Guidance Officer News
From time to time, children may experience challenging times like starting a new school, moving house, having a prolonged illness or dealing with family changes. Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’ after these challenges and tough times. It’s the ability to adapt to challenges that you can’t change. Children build resilience through experience and having strong, supportive relationships with family members and their community. Developing resilience is important for children because it helps promote their overall emotional, social, and mental well-being. Children who develop resilience are more likely to manage stressful situations, adapt to change, and handle life’s setbacks more easily.
The following are some ways to help build resilience with your child.
Build Strong Relationships
Establishing a supportive relationship with your child helps provide a secure base from which they can explore and face challenges when they arise. A strong bond with a primary caregiver gives a child the confidence to develop the skills required to manage challenging times, build social skills and improve emotional wellbeing. Showing unconditional love and support helps to develop strong, secure relationships. Spending quality time with your child by doing activities such as reading a bedtime story, playing a favourite game or listening to how their day went are simple ways to encourage a positive relationship with your child.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills and Independence Resilient children are those who learn how to solve problems and think independently. Allow your child to make age-appropriate choices and let them face small challenges without immediately stepping in to solve problems. Help your child learn to trust themselves and to solve minor problems on their own by brainstorming possible solutions. Encourage healthy risk-taking by letting your child try new activities, like joining a new sport or hobby, even if there’s a chance they might fail. This helps them learn that mistakes are a natural part of growth and that it’s okay not to always succeed.
Encourage Emotional Awareness
Helping children identify and understand their emotions is a vital part of building resilience. When facing a challenge, identify and acknowledge your child’s feelings and reassure them. Encourage your child to talk about their feelings regularly and ask open-ended questions like, “How did that situation make you feel?” Validate your child’s feelings by acknowledging how they are feeling during a challenging time.
Build Self - Compassion
Positive self-talk is an important way to build resilience in children. Teach children to be kind to themselves and help them to reframe negative thoughts into more constructive ones. This can help shift their perspective and help them to manage disappointment or concern.
Build a Positive Growth Mindset
A positive growth mindset helps children understand that challenges are an opportunity to learn and grow. Praise effort and perseverance rather than just outcomes. For instance, if your child is learning a new skill, praise their persistence in trying even if they fall, rather than just congratulating them when they finally succeed. Set achievable goals together and celebrate progress along the way to help them stay motivated.
For more information on building resilience in your child, visit
Leanne Watson