MovieChat Forums > Supernanny (2005) Discussion > Making Kids Say 'I'm Sorry'

Making Kids Say 'I'm Sorry'

posted 17 years ago by lime99
29 replies | jump to latest

I have noticed that Jo teaches the parents to have the kids apologize to their parents after they have been naughty and have sat in time out for a period of time. When I was going to school for early childhood education, I was told that we should not ask or expect young children (preschoolers) to say they are sorry (particulary to each other) - because they are not sorry, and then you are just causing resentment in the child, and it doesn't mean anything anyway...At the Montessori school where I work, we are supposed to always have the children apologize to each other (or give the other child they "wronged" a hug), so I do that. (However, if we have to place a child in time-out, we don't make a child apologize to us before we let them get up...)

Just wondering what other people's thoughts/experiences are on this? I can see both sides. Discuss :)

[–] OlLineRebel 14 years ago

Let me guess - they have a problem with having a child say "I'm sorry" even though he doesn't truly understand the concept. BUT, dollars to donuts they DON'T have a problem with the flip side of having the child say "Thank you". Even though he doesn't understand it yet.

Give me a break.

Why do these people make everything so difficult these days?

[–] dancintoes01 14 years ago

Sometimes when my child says that he is sorry and I dont believe it, I will tell him that he isnt.. plain and simple.

The other day he made a mess in the bathroom.. toilet paper on the floor.. water running.. i dont know what he was thinking! lol

i told him that it was ridiculous for him to act that way and to go to his room.

He told me he was sorry but i said "if you are sorry now, than you shouldnt have done it. I dont care if you are sorry, I dont believe it"..

seriously.. 5 minutes later he came into the dining room and by the look on his face I could tell that this time he meant it when he told me. he even gave me a hug and said that he would not make a mess again like that. I did not force him to say it to me this time or anything, I believe it was genuine remorse for the mess he made.

I think we often talk to our kids like they dont understand.. hes almost 7 now, but I have never spoken to him like he were a baby or a child.. like some parents do.

I think we should teach our kids to apologize and if they say it with an attitude, then tell them they arent sorry. Dont be mean about it.. but be honest.

My kid surely understand what a real sorry is.