This is an old discussion that had been unanswered but the topic is really good and relevant . Empathy and EQ should be developed right from childhood . A child learns from parent, school and surroundings but parents can play a major role in developing their cognitive skills and teaching them to love , understand and respect  family, friends, animals and nature goes a long way in making them sensitive beings..

Empathy, ideally need not have to be developed separately. When a child is taught to be sensitive and considerate towards feelings and needs of others, he or she automatically develop empathy and help others as they grow up. Sadly, globalisation and too much consumerism, in addition to lack of guidance and support from parents, children are growing up to be more and more self centred and vain. So we must make conscious efforts to make children realise that others too have needs and considerations.

For the majority of people empathy relates to believe ' nice' to people around them when things are going well. When things are not going well they prefer taking the side that benefits them the most ..