How to teach your kid to say sorry?

Teaching a kid how to say sorry and actually mean it is easier said than done. It is a mammoth task as children understand things on a very different plane than us. Kids, in all their innocence, are not fully equipped to understand the repercussions of their actions. Many a times, in order to appease an adult, a child may utter the words “ I am sorry” without even understanding the meaning behind the apology. At other times, he or she may not even mouth the words if the child is anything like my two year old. The art of making a child apologize truly from within is a continuous work-in-progress and a well honed approach as detailed below will help you achieve the same.

Lead by example: A child learns the most from its home environment. Be vocal about being sorry when you have had an unfortunate incident and make your child understand that sorry is not just a word for children but for everyone who is in the wrong. I make it a point to apologize to my son for small things like dropping his favorite toy or hitting him with the ball while playing in the park so that he learns that saying sorry is something very natural and helps in mending hurt feelings caused by his actions.

Do not force an apology: Do not force your kid to apologize in the heat of the moment as this could lead to two situations: one in which the child says sorry without meaning  it,  just to get you off the back;...read more