Empathy Counters Social Emotional Learning Set | 72-Piece Animal Counters for Inclusion, Acceptance & Kindness

Encourage meaningful conversations about empathy, kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and individual differences with the Empathy Counters Social Emotional Learning Set, a 72-piece collection of animal counters designed for children ages 3 years and up. These hands-on SEL manipulatives provide a visual and tactile way for children to explore how individuals can be different while still being equally valued and included.

The set features six unique animal designstwo rabbits, two dogs, and two cats. Within each animal pair, one animal features a visible imperfection, creating opportunities for age-appropriate conversations about differences, understanding, acceptance, and treating others with kindness.

Beyond social-emotional learning, the 72 animal counters can also be incorporated into counting, sorting, grouping, matching, patterning, and fine motor activities. Each counter measures approximately 1.9 inches high, making the pieces easy for young children to grasp and manipulate.

With downloadable resources included, the Empathy Counters set provides educators and caregivers with additional support for guided discussions and activities in preschool classrooms, SEL centers, therapy settings, small groups, and home learning environments.

72-Piece Social-Emotional Learning Set

The Empathy Counters collection includes 72 detailed animal counters that can be used for both guided SEL lessons and hands-on learning activities.

The physical counters give children concrete objects to observe, compare, sort, and discuss while exploring social-emotional concepts.

Use the counters to introduce conversations about:

• Empathy
• Kindness
• Acceptance
• Inclusion
• Individual differences
• Understanding others
• Respect
• Positive relationships

The large collection also provides plenty of pieces for counting, sorting, patterning, and small-group activities.

6 Unique Animal Designs

The set features six different animal designs, including:

• 2 rabbits
• 2 dogs
• 2 cats

Children can identify and compare the different animals while using them for storytelling, discussion, sorting, matching, and early math activities.

Visible Differences Encourage Meaningful Conversations

Within each pair of animals, one counter includes a visible imperfection.

This thoughtful design provides a concrete starting point for conversations about how people and animals may look or be different from one another.

Educators and caregivers can use the counters to help children discuss why differences do not determine someone’s value and why everyone deserves kindness, respect, acceptance, and opportunities to participate.

Build Empathy & Understanding

The animal counters provide a hands-on way to introduce the concept of empathy.

Through guided conversations and activities, children can explore ideas such as recognizing differences, considering how others may feel, showing kindness, and treating others with understanding.

The familiar animal designs make these abstract social-emotional concepts easier to introduce through age-appropriate discussion and play.

Encourage Acceptance

Children naturally notice similarities and differences in the world around them.

The Empathy Counters provide opportunities to discuss these observations positively and constructively, reinforcing the idea that differences are a natural part of individuals and communities.

Activities can encourage children to recognize and appreciate individual characteristics while practicing respectful language and behavior.

Introduce Inclusion

Use the counters to explore what it means to include others in activities, groups, and play.

Educators and caregivers can create simple scenarios that encourage children to consider questions such as:

• How can we make sure everyone feels included?
• What can we do when someone feels left out?
• How can we show kindness to someone who is different from us?
• How might another person or character feel?
• What does being a good friend look like?

These discussions can help children begin connecting SEL concepts with everyday social situations.

Encourage Kindness

The counters can be incorporated into activities focused on kind words, helpful actions, friendship, and respectful interactions.

Children can use the animals in simple scenarios and discuss different ways the characters could respond to one another.

This provides opportunities to explore how everyday choices can affect others.

Emotional Awareness

Storytelling and guided discussions with the counters can encourage children to think about how different characters might feel in a situation.

Children can identify possible emotions, explain why a character might feel that way, and consider actions that could help create a more positive interaction.

These activities support early exploration of feelings, perspectives, and social situations.

Perspective-Taking Activities

Educators and caregivers can create scenarios involving the animal counters and ask children to consider the situation from different characters’ perspectives.

For example, children might discuss how an animal could feel if it were excluded from a group or how another character could help.

These conversations provide opportunities to practice considering experiences beyond one’s own point of view.

Friendship & Positive Relationships

Use the animal counters to create scenarios involving friendship, cooperation, sharing, inclusion, and kindness.

Children can act out different situations and explore ways the characters might interact positively.

The counters can also support discussions about qualities that contribute to positive relationships, such as listening, helping, including others, and showing respect.

Social-Emotional Storytelling

The animal figures can be used as characters in child-created or educator-guided stories.

Children can invent situations involving friendship, differences, kindness, or inclusion and then use the counters to act out possible responses.

Storytelling adds an imaginative component to SEL activities while encouraging communication and social understanding.

Social-Emotional Learning Centers

Add the Empathy Counters to an SEL, feelings, friendship, or classroom community center.

Children can explore the pieces independently or use them with educator-created prompts and activities focused on empathy, acceptance, inclusion, and positive relationships.

Downloadable Learning Resources Included

The Empathy Counters set includes downloadable resources to support guided learning.

Educators and caregivers can use these materials alongside the counters to extend discussions and activities related to empathy, diversity, inclusion, acceptance, and social-emotional development.

Counting Activities

The 72 animal counters can also function as hands-on math manipulatives.

Children can count individual animals, create groups, compare quantities, or count specific animal types.

Combining SEL themes with early math activities provides additional ways to incorporate the counters throughout the learning environment.

Sorting & Classification

Children can sort the counters by observable characteristics, such as animal type or other visible features.

Sorting activities encourage observation, comparison, classification, and early mathematical thinking while giving children additional opportunities to interact with the animal designs.

Matching Activities

The paired animal designs can be incorporated into matching activities.

Children can identify corresponding rabbits, dogs, or cats and discuss similarities and differences between the pieces.

This provides opportunities to combine visual discrimination and matching with conversations about individual differences.

Patterning Activities

Use the different animal counters to create simple repeating patterns.

Children can copy, extend, or create sequences using rabbits, dogs, and cats, providing hands-on practice with pattern recognition, sequencing, and prediction.

Fine Motor Development

Each counter measures approximately 1.9 inches high, making the pieces easy for young children to grasp, move, sort, and arrange.

Handling the counters provides opportunities to practice fine motor control, grasping, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination during both SEL and math activities.

Open-Ended Learning

The Empathy Counters can be incorporated into many different learning experiences, including:

• Social-emotional learning
• Empathy discussions
• Kindness activities
• Inclusion activities
• Friendship lessons
• Storytelling
• Role-play scenarios
• Counting
• Sorting
• Matching
• Grouping
• Patterning
• Fine motor activities

This versatility makes the set useful across multiple classroom learning areas.

Individual & Small-Group Activities

The counters can be used during individual exploration or incorporated into small-group discussions and activities.

Small groups provide opportunities for children to share observations, listen to different perspectives, and participate in guided conversations about kindness, differences, and inclusion.

Classroom, Therapy & Home Learning

The Empathy Counters Social Emotional Learning Set is well suited for:

• Preschool classrooms
• Early learning environments
• Social-emotional learning centers
• Classroom community activities
• Therapy settings
• Small-group learning
• Friendship activities
• Fine motor centers
• Math centers
• Home learning environments

The combination of SEL and early math applications makes the counters adaptable to a variety of learning goals.

Designed for Ages 3 Years+

Designed for children ages 3 years and up, the Empathy Counters Social Emotional Learning Set provides a hands-on way to explore empathy, kindness, acceptance, inclusion, differences, friendship, emotional awareness, and positive relationships.

With 72 animal counters, six unique rabbit, dog, and cat designs, visible differences, downloadable resources, and additional counting and sorting applications, the set offers multiple opportunities for meaningful learning and conversation.

Key Features

• 72-Piece Animal Counter Set: Includes 72 detailed manipulatives for social-emotional and early learning activities.
• 6 Unique Animal Designs: Features two rabbits, two dogs, and two cats.
• Visible Differences: Within each animal pair, one counter includes a visible imperfection to encourage age-appropriate discussions about individual differences.
• Social-Emotional Learning: Supports conversations about empathy, kindness, acceptance, inclusion, understanding, and respect.
• Empathy Activities: Provides concrete characters for discussing how others may feel and how children can respond with kindness.
• Inclusion Activities: Helps introduce conversations about including others and creating welcoming environments.
• Perspective-Taking: Animal scenarios can encourage children to consider different feelings and points of view.
• Friendship Learning: Use the counters to explore cooperation, kindness, respect, and positive relationships.
• Storytelling & Role Play: Animal characters can be incorporated into social scenarios and imaginative stories.
• Downloadable Resources: Includes downloadable materials to extend guided SEL discussions and activities.
• Early Math Activities: Counters can also be used for counting, sorting, grouping, matching, and patterning.
• Fine Motor Practice: Grasping, moving, sorting, and arranging the counters encourages controlled hand movements.
• Small-Hand Friendly: Each counter measures approximately 1.9 inches high.
• Small-Group Learning: Suitable for guided discussions, collaborative activities, and classroom community lessons.
• Versatile Learning Tool: Combines social-emotional learning with early math, storytelling, and fine motor activities.
• Classroom & Home Use: Ideal for classrooms, SEL centers, therapy settings, small groups, and home learning.
• Age Grade: Designed for children ages 3 years and up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Empathy Counters?
Empathy Counters are a 72-piece set of animal manipulatives designed to support age-appropriate conversations about empathy, kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and individual differences.

How many animal designs are included?
The set includes six unique designstwo rabbits, two dogs, and two cats.

What is different about the paired animals?
Within each animal pair, one animal features a visible imperfection, providing a visual starting point for conversations about differences, understanding, and acceptance.

What age is the Empathy Counters set designed for?
The counters are designed for children ages 3 years and up.

What social-emotional concepts can the counters help introduce?
They can support discussions and activities involving empathy, kindness, inclusion, acceptance, individual differences, friendship, emotional awareness, perspective-taking, and positive relationships.

Can the counters be used for math activities?
Yes. The 72 animal pieces can also be used for counting, sorting, grouping, matching, and patterning activities.

How large are the animal counters?
Each counter measures approximately 1.9 inches high.

Are learning resources included?
Yes. The set includes downloadable resources that educators and caregivers can use to extend guided discussions and learning activities.

Can the counters be used for storytelling?
Yes. The rabbits, dogs, and cats can be used as characters in stories and social scenarios involving friendship, kindness, inclusion, and other interpersonal situations.

Where can Empathy Counters be used?
They are ideal for preschool classrooms, early learning environments, SEL centers, classroom community activities, therapy settings, small groups, math centers, and home learning.