The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of empathy as one of the five key components of emotional intelligence, alongside emotional self-awareness, behavior regulation, self-motivation, and social skills. Empathy consists of an affective component, which involves feeling the emotions of others, and a cognitive component, which includes understanding and "reading" others' emotional states. The authors describe the emergence of empathy in early childhood through the recognition and imitation of feelings, noting that it gradually develops through social learning and emotional regulation. Theories suggest that understanding and practicing empathy contribute to better communication, conflict reduction, and overall moral development during maturation. Various authors emphasize the importance of nurturing empathy from an early age to ensure healthy emotional and social development of the individual. Temperament plays a crucial role in the development of empathy in children. Emotional regulation in children gradually develops through interaction with primary caregivers and learning how to adapt to their environment. Interactions with peers help children better understand the emotions and behaviors of others, which is essential for the development of empathy and social competence. Differences in emotional sensitivity between girls and boys are shaped by cultural expectations, with parents paying more attention to the emotional reactions of girls. Finally, parents and educators have a significant responsibility in fostering empathy in children, either through positive models of emotional expression or through inappropriate parenting practices that can negatively impact a child's socio-emotional development.