Building resilience in children
Resilience … it’s a familiar word, isn’t it? But what does it really mean?
When we talk about resilience, we’re talking about a child’s ability to cope with ups and downs and bounce back from the challenges they experience during childhood – for example moving home, changing schools, studying for an exam or dealing with the death of a loved one. Building resilience helps children not only to deal with current difficulties that are a part of everyday life, but also to develop the basic skills and habits that will help them deal with challenges later in life, during adolescence and adulthood.
Resilience is important for children’s mental health. Children with greater resilience are better able to manage stress, which is a common response to difficult events. Stress is a risk factor for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, if the level of stress is severe or ongoing.
How can I build resilience in my child?
Lates research finds that there are five areas that offer the best chance for building resilience in children.
Find out more.