Apologies are part of everyday life, yet they carry more weight than we realize. A genuine apology can mend hurt feelings, restore trust, and show care for others, but only when it’s rooted in honesty and understanding. That’s why learning how to give a meaningful apology matters.
The Apologizing Worksheets include three engaging pages that help clients learn, explore, and practice this important life skill. The Learning to Apologize worksheet guides them to reflect on their actions and walk through the five steps of a meaningful apology. The Apology Situation Cards are a printable cut-out sheet with real-life scenarios that can be used to practice the 5-step apology activity on the Learning to Apologize worksheet. Understanding Apologies is a worksheet that lets clients identify weak versus sincere apologies and reflect on their importance.
Completing these worksheets gives young people a safe space to explore their feelings, take responsibility, and practice giving apologies that come from the heart. They can revisit their work whenever they need a reminder or use it for future conversations.
To reinforce this learning, adults can join in by sharing a time they had to apologize and what they learned from it. Another great way to build on this topic is to use the Apology Situation Cards as a fun group activity where each person can choose a card and explain how they’d respond.
These worksheets pair well with our All About Apologizing handout.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of social skills worksheets.
References:
- Björk-Willén, P. (2018). Learning to apologize. Research on Children and Social Interaction, 2(2), 177-194. https://doi.org/10.1558/rcsi.37387
- Smith, C. E., Chen, D., & Harris, P. L. (2010). When the happy victimizer says sorry: Children's understanding of apology and emotion. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 28(4), 727-746. https://doi.org/10.1348/026151009x475343
