Understanding, teaching and implementing forgiveness in children
Learn why forgiveness is one of the crucial values to instill in your children, and how to do so in a fun way.
Young children are like sponges, and it’s up to the parents and family members to ensure they soak up important values early on to help shape them into caring, kind and understanding individuals.
One of the key values to instill from a young age is forgiveness. Follow this quick guide to understand why forgiveness is so important and how you can teach your children to learn to forgive.
What is forgiveness?
Forgiveness means letting go of hurt feelings when someone does something that makes us sad or upset. It’s like saying, “It’s okay, I won’t stay mad at you.” Forgiveness doesn’t mean we forget what happened or that it didn’t matter; it means we choose to move forward with a happy heart.
Why is forgiveness Important?
For young children, forgiveness helps build strong friendships and maintain a positive outlook on life. It teaches them to be empathetic and to understand that everyone makes mistakes. Practising forgiveness in our diverse South African communities can foster unity and harmony.
How to teach forgiveness:
- You can show your children how to forgive by practising it yourself. If you make a mistake, apologise and explain that everyone can be forgiven.
- Reading stories that highlight forgiveness can also be impactful.
- During playtime, encourage your child to share and resolve conflicts amicably. If a disagreement happens, guide them through the process of forgiving. Praise them when they forgive someone, saying things like, “I’m so proud of you for forgiving your friend. That was very kind.”
Encouraging forgiveness:
- A simple activity to encourage forgiveness is creating a Forgiveness Jar. Have a special jar where your child can place a note whenever they forgive someone. At the end of the week, read the notes together and celebrate their kind heart.
- Role-playing can also be effective. Use dolls or stuffed animals to act out situations where forgiveness is needed. This makes the concept more relatable and understandable for young minds.
- Art and crafts can be another way to help your child express their feelings. Encourage them to draw or paint their emotions. Discuss their artwork and gently guide them towards understanding and expressing forgiveness.
For more tips, visit Dibber International Preschools.
For more on kids, visit Get It Magazine.
