What Does Resilience Mean? Does My Child Have Resilience?

In the early stages of life children are dependent on their parents to assist them when they are hurt or upset; we the parents are their support and secure attachment. Children are born with resiliency skills; however it is our job to foster these skills.

These skills are vital to children in order for them to be able to be in control of their emotions, cope in adverse situations as well as being adaptive to different situations or sudden changes to routines or outcomes in life.

As our children grow and develop it is important for them to develop resiliency in order to be successful in life. Resilience definition? Resiliency is defined as having emotional competence, one should be aware of their emotions or the emotions of others; have the ability to inhibit impulses and troublesome emotions as well as having the ability to exhibit empathy and social development in children.

These skills are vital to children in order for them to be able to be in control of their emotions, cope in adverse situations as well as being adaptive to different situations or sudden changes to routines or outcomes in life. What does resilience mean in real life? Some specific skills that we must foster are the ability to calm and focus ourselves, bounce back from trauma, flexibility, impulse control, optimism, emotional regulation and self efficacy to name just a few.

We must master these skills prior to our children in order to set them up for success.

As parents or caregivers our modeling is crucial to children; children imitate our styles, therefore, if they recognize that we cannot handle stress then they will begin to learn how we handle it. This will then set them up for failure; we must master these skills prior to our children in order to set them up for success. So, how do we regulate our emotion, keep calm under pressure, reduce intensity and duration of your emotions? By counting to 10 and/or do deep breathing exercises. To enhance impulse control try to take a minute before you react to something, delay gratification for a few moments, follow through and set goals for yourself. Self efficacy can be mastered by believing in yourself and knowing that you are a competent individual. If you believe that you can take control over controllable aspects of your life you will increase your self-efficacy. Empathy is extremely important to teach children, having the ability to understand the feelings and needs of others will allow children to bond and develop positive and healthy relationships with others. It is important to label your feelings and demonstrate non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions (happy, sad, mad) and body language (crossed arms, fists etc).

To enhance impulse control try to take a minute before you react to something, delay gratification for a few moments, follow through and set goals for yourself.

Another way to promote resiliency skills in children is to read them stories that focus on the development of these skills. Here is a list of a few children books:

Moondance by F. Asch (Scholastic Inc)
Bootsie Barker Bites by B. Bottner (G.P Putnam’s Son)
Fat, Fat Rose Marie by L. Passen (Henry Holt and Company)
The Bi Orange Splot by D. Pinkwater (Scholastic Press)

Quick Tips:

Role Model for your children
Believe in yourself
Label your feelings

Remember we are born with resiliency

Written By: Amy Gibson BCD, RECE

Amy, having earned a Bachelors Degree in Child Development, has been in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past 10 years. First working in an infant classroom, and then moving to JK, preschool and toddlers. Currently Amy works as a Supervisor of a childcare facility in York Region.

You might also enjoy

Easing the Daycare and Childcare Transition and Fostering Child Development

Childcare programs can have a substantial positive impact on the social development of your child. However, these advantages can come at the price of emotional stress for both parent and child. No two children are the same, so it is essential to consider your specific child’s needs and the workings of your chosen childcare facility.

The Pros and Cons of Mental Health Diagnosis

If your child’s behavior starts to seem quite different from their peers, you may begin to wonder if there is “something wrong with them.” While children develop at different rates, a clinical assessment from a mental health professional and possibly some early intervention can be beneficial.

Difficult Or Resilient Temperament? How to Foster Social Development In Children

There are different variations of temperament; they range from a child’s self-regulation, emotions, the quality/ability to be social, how active they are and how they adapt to different things presented in their daily lives.

Or click any topic below

The general information provided on the Website is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Do NOT use this Website for medical emergencies.

If you have a medical emergency, call a physician or qualified healthcare provider, or CALL 911 immediately. Under no circumstances should you attempt self-treatment based on anything you have seen or read on this Website. Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed and qualified health provider in your jurisdiction concerning any questions you may have regarding any information obtained from this Website and any medical condition you believe may be relevant to you or to someone else. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.

What Does Resilience Mean? Does My Child Have Resilience?