I often meet clients who are deeply scarred by remarks made by their peers during childhood. I have overheard conversations between youngsters who are encouraging their peers to treat a peer different/or use a label. Now,while I agree that such situations can toughen us, build resilience and even help us choose friends, I strongly believe that it is also important for children to learn and practice empathy- one of the major components of emotional intelligence. To impart these skills at an early age, parents can help children to label different emotions, and to identify body cues. For instance, how do I know someone is hurt or angry or upset? Parents can label their own emotions, rather than only using “NO” statements, while communicating boundaries to children. Story books can help children understand concepts such as body language, kindness and compassion. Choose online content which has a sense of purpose, for instance, movies like “Inside Out” have a strong storyline relating to emotions. Respond with patience when a child is upset rather than showing anger. Whenever you witness unfair treatment towards another child, gently intervene, without making either of the children feel like they are in the spotlight. Use opportunities both in real life as well as stories to educate them about how to sustain good quality relationships. It’s the foundation that we lay in childhood that creates anchors for stable adult relationships.