
The third step to helping children through conflict is having them confess their wrongdoing and apologize. Children need to learn they are responsible for what they say and do, regardless of how they are being treated. Therefore, they must practice taking ownership for their contribution to the conflict, which is a lifelong skill. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed…..” (James 5:16, NIV). When children learn to apologize for their misbehavior, they are acknowledging where they were wrong and validating the pain they caused the other child, which helps the receiving child forgive and move forward.