for building empathy,” Tie claims.

Research backs him up. We sing in a soothing voice to even the youngest babies so they will feel our calmness and mimic the feeling. I’ll never forget holding my nine-month-old close when I was upset and feeling the soft pat pat of his hand on my back, helping me to feel better the way I helped him.

Yet children need to understand and process their own emotions as well, and that’s where Martina Morrocchi, a theatre director, writer, actress, and teacher hopes her English art, acting, and writing camp can help. “Art is the way to let people think secretly about emotions. You don’t have to share; you can, but you can also use metaphors and keep your secrets. This is why art is the best way to let kids discover emotions and empathy because it is a delicate way to let them express without the need for talking.”

Based on children expressing their freedom and creativity, Morrocchi explains how her camps “give [students]the tools but we don’t ask them to follow a specific path, so they have to work in teams, respect each other, and understand when it is time to have a private moment or when is time, [to work with your team]. Students learn how to listen, understand, brainstorm, find a deal — even if they don’t agree sometimes they have to let it go — and even students that have a strong attitude will start to understand [that being]strong is not the only way.”

Knowing how to recognize and manage your own emotions will also help you see other people’s feelings for what they are, and perhaps even know how you might help them. In a winter break when we aren’t able to travel as far as we’d like and we might be settling into many more months of staying put, helping your kids comprehend how their own mental health could even help their friends might be just what the artists ordered.

See information about Tie and Morrochhi’s winter camps below, as well as a few others that can stimulate artistic and scientific expression in your child.

TIE Family Club 2020 Christmas Camp: Storytelling, Music, and Arts

Who: Ages 7-12 
When: Dec 28-Jan 1 (10am-3.30pm)
Where: Today Art Museum
What: Storytelling: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; guitar time; and Pastel Nagomi art workshops
Fee: RMB 3,900-4,100*
*Half days available. Full camp days include lunch and snacks.
WeChat ID: TieFamilyClub
Tel: 135 2218 6203

Who: Ages 6-10 
When: Dec 21-31
Where: Xingfuyicun Xili Lianbao Garden 5-2C, 北京市朝阳区幸福村中路联宝公寓5号楼2C
What: English Art & Acting
Fee: Scan QR code for info
Tel: 185 1470 0179

Who: Ages 11-17
When: Dec 21-31
Where: Xingfuyicun Xili Lianbao Garden 5-2C, 北京市朝阳区幸福村中路联宝公寓5号楼2C
What: English Art & Acting
Fee: Scan QR code for info
Tel: 185 1470 0179

Montessori Toddler Winter Camp
Who: 18 months – 3 years
When: Dec 21-25 (9am-12.15pm). Snack and lunch included.
Dec 28-31 (9am-12.15pm). Snack and lunch included.
Where: The Children’s House International Kindergarten, Haofeng Sports Park, Yaojiayuan north road, Chaoyang (in sports park) (朝阳区姚家园北路豪丰体育公园内巧智博仁国际幼儿园)
Fees: RMB 1,750 1st week, RMB 1,400 2nd week
Tel: 139 1070 6224 or Scan QR code

The Children’s House: Scout’s Honor
Who: Ages 3-6
What: The Children’s House is pairing with TTCLUB International Scouts to solve age-appropriate problems and tasks, such as directional tracking, Roman chariots, tent-building, and so much more.
When: Dec 21-25 (9am-3pm) Snacks and lunch included.
Where: The Children’s House International Kindergarten, Haofeng Sports Park, Yaojiayuan north road, Chaoyang (in sports park) (朝阳区姚家园北路豪丰体育公园内巧智博仁国际幼儿园)
Fees: RMB 3,500
How: 139 1070 6224 or scan QR code

The Children’s House: Chinese Treasures
Who: Ages 3-6
What: Children will experience rich and colorful activities, such as the Chinese tea ceremony, Beijing opera, shadow puppetry,  and the carefully designed architecture of famous landmarks. There’s also a surprise field trip.
When: Dec 28-31 (9am–3pm). Snacks and lunch included.
Where: The Children’s House International Kindergarten, Haofeng Sports Park, Yaojiayuan north road, Chaoyang (in sports park) (朝阳区姚家园北路豪丰体育公园内巧智博仁国际幼儿园)
Fees: RMB 3,000
How: 139 1070 6224 or scan QR code

What: Stop Motion Animation Workshop
Who: Ages 8-12
When: Dec 26-Jan1 (7 days, includes the opening and closing day)
Where: Xizhou, Dali
Fee: RMB 12,800/student, RMB 3,800/accompanying parent, RMB 5,800/two accompanying parents (includes teaching, teaching materials, family activities, accommodation and meals in LC hotels, innovation education seminars; excludes transportation to Xizhou)
How: Scan QR code below