How to Gradually Introduce Kids to the Idea of Forgiveness
At Camp Kupugani, our Midwest overnight summer camp near Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, we try to practice and model conflict resolution skills, including the challenging art of apologizing (and accepting apologies). A recent article from Greater Good Magazine has some good ideas regarding how to teach children forgiveness. Read our thoughts below and check out the full article here.
- One should help develop forgiveness skills for different ages.
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- For ages 4-5…
- Introduce the concept of love.
- Read books that show loving familial connections.
- For ages 4-5…
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- For ages 6-7…
- Children this age start to understand “cause and effect.”
- Step 1
- Start to demonstrate/focus on the worth of others.
- Dr. Seuss has some great books on this topic.
- Step 2
- Model kindness, respect, and generosity.
- Step 3
- Be kind to those who may not be kind to you.
- Give examples of when forgiveness has been offered to you.
- Step 4
- Be clear that forgiveness does not mean instant reconciliation.
- Reconciliation takes time.
- Step 5
- Forgiveness is a choice.
- If they are ready, get to it!
- Step 1
- Children this age start to understand “cause and effect.”
- For ages 6-7…
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- For ages 10-13…
- Introduce the three themes of forgiving, receiving forgiveness, and reconciling.
- Forgiveness requires humility.
- Reconciliation requires mutual regained trust.
- True forgiving requires the above steps.
- Introduce the three themes of forgiving, receiving forgiveness, and reconciling.
- For ages 10-13…
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- For ages 14-18…
- They are ready for high-level processing.
- They may be able to forgive not just a single person, but a group perceived to have wronged them.
- For ages 14-18…
Source Article: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_gradually_introduce_kids_to_the_idea_of_forgiveness