Empathy isn't just a "nice to have" soft skill. Research consistently shows that kids with higher emotional intelligence (EQ) perform better in school, have healthier friendships, and are less likely to engage in cyberbullying. When we choose media intentionally, we’re moving from "passive consumption" to "active perspective-taking."

Parents love to hate Roblox. Between the constant "Can I have Robux?" requests and the blocky, chaotic graphics, it’s easy to dismiss it as a waste of time.

However, games like Adopt Me! or Brookhaven are essentially massive, digital dollhouses. When kids roleplay, they are practicing social scripts. They’re negotiating who gets to be the "parent," how to share a "house," and how to react when someone "breaks a rule" in their imaginary world.

Is it teaching them entrepreneurship? Sometimes. Is it draining your bank account? If you don’t have your password saved, yes. But is it teaching them how to navigate the messy feelings of other people? Surprisingly, yes.

Check out our guide on setting up Roblox parental controls to keep the social stuff safe

Ages 10+ This game is stunning. You play as Stella, a "ferrymaster" to the deceased. You build a boat, care for your spirit friends, and eventually, you have to help them move on. It forces players to listen to characters' backstories, understand their regrets, and provide comfort. It’s the ultimate antidote to the "shoot 'em up" genre.

Ages 8+ There is no dialogue in this game. You simply unpack boxes as a character moves through different stages of their life—from a childhood bedroom to a college dorm to a first apartment with a partner. You learn about the character’s joys and heartbreaks just by seeing what they keep and what they hide. It’s a quiet, meditative lesson in noticing the small details of someone else’s life.

Ages 6+ This is a beautiful, low-stress game about a girl visiting her grandparents on a Mediterranean island. She sees trash and injured animals and decides to do something about it. It’s great for building "environmental empathy"—understanding that our actions affect the world around us.

Ages 2-102 I will defend Bluey to my grave. Unlike most kids' shows where the parents are bumbling idiots, Bandit and Chilli are relatable. The show focuses heavily on the "theory of mind"—the ability to understand that other people have different thoughts and feelings than you do. Read our guide on why Bluey is actually for parents too

Ages 9+ If your kid is into fantasy, this Netflix series is excellent. It tackles complex themes like war, prejudice, and disability (one of the main characters is Deaf and uses sign language) without being "preachy." It shows that "the enemy" is often just someone with a different story.

Ages 2-5 It’s the gold standard for the preschool set. It literally gives kids the "jingles" they need to process big emotions. "When you feel so mad that you want to roar, take a deep breath and count to four." It works. It’s basically Sesame Street for the modern age.

Ages 8+ This is the "empathy" book. It follows Auggie, a boy with a facial difference, as he enters a mainstream school for the first time. The brilliance of the book is that it switches perspectives, showing how Auggie’s life affects his sister, his friends, and even his bullies. Check out our guide to talking about Wonder with your child

Ages 9+ Written by a neurodivergent author, this story follows Addie, an autistic girl who campaigns for a memorial for people accused of witchcraft in her small town. It’s a powerful look at how society treats people who are "different" and why standing up for others matters.

At this age, kids are still learning that other people are "real." Focus on media that labels emotions clearly. Avoid high-energy, "fast-cut" YouTube videos (looking at you, Blippi) which can actually decrease emotional regulation. Stick to PBS Kids.

This is the prime time for roleplay games like Minecraft and Roblox. Use their gameplay as a conversation starter. If they had a "fight" with a friend in a digital world, treat it with the same weight as a playground fight.

Tweens are hyper-aware of social hierarchies. Media like Inside Out 2 or graphic novels like New Kid are vital because they validate the internal chaos of puberty.

You don't need to turn every movie night into a therapy session. In fact, if you do, your kids will probably stop wanting to watch movies with you.

Instead, try these "low-stakes" questions after the credits roll or the console turns off:

If they give you a one-word answer, that's fine. You're planting seeds.

Learn more about how to have "The Tech Talk" without it being awkward

We can't protect our kids from the "brain rot" entirely—sometimes they just want to watch a YouTuber scream at a horror game for twenty minutes. That's fine.

But we can balance the scales. By intentionally introducing games like Spiritfarer or shows like Bluey, we’re giving them the tools to understand a world that is increasingly digital, but still very much human.

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