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Forgiveness: Part 1: Teach Our Young Child How to Forgive · 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to today's episode, Forgiveness Part 1, helping your young child learn to forgive others.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: As parents, we need to help our children understand what forgiveness is and why they need to forgive others.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: For the Christian, forgiveness is based on God's love and his forgiveness of us.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: God also commands us to forgive others in His Word.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: He even lists consequences if we don't forgive others.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: Unforgiveness can hinder our prayers being heard, and it hinders our personal relationship with God.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: Even from a worldly perspective, psychologists, counselors, and social workers recognize the importance of forgiveness and the negative effects of unforgiveness.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Unforgiveness can lead to bitterness and hatred that impacts our happiness and our quality of life.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: And it causes stress and anxiety, which in turn affects our physical health and our general well-being.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: So, where do we start to help our young children understand how important forgiveness is and how they can forgive?
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Well, first of all, we need to model forgiveness ourselves.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: Our kids need to see us forgiving others.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: We can ask forgiveness of our spouse in front of them for something we failed to do.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: We can also share an age-appropriate situation that we had with someone and explain what we did to forgive them.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: We also need to ask our children to forgive us when we fail.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps we fail to keep a promise to them or we show up late for something important to them.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: We should be careful not to make excuses every time for our failures, or they will learn to do the same thing when they fail.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: We just need to ask their forgiveness and tell them we'll try harder the next time to keep that promise.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: We also need to make sure that our children understand how God forgives them whenever they ask Him.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: We need to teach them what God says about forgiving others and share scriptures about forgiveness.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: We want to make sure that we encourage our children to express their feelings, their hurts and anger when someone does something to them.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: We can listen without judgment and just love on them.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: This helps them realize it's okay to feel these things.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: And we can let them know it's okay to tell God how they feel.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: We should emphasize to our children that if someone does something illegal or harmful to them or others, they should always tell an adult.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: They should tell so that that person doesn't keep doing bad things, but they can still forgive them.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: Explain to them that forgiveness is not a feeling.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: When they forgive, they don't always, they don't forget what they did.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: It may still hurt and make them feel sad or angry, but that's okay because they're obeying God and He will help them with their feelings.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: God says not to take revenge or try to get back at them, which is what we humanly want to do.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: God is the one who will judge them, and we can be sure God is fair and just.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: So how should our children react when someone hurts them, teases them, or bullies them?
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: Well, after they forgive them, they can ask God to help them show kindness to that person.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps brainstorm with your child some ways they might show kindness.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe invite that person to sit with them at lunch at school or give them a compliment or offer to help them in some way.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: Here's an activity that you can do with a young child to help them visualize forgiveness.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: Explain that forgiving is letting go of your unforgiveness, giving it to God.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: Buy a helium balloon, take it outside, and ask your child to pray after you or pray on their own.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_00: I forgive blank for blank.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: Help me to show kindness and love to them.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: Then let the balloon go and watch it disappear into the heavens.