Helps children accept their negative feelings. Raises children's self-esteem. Promotes warmth in relationships. To be empathic is also to acknowledge what the other person is saying without value judgments and without putting conditions or limits on what the person experiences. To be empathic is also to be yourself and be open.
Children can see through facades, fronts, and images.
Being open with your feelings, shows the child can be open with hers or his. This does not mean disclosing everything you know, think, or feel. Read the Active Listening Example.