Has a hard time apologizing
Before You Begin
Pause and breathe. Even if this shouldn't be happening... accept that it is and embrace it with composure and calmness.
Calmness is the only way forward because without calm, there is no possibility for receptiveness and connection. Your child won't give to you any more than they see from you.
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Never forget that a strong connection is fundamental, as there will be no correction in them if there is no connection with you.
The Core Problem
In this case there may be a number of factors, such as difficulty recognizing their own mistakes, fear of consequences, or a lack of understanding about the importance of apologies in repairing relationships.
What Will Make It Worse
The more uncomfortable you make the child feel in the moment, the more resistant they will be to acknowledge their mistake and give a genuine apology then or in the future.
What The Child Needs
1. To be able to recognize when an apology is needed: Talk through the spectrum of reasons why people apologize to one another with an emphasis on the times it's most important to give an apology. For instance sometimes we say sorry more so out of politeness than being at fault, and sometimes we apologize because we made a mistake that negatively impacted someone.
2. To learn the power of an apology + action: Let them know that making mistakes is a part of life and that apologies are opportunities for growth and repair. Discuss the importance of apologies as taking responsibility for our actions. Encourage the child to brainstorm ways to make amends or repair the relationship after an apology.
3. Positive role modeling: As their parent, model sincere apologies and the process of making amends when you make mistakes. Children learn through observation and are more likely to emulate behavior they see in adults.
How To Have The Conversation With Your Child
Find a good time to sit with them in a comfortable place that is free of distractions.
Share with them that you have noticed apologizing isn't something that comes easy to them, or that they want to do. Continue that you want to understand their experiences better and ask them if they can think of a reason why they avoid apologizing. If they do tell you specific reasons for their reluctance, address those first in a way brings closure to those bad memories for the child.
Next, share with them that apologies are more than just words. They keep the person who you are apologizing to close to you, and able to move past what happened for the sake of maintaining the friendship or relationship.
Finally, start working with the child on the "What The Child Needs" pointers listed above.
Close the conversation with empathetically agreeing that giving an apology can be hard and uncomfortable, but now they better understand why we give and receive them.