You don't know a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes.

Empathy is becoming a stealth superpower in our rapidly accelerating, screen-driven world, and it's more crucial to begin teaching it to children earlier than ever.

Picture this: A group of children is doing an exercise at Helen O'Grady Academy. One of them is pretending to be injured; the other one falls over beside her and says, "Are you okay? Do you need help?"

It may look like just another role-play session, but something remarkable is happening. These kids are learning to listen for and notice feelings, to be gentle in their response, and to connect as human beings. Empathy is in the making here.

Why Empathy Matters in Childhood?

Empathy is not nice business; it's smart business, social business, and responsive business. It's about being able to put yourself in someone else's shoes and feel as they feel. The importance of empathy in children is due to:

• Form better relationships

• Decrease bullying and rejection

• Enhance communication skills

• Help manage emotions better

• Increase collaboration and achievement in the classroom

Overall, empathetic children grow up to be better reflective, stronger, and nicer adults.

The Helen O'Grady Method

One of the most powerful methods of building empathy and focusing on the importance of empathy in children is real-life exposure, and it's something we're passionate about at Helen O'Grady. With our classes, children are continually being asked to "be somebody else", to be a teacher, a shopkeeper, or a character who is facing a challenge.

By getting inside someone else's story, children get to ask themselves:

• How does this person feel?

• Why are they behaving like this?

• How can I be nice back?

These questions naturally develop emotional intelligence, allowing children to feel the world around them.

A Real Story: A Little Help Goes a Long Way

One day in our class, 8-year-old Fatima sensed that classmate Daniyal was in his shell mode. When their teacher paired them for an improv exercise, she playfully poked him, brainstormed with him, and pushed him out of his zone. Daniyal told us afterwards that it was the first time someone in school actually "saw" him.

That wasn't scripted. That wasn't rehearsed.

That was the importance of empathy in children, and that's what lingers with them.

Why Now? A Contemporary Requirement

We are presently residing in an era where children are over-entertained with immediate content, digital diversions, and social pressures. Actions are more and more being done with screens instead of face-to-face, and emotional connection becomes secondary. That is the reason why empathy training is more important now than ever before.

Empathy has been demonstrated to lead to:

• Enhanced academic performance

• Lower levels of stress and anxiety

• More compassionate and respectful societies

And the ideal place to start? Early childhood.

FAQs 

Q1: Can empathy even be taught?

Yes! Empathy can be taught. With directed experience such as role play, storytelling, and discussion, children naturally become more compassionate and understanding.

Q2: How old should a child be when they learn about empathy?

As young as preschool age. Even toddlers empathize when they observe others in pain. Guided learning through drama or emotional coaching reinforces this quality.

Q3: How does drama assist in building empathy?

Drama gets kids to become other people and feel what they might be feeling. It gets them to think things through from more than one point of view, and therefore, it's easier to feel for other people in the world around them.

Last Thoughts

Empathy isn't politeness; it's connecting with others on a deep, human level. In a world that cries out for more kindness, compassion, and humanity, empathy is the solution to every healthy relationship and community.

We don't simply show kids how to perform at Helen O'Grady, but also how to feel, react, and develop. Through emotional intelligence and creative expression, we equip children to be not only confident performers but empathetic human beings.

Learn more about our courses at https://helenogrady.com.pk/ 

Ready to enroll your child in a program that treasures their voice and heart? Call us today!

 Building Confidence, Communication, and Creativity 

Education at Helen O'Grady Academy Pakistan goes beyond reading textbooks. It's about tapping the confidence, creativity, and communication of a child, skills necessary not only for academic excellence but for life itself.

Our world-renowned Academic Programme for Speech and Language Development is a forward-thinking, age-suitable curriculum that has been changing the lives of children in more than 40 nations, and it's here in Pakistan too.

Here in this blog, we deconstruct our entire academic curriculum at Helen O'Grady Academy, discussing each level's purpose and composition, and how it enables your child to thrive through the use of drama.

What sets Our Curriculum apart?

Contrary to conventional academic models, the Helen O'Grady curriculum for Speech and language development employs speech as learning tools to cultivate:

• Verbal and non-verbal communication

• Confidence in public speaking

• Creative thinking

• Emotional intelligence

• Teamwork and collaboration

Each level is designed to correspond to the child's developmental stage, ensuring learning is fun and meaningful.

The Helen O'Grady Academic Programme: A Stage-by-Stage Guide

1. Kindy Programme (3–5 years)

Learning through play and imagination

This foundation level introduces toddlers to group play, voice control, and body movement, all in imaginative and fun ways.

Key areas of focus:

• Developing social skills

• Learning to take instructions

• Building motor coordination

• Introduction to storytelling and expression

Activities include: drama games, mime, music and movement, and short role-playing.

2. Lower Primary (Ages 5–8)

Fostering  early Speech and language development 

At this level, children start constructing ordered ideas and stating them confidently.

Key areas of focus:

• Developing vocabulary

• Building sentence construction

• Simple acting and improvisation

• Building confidence in group situations

Activities include: short scripted plays, creative movement, expression games, and storytelling.

3. Upper Primary (Age 9–12)

Becoming more independent in thinking

This stage hones their capacity for speaking clearly, performing confidently, and innovating under pressure.

Key focus areas:

• Modulation and clearness of voice

• Role-playing and character development

• Delivery of speeches and dialogue

• Emotional and social intelligence

Activities include: full-length improvisations, brief monologues, drama exercises, and speech practice.

4. Youth Theatre (Ages 13–18)

Refining stagecraft and personality development

This is an advanced level that is for teenagers who want to develop their personality, leadership, and stage presence.

Key focus areas:

• Communication and presentation skills

• Advanced acting and script analysis

• Group leadership and collaboration

• Use of drama for career and personal development

Activities include: drama performances, debates, character studies, and mock interviews.

5. Adult Programmes (18+)

Drama for life skills and professional Speech and language development 

Tailored for students of the university, professionals, and even parents, this program provides soft skill enhancement through interactive drama techniques.

Key focus areas:

• Communication in the workplace

• Overcoming stage fear

• Interview and presentation skills

• Emotional awareness and body language

Why Choose Helen O'Grady in Pakistan?

Helen O'Grady Academy is not about becoming a better performer; it's about becoming a more confident, expressive, and empowered person.

Here's why parents, schools, and students throughout Pakistan choose our program for Speech and language development:

• Internationally recognized curriculum

• Trained drama teachers

• Safe, creative, and inclusive classroom environment

• Fun-learning that develops real-life skills

• We have partner schools in major cities and also conduct private studio classes.

FAQs

1. Does Helen O'Grady provide any certification?

Yes, students are given performance reports and certificates after each term, and they get chances to perform in showcases and productions.

2. Do I need some prior acting experience to join?

In no way at all! Our program caters to all levels of experience,  from complete beginners to confident performers.

Ready to See Your Child Thrive?

We are the best place your child can grow emotionally, socially as well and intellectually. Helen O'Grady Academy Pakistan can be your best choice.

Visit our academic programme page: 

https://helenogrady.com.pk/the-academic-programme/ 

Call us today to register or collaborate with us for your school's program

 With a more globalized world today, proficiency in English is a vital skill for children in Pakistan. It opens the gates to academic achievement, fosters confidence, and provides access to enhanced opportunities. Unfortunately, however, for most children, fluency is still a problem, not because of a lack of exposure or intelligence, but because of the lack of systematic and continuous language advancement programs.

At Helen O'Grady Academy Pakistan, what we provide is a singular, research-based answer: systematic speech and communication classes carefully created for speech and language development in children in a step-by-step manner. We have specially designed our programs to cater to various ages and levels of learning, so each child can move forward in clarity, confidence, and competency.

Why Structured Speech Activities Matter?

Children do not learn to be fluent in English by memorizing lists of words or lists of grammar rules. Fluency is acquired when they learn to think, talk, and communicate in English on a regular and contextual basis.

Structured speech activities:

• Provide lots of practice and practice again on crucial language skills

• Help build sentence building, vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening skills

• Create a safe and systematic place for expressing oneself

• Facilitate language-based thinking rather than translation from the mother tongue

Through carefully crafted lessons, children begin to form sentences, describe their feelings, describe what they believe, and converse without hesitation or fear.

The Helen O'Grady Lesson Structure

Each Helen O'Grady lesson is structured to target specific speech and language development. Our program is conducted over multiple levels, so learning is appropriate for the age and builds complexity step by step.

This is how our lesson structure develops fluency:

1. Vocabulary & Sentence Building

Each lesson begins with the introduction of new vocabulary in a topic—school, home, health, or nature. Children then use model sentences, in which they apply this vocabulary under teacher guidance.

Example: "I go to school by bus." → "She goes to school by car." → "Do you go to school by bike?"

This technique helps children:

• Comprehend sentence formation

• Learn verb conjugation and question formation

• Build their working vocabulary

2. Guided Speaking Practice

They are questioned and required to answer in whole sentences.

Instructor: "What do you like to eat?"

Student: "I like to eat mangoes."

They are repeated with variation to acquire spontaneity and fluency of expression.

3. Listening & Response Activities

Children hear short stories, instructions, or conversations and then:

• Answer questions

• Repeat the story

• Participate in a group discussion

This improves listening skills and enables children to speak English actively.

4. Pronunciation & Clarity Exercises

Time is specifically dedicated to fixing sound pronunciation, stress, and intonation patterns for enhanced speech and language development. Educators model correct pronunciation, and kids follow and practice.

Focus examples: th-sound in "think," soft and hard 'g' in "giant" and "goat"

This very practice allows children to speak more clearly and confidently.

5. Reading Aloud & Expression

Fluency also depends on reading abilities. Children read aloud simple texts, observing punctuation, pauses, and tone of voice.

This enhances:

• Comprehension

• Verbal expression

• Word recognition speed

6. Planned Group Discussions

Children subsequently participate in planned group discussions on everyday topics.

Thèmes: Mon Animal Preferé, What I Do When I Get Home From School, A Trip to the Market

These classes benefit children:

• Responding to others in real-time

• Organizing thoughts quickly

• Using English naturally when speaking

What Parents Notice: The Real-World Outcomes

Parents of students who study regularly often notice:

• Improved sentence formation during routine communication

• Improved pronunciation and vocabulary use

• More willingness to speak English at school or at home

• A noticeable increase in confidence and communication

Within a term, even former shy kids show marked improvement in speech and language development—not just within classroom settings, but also within real-life situations like presentations, interviews, or meetings with relatives.

Designed for Every Age & Skill Level

Helen O'Grady Academy offers courses for:

• Lower Primary (4–7 years): Building the building blocks of sentence construction, pronunciation, and vocabulary.

• Upper Primary (8–11 years): Mastering fluent expression, complex sentence usage, and interactive skills.

• Teens (12–16 years): Advanced communication, public speaking, and thinking through methodical speech practice.

All courses are taught by licensed professionals with a world-tested curriculum adapted to Pakistani students.

Last Thoughts: Fluency is a Journey, Not a One-Time Skill

Speech and language development takes time—it's cultivated through constant exposure, practice, and encouragement. At Helen O'Grady Academy Pakistan, we accompany children along the journey with structure, support, and skill-building every step of the way.

Want to hear your child speak English confidently and naturally?

Check out our lessons and programs and become a member today.

It's not only about speaking English—about speaking up, boldly.