Should you force your child to apologize?

[cateyes1]

I think if your child does something wrong to someone they should be made to say i'm sorry...what do you think?

[LenoraMinogue]

Yes, I think a child should get into the habit of apolegizing when they do something wrong. But the parent shouldn't just automatically ask them to apolegize every single time. It's important that the child understand why what they did was wrong.

[dreamyxo]

Yes, I think a child should get into the habit of apolegizing when they do something wrong. But the parent shouldn't just automatically ask them to apolegize every single time. It's important that the child understand why what they did was wrong.

Right.  If they are forced to apologize without knowing why something was wrong and how it affected the other person then they might get in the habit of saying it just to appease you or the other person.  It would be empty and meaningless and they might feel like they can just say sorry to any situation and it would be ok without understanding why they need to apologize.  It would be best but they don't need to apologize right away but tell them they need to think about their actions and come back and say it when they are ready.  They need to learn there are consequences to their actions but they also need to learn about empathy for other people.

[mrisha]

I think that if a child is rude, did something wrong and just plain horrible-then they should apologize.  They are going to grow up and live amongst other people.

[masked_brown_guy]

It is a good habit to get them into but if you force an apology then it really isnt an apology now is it.

[keith74]

This is wha I think about raising children when disciplining I don't think its forced you are trying to teach them in life and you don't want your child to be rude, mean, or just plain rotten. So if they do something that needs apoligizing for explain why they need to do it and what doing it acomplishes.  If they don't do it on there own than force them to.  In order for them to learn they need to know why and of course this is done at an early age becasue I think once they are teenagers especially 16 to 18 than they don't care and don't listen ( and i don't mean all 16 to 18) this is just what I have noticed with others. I personally dont have any children but I have been around other parents and this is what I noticed.

[cloudsoup]

absolutely - but right after you explain why
so they feel remorse about it. a genuine apology
is based on remorse, so kids need to understand
that connection.

i work in retail and have seen many parents
bringing their kids back into the store after they
stole something to apologize. definitely a good
thing!

[vmcutshall]

The child need to understand what they did wrong first and that they do need to apologize. Kids will say sorry to anything after you make them say it enough without understanding what they did was wrong.

[Storm61115]

Yes, I think a child should get into the habit of apologizing when they do something wrong. But the parent shouldn't just automatically ask them to apolegize every single time. It's important that the child understand why what they did was wrong.

yes i agree with this. thanks for posting what i was thinking. they should know what they did wrong and they should apologize on their own.

[masonmisty]

i always make my daughter apologize no matter what it is cuz thats the only way she will learn from her mistake

[jwallbank]

Yes, I think a child should get into the habit of apolegizing when they do something wrong. But the parent shouldn't just automatically ask them to apolegize every single time. It's important that the child understand why what they did was wrong.

Right.  If they are forced to apologize without knowing why something was wrong and how it affected the other person then they might get in the habit of saying it just to appease you or the other person.  It would be empty and meaningless and they might feel like they can just say sorry to any situation and it would be ok without understanding why they need to apologize.  It would be best but they don't need to apologize right away but tell them they need to think about their actions and come back and say it when they are ready.  They need to learn there are consequences to their actions but they also need to learn about empathy for other people.

I agree totally! If you don't teach your children respect for others, they will never learn. You have to remember they pick up things at school from other children that are totally wrong, so the parent needs to teach the child "what is right". I don't believe in forcing a child to do something but, I believe in discipline when they don't do the right thing and teach them why they did the wrong thing. This is the job of the parent.!!

[vicogden]

I don't think making your child(ren) say "I'm sorry" is as important as making them understand why what they did is wrong and why they should show remorse for it.  Sometimes too many "I'm sorry"s simply leads to lip service and the child(ren) will think they can continue to do the wrong thing if they simply follow up with the right words...

[sherryinutah]

I think if your child does something wrong to someone they should be made to say i'm sorry...what do you think?

I believe it's important to TEACH children a lot of different things including the importance of being accountable for their actions.  That being said...I don't think it's a good idea to force anyone to do anything because their natural tendency would be to resist or retaliate.

[acurtsinger2]

APOLOGIES SHOULD COME FROM THE HEART, THEY SHOULD BE TRUE AND SINCERE. I THINK A CHILD SHOULD BE EXPLAINED TO ABOUT WHAT THEY DID, AND THEN LET THEM THINK ABOUT IT....ONCE THEY THINK ABOUT IT THEY USUALLY REALIZE THEY WERE WRONG AND APOLOGIES COME MORE NATURAL.

[BOSSLADYNELLIE]

I THINK YOU SHOULD BEKUZ IF YOU WRONG I THINK YOU SHOULD SAY SORRY.... IF THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG IN WE CALL THEM OUT ON IT THEY SAY SORRY JUST BEKUZ ITS ONLY RIGHT FOR OUR KIDS 2 SAY THAT OUTTA RESPECT FOR THEM SELF AND OTHERS,