How to Teach Forgiveness to Kids – Social Emotional Activities for Classrooms and Families
- Give N' Grow
- May 13
- 4 min read
Updated: May 16
Forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools we have for building strong, healthy communities. Whether it’s a disagreement with a friend, a mistake made at home, or a tough moment in the classroom, forgiveness teaches us how to move forward with grace, empathy, and emotional strength.
What Is Forgiveness and Why Does It Matter?
At its core, forgiveness means letting go of anger, hurt, or grudges—toward others and ourselves. It’s not about forgetting or pretending something didn’t happen. Instead, forgiveness allows us to choose peace over pain, connection over conflict.
In families, forgiveness might look like a sibling saying “I forgive you” after a toy is broken. In schools, it’s the moment when a student apologizes and a classmate chooses to let it go and be friends again. And in communities, forgiveness helps us come together after misunderstandings or disagreements—so we can heal and grow.
When kids learn to forgive, they’re not only strengthening their relationships—they’re also practicing self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation, all key parts of social-emotional learning (SEL).
What the Science Says About Forgiveness
Research shows that practicing forgiveness offers many emotional, mental, and social benefits:
For Kids: Forgiveness is linked to better mental health, less anxiety, and lower levels of aggression. A study from the Journal of Adolescence found that children who learn forgiveness experience fewer emotional outbursts and report feeling more socially connected.
For Parents: Forgiveness helps reduce stress and supports positive parenting. When parents model forgiveness, they help children develop healthy coping skills and emotional resilience.
For Teachers: Educators who practice forgiveness with students report better classroom climate and fewer behavioral disruptions. Forgiveness-based SEL programs can also reduce bullying and promote empathy.
In short, forgiveness helps us feel better, think more clearly, and connect more deeply—whether we’re 6 years old or 60.
Forgiveness SEL Activity – A Step-by-Step Breakdown
This simple but powerful activity combines body movement, breathwork, and reflection to help children experience what it feels like to let go and move forward.
1. Body Movement and Breath for Forgiveness
“Letting go of grudges, offering grace to ourselves and others.”
What to Do:
Stand tall.
Breathe in and stretch your arms high above your head.
As you breathe out, swing your arms down with energy—like you’re throwing something heavy away.
Repeat as many times as needed.
Then, wrap your arms around yourself in a gentle hug.
Slowly twist side to side while breathing deeply, imagining yourself forgiving someone (including yourself).
Why It Works: This movement helps release stored tension and emotions. Swinging the arms down simulates letting go of heaviness—like anger or sadness. The hug and twist activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body. Combined, these movements help kids connect their breath with emotional release and physical relaxation.
2. Affirmation for Forgiveness
“I let go of any hurt. I forgive myself and others.”
What to Do: Repeat the affirmation out loud or silently during or after the movement.
Why It Works: Affirmations help rewire thought patterns. When kids say forgiving words to themselves, they reinforce the idea that healing is possible—and that self-compassion matters just as much as kindness toward others.
3. Challenge for Forgiveness
“Think about someone you need to forgive (including yourself) and write down one way you can let go of the anger or sadness.”
What to Do: Encourage kids to journal or draw their response. For younger kids, this can be done with pictures or storytelling. Examples might include:
Writing a letter (even if they don’t send it)
Drawing what letting go looks like
Creating a “release” jar where they drop in the names or feelings they want to forgive
Why It Works: Reflection and expression help move forgiveness from an idea into a lived experience. Writing or drawing about it engages the brain in meaning-making, which supports emotional clarity and resolution.
More Ways to Practice Forgiveness at Home and in School
Here are a few creative, everyday ideas for keeping the spirit of forgiveness alive:
Forgiveness Circles: Create a space at home or in the classroom where children can share how they felt during a conflict and ask for or offer forgiveness.
Feelings Check-Ins: Use mood meters or emotion cards to help kids identify when they’re holding onto hurt feelings.
Forgiveness Stories: Read books like “The Forgiveness Garden” by Lauren Thompson or “Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson and talk about the characters’ choices.
Model It: Adults can show children how to forgive by narrating their own experiences. For example: “I was upset, but I realized holding onto it was making me feel worse. I forgave them, and now I feel lighter.”
Final Thought
Forgiveness isn’t always easy, but it’s always powerful. As the affirmation reminds us:
“I let go of any hurt. I forgive myself and others.”
When we teach kids to forgive, we give them a lifelong gift: the ability to heal, to reconnect, and to grow stronger from the inside out.