THE SORRY PLANE
When Molly accidentally breaks a balloon she and her sister Lucy have found, Lucy demands an apology. But, as Molly describes in fanciful, imaginative scenarios, her sorries are all gone: hiding under the bed, down the sink, off to Paris on the Sorry Plane.
As their mother explains, we can’t say sorry if we don’t have any sorries in us. But when our sorries return, as Molly’s eventually do, we can give them to others.
Brilliantly illustrated with captivating images by artist Zoe Si, The Sorry Plane carries a profound message about the importance of connecting with our authentic emotions. It highlights how a good sorry is one that you mean from the heart and how we adults can preserve a child’s caring spirit.
The Sorry Plane bears the Neufeld Institute Recommended seal which highlights children’s literature that is congruent with developmental science as well as with the relational-developmental approach articulated by Dr. Gordon Neufeld, PhD
1. The Story Behind the Story
The Sorry Plane is based a true story, created from the imagination of my 4-year old daughter, Madeline. It took its first flight following a heated argument between my two children over a popped balloon. Ten years later I asked Madeline how she came up with the Sorry Plane. She told me, “All I know is I didn’t want to say sorry and it was the first thing that popped into my head.” I am thankful to Madeline who was ‘on board’ with sharing this story and I am still full of wonder at the power of a 4-year old’s imagination. READ MORE …
2. The Science of Empathy and Caring
“Say Sorry!” How Forced Sorry’s Do More Harm Than Good
If you are around a playground or schoolyard long enough you are bound to hear a child or adult say, “You need to say you’re sorry.” These words are meant to soothe hurts, prevent kids from taking justice into their own hands, and convey rules for behaviour.
You will also hear kids point out insincere sorry’s when they hear them and demand, “you need to say sorry like you mean it!” Forced sorry’s sound hollow because they are usually devoid of genuine caring. The problem is that while we can force a child to say sorry, it doesn’t mean that they feel remorse.
How to Raise Caring Kids
We get take delight watching kids when they are full of caring: from the kindness they show siblings, to helping others out, to paying attention in school. We also watch in horror when children are cruel to each other, dominate and bully, or selfishly put their needs first without considering others. What is the difference between caring and uncaring kids? When caring is absent on a consistent basis, is this due to genetics, parenting, school issues, modeling from other kids, or something else within the child themself?
3. Supplemental Resources
Includes an infographic (Say Sorry Like You Mean It), posters, and colouring pages
