Forgiveness is an abstract concept that children begin to grasp around the time they enter private kindergarten. Learning to forgive other kids, forgive relatives, and forgive people they meet. It is important for developing social etiquette and learning to interact with others. These simple activities will help children learn about forgiveness and why it is important for them to forgive.
1. I will…
This activity involves making a list of resolutions that begin with the words “I will.” The idea is to focus on things that will help private kindergarten children learn about love, forgiveness, and acceptance. This activity can be used in specific situations where the child is having a hard time forgiving a playmate, or as a group activity that reinforces the importance of understanding those who’ve made mistakes and want to redeem themselves. Here are a few example lines to give you an idea of how the activity works:
- “I will remember that nobody is perfect.”
- “I will remember that we all make mistakes.”
- “I will remember that I sometimes need to be forgiven.”
- “I will forgive people who have made me feel upset.”
- “I will forgive my friend who didn’t share.”
2. Walking In Another’s Shoes
This activity can be fun, and it presents a very appropriate analogy for forgiveness. You will need an old pair of shoes that are too large for the child to wear properly. Have the private kindergartner put the shoes on and then walk around the room in them.
Explain that the shoes don’t fit because we are all different and the things that work for one person may not work for another. We shouldn’t be upset when someone does something we don’t like, because that person may not know they are upsetting us. We can’t walk in their shoes, and they won’t be able to walk in ours. But together, and with forgiveness, we can learn to accept that person’;s differences and they can learn to understand why we got upset.
3. Learning About Love
Learning about love includes learning that you must forgive the ones you care about. When a family member or classmate gets upset with the child, they don’t hold a grudge or stop loving her, they forgive her and move on. In the end, everyone learns a lesson from the incident, but the incident does not become a division between family members or schoolmates. Forgiving others is a big part of loving them, and that is something every child should learn.
Social lessons such as forgiveness, sharing, and being polite will help private kindergarteners interact more peacefully, accept the flaws of others more readily, and learn to empathise with others in a productive manner.