Every parent wants their child to grow up kind, confident, and connected. One of the most meaningful skills we can teach them is how to truly celebrate someone else’s success. Whether it’s a sibling winning a game, a friend getting a new toy, or a classmate earning an award, learning to feel joy for others builds empathy, strengthens relationships, and helps kids feel more secure in themselves.
Here are three simple ways to help your child learn this powerful skill.
1. Talk About Feelings—All of Them!
Kids sometimes feel jealous, left out, or disappointed when good things happen to someone else. That’s normal! Instead of brushing those feelings away, open the door for honest conversations.
You can say things like, “It’s okay to feel a little sad that it wasn’t your turn,” or “Sometimes it’s hard when someone else gets something we wanted.” When children feel understood, they’re more open to learning new ways of responding.
Then gently guide them toward the positive:
- “What can we say to make them feel celebrated?”
- “How would you want a friend to act if this were your exciting moment?”
You’re helping them build the emotional awareness they need to support others with a full heart.
2. Model What It Looks Like to Celebrate Others
Since celebrating others doesn’t always come naturally, one of the best tools we have is our own example. Kids are watching more than we think! When we show excitement for someone else’s good news, we teach our children that lifting others up feels good.
- Do you have a friend performing in a local theatre? Get tickets for opening night and tell your kids why you’re going!
- Headed to a baby shower? Ask them to help pick out a thoughtful gift!
- Does your church need help decorating for an upcoming holiday or event? Volunteer together!
Invite your children into these moments. Let them see that supporting the people you love—big or small—creates connection and joy. When they watch you celebrate others with sincerity, they begin to understand how wonderful it feels.
3. Practice at Home in Simple, Everyday Ways
Kids learn by doing, and the best place to practice is right at home. Look for small opportunities throughout the week to help your child cheer on someone else.
- If a sibling builds a tall block tower, prompt your child to notice it: “Wow, look how high that is! Want to tell them what you like about it?”
- If your child’s friend wins a race or gets praised at school, help them send a short message or draw a picture to say congratulations.
- Create family traditions around celebrating each other—maybe a special dance, a special high-five, or a simple phrase like “That’s awesome! Tell me more!”
These tiny moments build a habit of noticing and appreciating the good in other people’s lives.
Teaching Children How to Cheer Others On
If you would like a resource to help build this skill with your child, I created a printable resource called, “Be Happy for Others: Learning to Cheer People On When Good Things Happen to Them.” This resource will help your child:
- Change their negative thoughts to positive when someone else has success
- Learn creative ways to be happy for others
- Practice reacting to and celebrating others’ achievements
- Learn empathy for others
Teaching children to be happy for others will take practice! But with gentle guidance, consistent modeling, and lots of practice, it becomes part of who they are. And the beautiful thing? As they learn to celebrate others, they will grow up to be individuals who experience more connection, more empathy, and more joy for everyone.
If you would like more resources to teach your children social skills, you might like these resources: