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Creating Compassion: Using Art for Empathy Learning with Urban Youth
Laura J Morizio1, Amy L Cook1, Rebecca Troeger1
1Department of Counseling & School Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125 USA.
Contemporary School Psychology
|January 20, 2021
Summary
Creative activities in the Creating Compassion curriculum modestly improved social-emotional skills like empathy in young children. This approach offers accessible social-emotional learning (SEL) for diverse, low-income populations.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Educational Psychology
- Creative Arts Therapies
Background:
- Social-emotional learning (SEL) is crucial for young children's development.
- Comprehensive SEL programs face accessibility barriers (cost, time).
- Creative activities offer a potential avenue for accessible SEL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the use of creative activities in promoting empathy and other social-emotional skills in early elementary children.
- To investigate the effectiveness of the novel 'Creating Compassion' curriculum.
- To examine the impact on children from low-income, racially minoritized backgrounds.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory case study design was employed.
- A novel curriculum combining art engagement and behavioral instruction was implemented.
- Data collected included group-level and individual behavior ratings for five kindergarten and first-grade children.
Main Results:
- A modest increase in empathy development was observed.
- Preliminary evidence suggests improvements in responsible decision-making and self-management skills.
- The 'Creating Compassion' curriculum shows promise for SEL skill development.
Conclusions:
- Creative activity, integrated into a structured curriculum, can support social-emotional skill development.
- The 'Creating Compassion' curriculum is a promising, accessible approach for SEL, particularly for underserved populations.
- Further research is warranted to investigate the effectiveness and social justice implications of this approach.
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