Think Globally

It’s important to know about places in the world. Why? To make the world a better place. Do you know where other cities, countries, and continents are? This will help you make sense of the stories you read and news you hear.

When you hear about a new place, find it on a map. See where it is. What big cities are nearby? What languages do people speak? What is life like there from day to day?

Listen

Every person has a story. It might be about their past. It could be about their hopes for their future. When people share their story, they are telling you who they are.

Being a good listener means being curious about others. It means caring about their feelings. That can make you more compassionate, which can help make the world a better place.

Five ways to boost your listening skills:

TRY TO UNDERSTAND. Don’t worry about having an answer at hand. Instead, try to figure out what the person is trying to say.

FOCUS. That means putting away all distractions. Give whoever’s talking your full attention.

DON’T INTERRUPT. Give the speaker the space and time to express themselves the way they want to.

BE OPEN-MINDED. When someone tells you something personal, they’re trusting you with their feelings. They’re giving you a little peek into their heart and their mind. Be respectful of that. Don’t judge.

LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND. (Or that maybe you don’t.) When you want to let someone know they are being heard, say, “It sounds like what you are saying is….” Or, “Do you mean…?”