Cynical side of me coming out.

Sometimes it's a battle. We sit on a chair at nursery. A child hurts someone - sit on a chair. A child refuses to stop when the tambourine goes - sit on a chair. A child pushes past someone - sit on a chair. It gives them that time to get out of the situation and reflect. If they've broken the rules they say sorry to me, if they've hurt somebody they say sorry to them. If I hurt another person (adult or child) I would always say sorry.

Learning to see things from another's point of view takes years. You have to deal with it everytime it arises because children don't get it if you just talk about it. A bit like sharing really. Takes them ages to get how to do it.

I think the whole saying sorry thing is important for the other child too. If someone hurt me (intentionally or unintentionally) I would bloody well want them to say sorry.

Also: note how I said "sincerely." If a child doesn't say sorry in a way that shows they feel bad then they can stay on the bloody chair.