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As a mom of three, I know firsthand the importance of raising resilient children.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks, and it’s a crucial skill for children to have as they grow and face the ups and downs of life.
But what exactly is resilience, and why is it so important for our children to develop?
Resilience is the mental, emotional, and physical ability to adapt and recover from adversity. It’s the ability to keep going, even in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
It’s a crucial skill for children to have because life is full of challenges, and the more resilient a child is, the better equipped they will be to handle those challenges and come out stronger on the other side.
But resilience isn’t something that children are born with – it’s something that must be developed over time.
As parents, it’s our job to help our children develop this important skill so that they can navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and determination.
In this article, we’ll be exploring 10 ways that parents can build their child’s resilience.
If you need a good resource to share with your kids, I have just the thing for you! Global Tinker’s Mini Meditations for Kids is a mindfulness podcast series that is designed to help children develop a growth mindset.
The meditations are short, lasting about five minutes, to keep children’s attention. They are also free and easy to access. The meditations provide functional tips, breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques to help children in different situations such as taking a test, making mistakes and dealing with general anxiety.
The series is an offshoot of the award-winning animated series, The Paper Girls Show, which aims to empower children to be resilient, confident and curious learners. The podcast is a great tool for parents, educators and caregivers to introduce children to mindfulness and help them develop a positive attitude towards making mistakes and growing from them.
Encourage independence
When we give our children the freedom to make their own decisions and solve their own problems, we’re helping them to develop important skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
One way to encourage independence in your children is to give them the opportunity to try new things on their own, like picking our jammies or brushing their hair!
This also could mean allowing them to choose their own activities or hobbies or giving them the space to explore their interests and passions, like drumming, or dance, or even gymnastics!
When children have the freedom to make their own choices, they learn to think for themselves and develop their own sense of identity.
Another way to encourage independence is to allow children to solve their own problems instead of solving problems for them.
This does mean stepping back and letting them figure things out on their own, rather than jumping in to solve every problem for them!
By giving children the opportunity to problem-solve and figure things out on their own, we’re helping them to develop important skills such as critical thinking and resourcefulness ..yay!
In short, encouraging independence in children is a key part of building their resilience.
By giving them the freedom to make their own decisions and solve their own problems, we’re helping them to grow into confident, self-sufficient individuals who are ready to face the challenges of life.
Foster a positive attitude
Fostering a positive attitude in your child is super important for building their resilience. When kids have a positive outlook, they’re better able to handle challenges and setbacks.
Plus, they’re more likely to see opportunities for growth and learning in difficult situations.
One way to encourage a positive attitude is to help your child see that they have the skills and abilities to tackle any challenge that comes their way.
Encourage them to think positively and approach new situations in a confident way if possible.
Another way to foster a positive attitude is to help your child see challenges as opportunities for growth! It’s natural for kids to feel frustrated, sad, mad or discouraged when they encounter obstacles or setbacks, but by helping them see that these challenges are actually opportunities to learn and grow, you can help them develop a more positive outlook!
Teach problem-solving skills
Teaching problem-solving skills is another important way to help children develop a positive attitude. When children are faced with a problem, they are easily confused!
By helping them to brainstorm solutions and encouraging them to think creatively, we can help them to feel more confident and capable of finding a solution. all by themselves
In short, fostering a positive attitude and teaching problem-solving skills are important ways to help children develop resilience.
By helping them to see challenges as opportunities for growth and empowering them to find solutions to problems, we can help them to become confident and capable individuals who are ready to tackle whatever comes their way.
Help children set and achieve goals
When children set goals for themselves, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged, and they are more likely to see the value in putting in the effort to achieve their goals.
Goal setting is a skill I never even learned as a child!
One way to help our sweet children set and achieve goals is to encourage them to set small, achievable goals, so it’s not super overwhelming.
When children set overly ambitious goals, they may become discouraged if they aren’t able to achieve them. By setting small, achievable goals, children can build their confidence and momentum as they work towards bigger goals.
Another way to help children set and achieve their big scary goals is to help them celebrate their successes.
When children see that their hard work and effort is paying off, it can give them the motivation to keep going. So, be sure to take the time to celebrate your child’s achievements, no matter how small they may seem.
Foster a growth mindset
Fostering a growth mindset is another important way to help children set and achieve goals – and build resilience!
A growth mindset is a belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning. By helping children to see that they have the potential to improve and grow, we can encourage them to embrace challenges and learn from their mistakes…yay!
In short, helping children set and achieve goals and fostering a growth mindset are important ways to build their resilience.
By giving children the tools and support they need to set and achieve their goals, we can help them to become confident, capable individuals who are ready to take on the world.
Encourage healthy habits
Encouraging healthy habits in children is an important way to build their resilience too.
When children have healthy habits, they are better able to handle the challenges and stresses of life, and they are more likely to feel confident and capable when faced with a scary challenge.
One way to encourage healthy habits in children is to help them develop healthy eating and exercise habits.
This means teaching them the importance of eating a balanced diet and getting regular physical activity. By establishing healthy habits at a young age, children will be more likely to carry them into adulthood.
Another way to encourage healthy habits is to encourage children to get enough sleep (it’s a tough one sometimes!)
Sleep is crucial for physical and mental health too, and when children don’t get enough sleep, they may have difficulty concentrating and handling stress.
So, be sure to set bedtimes and establish good sleep habits for your children, for their health and your sanity too.
Teach coping strategies
Teaching coping strategies is another important way to help children develop healthy habits. When children are faced with challenges or stress, it’s natural for them to feel overwhelmed.
If you are helping them to identify their emotions and find healthy ways to cope with them, you can help them to develop the skills they need to handle life’s ups and downs.
In short, encouraging healthy habits and teaching coping strategies are important ways to build your children’s resilience (and prepare them for life as well)!
By helping children to develop these kinds of great habits and coping skills, we can give them the wonderful tools they need to navigate the hard challenges of life with confidence!!
Help children develop a support system
Establishing a supportive network of friends and mentors is a key factor in building a child’s resilience. When children have this kind of support system, they are more likely to feel connected, supported and capable of handling life’s challenges!
One way to help children build this support system is to encourage them to form relationships with positive role models, such as other family members, teachers, or even coaches of any kind.
By surrounding themselves with these role models, children can learn valuable lessons and develop the skills they need to succeed.
Another way to build a support system is to encourage children to seek out good friends. Strong, positive friendships provide a source of support and encouragement, helping children feel connected and valued too! Encourage your child to make and maintain these kinds of friendships with their peers.
Model resilience
Modeling resilience is another important way to help children with building up that resilience!
When children see how to bounce back from setbacks and challenges, they are more likely to develop resilience themselves.
So, be sure to share your own experiences of overcoming challenges with your children and show them how to persevere in the face of adversity. I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of set backs.
In short, helping children develop a support system and modeling resilience are important ways to build their resilience.
By giving children the support and guidance they need, we can help them to become confident, capable individuals who are ready to take on the world.
Bottom Line
Building resilience in children is an important task for parents, as my experience has taught me.
By encouraging independence, fostering a positive attitude, teaching problem-solving skills, parents can help their children develop the resilience they need to navigate the challenges of life with confidence!
But building resilience is a ongoing process and it wont happen overnight! And it’s important for parents to continue working on it as their children grow.
So, be sure to keep these tips in mind as you work to build your child’s resilience, and remember that every little bit of effort can make a big difference in your child’s development.
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