Saying Sorry is a simple, thoughtful, and child-friendly social story that helps children understand what it means to apologise and why saying sorry is important. Using clear language and everyday examples, this story gently guides children through the steps of recognising when they have hurt someone and how to respond with kindness and care.
This free printable resource is especially helpful for children who are autistic, have learning difficulties, or need extra support with social skills and emotional awareness.
What’s Inside This Social Story About Apologising?
-
Explains when to say sorry – Gives examples of times when a child might make someone sad or upset, such as bumping into them, taking something, or saying something unkind.
-
Acknowledges different intentions – Reassures children that even if they did not mean to hurt someone, saying sorry still matters.
-
Teaches what to say – Models the words “I’m sorry” and shows different ways to say it, including using a quiet voice or eye contact.
-
Normalises emotions – Encourages children not to worry if they feel shy or embarrassed when saying sorry.
-
Describes what may happen after – Prepares children that sometimes people say “It’s okay,” and sometimes they still feel upset—and both are okay.
-
Promotes kindness and emotional growth – Reinforces that apologising shows care and helps fix relationships.
How Can the Resource Be Used Practically?
-
At home with parents or carers – Use during quiet moments or after an incident to talk gently about how to say sorry.
-
In schools or early years settings – A great addition to lessons on kindness, friendship, and positive behaviour.
-
In social-emotional learning (SEL) programmes – Supports emotional literacy, empathy, and respectful communication.
-
With children who have autism or learning needs – A helpful visual and repetitive tool to support children who need more time to understand social rules.
-
In therapy or support sessions – Useful for one-to-one or group work focused on social skills, behaviour, or relationships.
This printable social story about saying sorry is a kind and effective way to help children build empathy, take responsibility for their actions, and learn how to repair relationships with others.
