TL;DR: Perspective-taking is the "anti-main-character-energy" skill. We can use tech to move kids beyond their own POV using AI story prompts
, narrative-heavy games like Unpacking, and shows like Bluey that masterfully flip the script between parents and kids.
In the developmental world, we call it "Theory of Mind." In the real world, it’s the ability to realize that the person sitting across from you (or playing against you in Fortnite) has a completely different set of feelings, motives, and "lore" than you do.
For kids, especially the 6-to-10-year-old crowd, the world is naturally ego-centric. They are the protagonists; everyone else is an NPC (Non-Player Character). Perspective-taking is the cognitive leap where they realize the NPC has a home, a family, and a bad mood because they stayed up too late, just like they do.
Digital life makes this harder because it strips away facial expressions and tone of voice. If we don’t intentionally teach our kids how to "walk a mile in someone’s pixels," they’re going to struggle with digital citizenship and, frankly, just being decent humans in a group chat.
We’re seeing a massive rise in "Main Character Syndrome" fueled by social media algorithms that cater solely to your interests and your POV. About 60% of middle schoolers report seeing some form of online bullying or "othering" by age 13. When kids can't see the world through another person's eyes, the internet becomes a very lonely, very toxic place.
But here’s the cool part: we can use the very tech that sometimes isolates them to build that empathy muscle.
AI isn't just for faking an essay on the Great Depression. It is the ultimate "What If" machine. If your child is obsessed with a specific story or is currently locked in a conflict with a sibling, use an LLM (like ChatGPT or Claude) to flip the perspective.
The "Villain's Side" Exercise
Sit down with your kid and ask an AI to rewrite a classic story from the perspective of the "bad guy."
- Prompt: "Tell the story of The Three Little Pigs from the perspective of the Wolf. Maybe he just had a really bad cold and was trying to borrow a cup of sugar?"
- The Goal: It helps kids realize that "bad" behavior often has a context they aren't seeing.
Character.ai Roleplay
For older kids (12+), Character.ai lets them "talk" to historical figures or fictional characters.
- The Move: Have them interview a character from a book they’re reading for school, like August Pullman from Wonder. Asking the AI "How did you feel when the kids stared at you?" forces the child to formulate the question and process the empathetic response.
Forget the "games lead to violence" tropes—that's 1990s thinking. If you want a kid to understand someone else, let them be someone else in a controlled, narrative environment.
Ages 8+ This game is a masterpiece of "show, don't tell." You never see the main character. You simply unpack her boxes as she moves into different homes throughout her life. You see her move into a dorm, move in with a boyfriend who doesn't make room for her things, and move back home.
- The Lesson: It teaches kids to infer someone’s feelings and life stage just by looking at their environment. Check out our full guide on why Unpacking is the ultimate quiet game.
Ages 10+ Undertale is the gold standard for perspective-taking in gaming. It subverts the "kill the monster" trope. You can choose to talk to, spare, or even date the monsters. The game remembers your choices. If you play "the hero" by killing everyone, the game calls you out on your lack of empathy.
- The Lesson: Your actions have an emotional impact on others, even if they look like "monsters."
Ages 10+ You play as a "ferrymaster to the deceased." You have to care for spirits, learn their favorite foods, and listen to their life stories before they pass on. It’s heavy, but it’s a beautiful way to discuss the different ways people process grief and memory.
Watching TV doesn't have to be "brain rot." Some of the best writing in modern media is dedicated specifically to showing multiple sides of a story.
Ages 3-99 I’m not joking when I say Bluey is better at teaching perspective-taking than most therapy sessions.
- The Episode to Watch: "Bin Night." It follows the family over several weeks as they take the trash out. We see Bluey dealing with a kid at school who is being "mean," while simultaneously seeing the parents' quiet exhaustion.
- The Conversation: Ask your kid, "Why do you think the kid at school was being mean to Bluey? What might be happening in his house?"
Ages 12+ If you have a middle schooler, this is the ultimate show about ethics and perspective. It literally asks: "What do we owe to each other?" It’s funny, it’s fast-paced, and it forces the viewer to constantly re-evaluate who the "good people" are.
Ages 4-7: The "What Is Their Face Saying?" Phase
At this age, perspective-taking is very physical.
- Digital Tool: PBS Kids Games has great social-emotional tools.
- Action: Pause the show. Ask, "Look at her eyebrows. How is she feeling right now? Does the other character know she’s sad?"
Ages 8-12: The Narrative Phase
This is when they start playing games with plots.
- Digital Tool: Minecraft on a private server with friends.
- Action: Perspective-taking here is about collaboration. If a friend blows up their house, instead of just getting mad, ask: "Do you think they were trying to be funny or mean? How can you tell them that it actually made you sad?"
Ages 13+: The Critical Thinking Phase
Teens are dealing with complex social hierarchies and the "cancel culture" of group chats.
- Digital Tool: Social media (Instagram/TikTok) and Discord.
- Action: Discuss the "Algorithm." Ask: "If you only see videos that agree with you, how does that change how you see people who disagree? How does the algorithm make it harder to see their perspective?"
A lot of parents see their kids on Roblox and think it’s just mindless clicking. But roleplay games like Bloxburg or Brookhaven are essentially digital dollhouses. Kids are practicing "being" parents, workers, or even "troublemakers."
The danger isn't the roleplay; it's the lack of reflection. If your kid is playing a "mean teacher" in Roblox, that’s a great opening. "Why is that teacher so grumpy? Do you think she’s tired of the kids not listening, or is she just a mean person?"
Learn more about how to navigate Roblox roleplay safely.
You don't need a formal lesson plan. You just need to be a little bit annoying during the credits.
- The "Switch" Question: "If this movie was about the sidekick instead of the hero, how would the ending change?"
- The "Lag" Theory: If a kid is being "toxic" in a game like Among Us, suggest an alternative reason. "Maybe they're having a really bad day at school and this is the only place they feel powerful."
- The "Human" Reminder: Remind them that behind every username is a person who might be having a bad day.
Perspective-taking isn't a "soft skill"—it's a survival skill for the 21st century. Whether it's through a heartbreaking indie game like Spiritfarer or a silly AI-generated story about a misunderstood dragon, every time we ask our kids to look at the world through someone else's lens, we're making the digital world a little less "main character" and a little more human.
- Play a "silent" game together. Try Unpacking and talk about what the items tell you about the person.
- Flip a bedtime story. Use ChatGPT to tell tonight's story from the POV of the antagonist.
- Check the Screenwise Community. See what percentage of parents in your school district are allowing Character.ai and how they’re setting boundaries.
Ask our chatbot for more empathy-building game recommendations