Beyond 'Say Sorry’: How to Guide Real Apologies & Meaningful Repair

Tired of forced “sorrys” that don’t teach anything? This guide helps you support genuine repair without shame or scripts. Learn what makes an apology meaningful, how to model repair over time, and why children don’t need to be pressured into remorse to learn accountability. Real repair starts with connection; saying “sorry” doesn’t always equal making things right.

You’ll Learn:

→ Why forced apologies don’t teach what we hope they will

→ The difference between genuine remorse and surface-level compliance

→ How to support apologies in action that build empathy and accountability

→ Scripts and phrases for guiding children through repair

→ What to do when a child resists apologising (and why that’s often protective, not defiant)