Why is it important for a child to learn about forgiveness? It keeps your heart clean and healthy. Which is just as important as keeping your body healthy and whole. Develop self-respect and community skills.

We are sensitive creatures and elementary school is the school of bumps and bruises to learn to relate to others. This week’s best friend can quickly become the traitor, the liar, the ‘enemy’.

When a child makes a mistake, how do you correct it and move on? … excuse me.

Here is the definition of forgiveness from the Virtues Project:

Forgiveness is giving someone another chance after they have done something wrong. We all make mistakes. Instead of revenge, make amends. Instead of feeling hopeless after a mistake, decide to act differently and have faith that you can change.

This simple technique will give you something to do with your child that will help him learn to forgive.

Remember that we are all in this together and many times people do not know how you hurt us. We are not talking about justice, who was right or who was not; we are doing things right in our hearts.

Start by letting your child tell the story. Let them share their feelings about what happened. Ask them if they are willing to forgive. The course of miracles it tells us that disposition is all that is required of us.

  1. Ask them to close their eyes and mentally look at the person in front of them.

  2. Have them repeat after you:

    I forgive ____________ (saying his name or myself) for __________ (not being the kind of friend I want right now, saying something bad, making a mistake, etc.)

    I let God take care of this now and fix it. I trust that God will heal any pain in my heart.

    I promise to love myself and stop thinking about this.

    I forgive and I am free.

  3. With their eyes still closed, ask them to lift this person (or themselves), in their mind’s eye, and to the sky until they can no longer see them. This simple movement will help them loosen up.

Do this with your child as often as needed, until he begins to do it himself.

If there are amendments that need to be made with someone else, start with this forgiveness exercise. Help your child decide what would be appropriate. Keep it simple and in the heart.