There’s a buzz in the air and it’s getting louder : the countdown for Empathy Day has been running and it’s nearly here! After a tough year, a celebration focusing on encouraging empathy and therefore, kindness, tolerance and understanding, is just what’s needed.

Organisers EmpathyLab have pulled out all the stops, with the aim of this year’s activities being to encourage children across the UK to walk in someone else’s shoes. There’s an amazing line-up of events planned including includes free online events with Joseph Coehlo, A.M.Dassu, Michelle Robinson, Jay Hulme, Patrice Lawrence, Nathan Byron, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Bali Rai, Holly Bourne, Rob Biddulph, Cressida Cowell, Michael Rosen, Michael Morpurgo and Jacqueline Wilson. 

Launched by Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, the Empathy Day LIVE! programme takes audiences through three key steps: READ, CONNECT and ACT. It includes an Empathy Day draw along with Rob Biddulph; an “authors’ secrets” creative writing session with Malorie Blackman, Bali Rai and Holly Bourne; an Empathy Mirror body language game with A. M. Dassu and Adisa; making empathy resolutions with Nathan Bryon and Rashmi Sirdeshpande; and a listening lunch with Jacqueline Wilson. Michelle Robinson, Jay Hulme and Patrice Lawrence will run an Empathy Exhibition learning more about each other by sharing precious objects.

For adults, there’s a cutting-edge evening conversation with authors Catherine Johnson, Michael Rosen and David Baddiel. They will talk with Professor Dr Robin Banerjee, an expert in developmental psychology, about the role of empathy in society and using books to nurture young people’s empathy skills. Other free resources available to children and families in the run-up to the event include a newly-commissioned Empathy short story series, Empathy Illustrations and this year’s family activity pack. The 2021 Empathy Reads collection also features 50 specially chosen books for 4-16 years olds that help young people develop their empathy skills- download the lists here.

All Empathy Day LIVE! events can be watched live on EmpathyLab website and will be available to view after the event too. All in all, it’s not to be missed – for empathy, for amazing enrichment and for a celebration of stories.