The Big Idea: Showing kids that their friends can be different from themselves helps them to develop empathy. They’ll learn to appreciate what others like and how others feel.
Launch Bert & Ernie: Two Best Buddies
- Read the story together, then go back through the pages and find some of the differences between Bert and Ernie. You might ask, “What does Bert like that Ernie doesn’t?” or “What makes Ernie laugh but not Bert?”
- Let kids know that friends don’t have to be the same. Tell kids about something new and different a friend has helped you discover (for instance, a recipe or a hobby). Ask kids if they are exactly the same as their friends or siblings. What different likes, hobbies, or skills do they have? Have they tried anything new because of these differences?