Should Parents Ask Their Children to Apologize

Craig Smith, Ph.D., is currently the director of the Living Lab project at the University of Michigan. The Living Lab is a research/education model that brings developmental research into community settings such as museums and libraries.  Your child is playing with another child while you watch from across the playground. Suddenly your child lashes out and hits their friend. What do you do? Do you demand an “I’m Sorry”? Do you apologize to the other parents? What’s the best thing to do to teach your child? Dr. Craig Smith explains his research.