Crafts for Teaching Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an integral part of relating to others.

Drawing, painting and creating crafts is often highly therapeutic. Crafts that teach forgiveness can allow the artist to go through necessary steps before forgiveness is possible. Creating crafts can help express and release anger in a positive way and help the artist understand the other person's point of view. Crafts for teaching forgiveness also help children understand the meaning of the word "forgiveness" and its importance in interpersonal relationships.

Draw the Other Person's Feelings

Children, as well as many adults, often only relate to their own feelings and don't think about the other person's feelings. Begin by drawing or painting your own feelings about a conflict or event. Be as abstract as you want, such as scribbling hard with a red marker to express rage or anger. Next, draw or paint what the other person may have been feeling at the time. Consider labeling the feelings with words on the drawings. Even if it's not possible to forgive in person, draw what it would feel like to forgive that person.

Crafts to Represent Stages of Forgiveness

Stages of forgiveness include recognizing the event and the feelings associated with it, and then releasing the bad feelings. Create craft timelines to portray whichever stages apply. Draw, paint, cut or tear to demonstrate the feelings and memories associated with each stage. For example, draw a "snapshot" of the event taking place, tear jagged strips of red paper and paste them on another color to express anger, and then cut out a flock of doves to represent the emotions being released. Pin each creation up in order to see the steps toward forgiveness.

Box of Forgiveness

Children sometimes don't understand intangible ideas like forgiveness. To help them, work together to create a gift-wrapped, empty box. Allow the child to decorate it with drawings, stickers and ribbons. Explain that forgiveness is a gift, and only they have the power to grant it. Practice apologizing, asking for forgiveness and then accepting the box from the other person. Switch roles and do it again. Ask your child how it feels to grant forgiveness.

Heart Paper Chain

Fold a piece of paper and cut a heart to create a heart paper chain. Tell children to watch as you create the chain. Explain that forgiveness is like love; you have a never-ending supply of it. Hand them the heart and tell them to open it. They will find an abundance of hearts, which represent love and forgiveness. If the child is old enough to use scissors, teach him to cut the paper chain on his own to create whenever he wants to remember this lesson.

References

• American Art Therapy Association: Art Therapy
• Cancer Supportive Survivorship Care: The Art and Science of Forgiveness - The Four Stages of Forgiveness; Frederic Luskin, PhD
• Teacher Vision: Conflict Resolution Activities
• The Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet - Family and Consumer Sciences: Teaching Children to Resolve Conflict; Joyce Fittro
• AgWeek: Forgiveness in Stages; Val Farmer; Oct. 2010
• Origami Resource Center: Heart Paper Chain
• Christianity Cove: Bible School Craft Ideas - Forgiveness; Mary Kate; Sept. 2008