Monday, April 12, 2021

3 Simple Preschool Activities That Teach About Forgiveness

3 Simple Preschool Activities That Teach About Forgiveness

Learning to forgive and forget is a big step for preschool children. Practicing the art of thinking about the feelings of others is a developmental milestone that most children begin learning just before kindergarten because it requires them to think in terms of how others feel rather than being absorbed by their own emotions.

Expressing Emotions

In preschool, expressing emotions in a coherent and socially acceptable way takes a lot of practice. Why are you happy? What makes you sad? These are questions that children need to learn how to express the answers to, and to understand that just because someone else doesn’t say or do what is expected does not mean that they intend to hurt your feelings. Roleplaying emotional situations and practicing acceptable expression is fun and educational for the whole class.

The Golden Rule

A preschool child wants things to go the way that makes them happy and may hold on to anger or sadness that they feel someone else has caused. But this is not healthy for the child, and it is important to learn that how they behave toward others will have a profound effect on how otters respond to them. Discovering that the things that make them upset are also the things that upset those around them gives children a foundation for comparing their actions against their interactions.

The Balloon Analogy

When a balloon is over-inflated, it will swell until it bursts. Emotions can be the same way, and children need to learn to let their emotions out instead of keeping them in. By forgiving the perceived wrongs of others, preschool kids can put harsh emotions aside and move on. After popping a few balloons and talking about their feelings, children gain a new perspective about interacting with others. It is much better to express emotions as they happen and release that pressure, just like letting a little air out of the balloon.

We all make mistakes that affect those around us, but we shouldn’t let mistakes rule our behavior. When children understand that getting their feelings hurt does not have permanent consequences, they will be better able to participate in group activities and become a part of the larger classroom community.
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Author: verified_user