Resilience is an important part of a child’s understanding of life skills. And it will also give your child a new way of approaching life and responsibility. It will be something your child gradually learns over time, but as parents we can offer plenty of support where we can. Here are some methods you could try.

Two little black girls digging in a vegetable patch — Credit: Unsplash.

Be aware of your child’s strengths and weaknesses

Being aware of these features in a child’s growth will help them become better role models and be more reliable in the future. It also gives your child a base to work with - if they know what they personally struggle with they’re more likely to work on those areas as they grow on their skills. Having the strength to do that would make all of us be a lot more in tune with our abilities.

Provide opportunities for failure

Allow your child to experience failure and disappointment in a supportive environment where they feel safe to take risks and learn from their mistakes. Emphasise that setbacks are a natural part of life and an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Emotional regulation

Teach your child healthy ways to manage and express their emotions, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, journaling, or engaging in physical activity. Encourage them to identify and label their feelings, and validate their emotions without judgment.

Lead by example

Be a positive role model for resilience by demonstrating perseverance, optimism, and resilience in your own life. Show your child how to navigate challenges with grace, flexibility, and a growth mindset. You could also expose your child to resilient role models in literature, history, or everyday life who have overcome adversity and achieved success through perseverance and resilience. Share their stories and discuss the qualities that enabled them to overcome challenges.

Promote self-care

Teach your child the importance of self-care and prioritising their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Encourage them to engage in the sort of activities that bring them joy, relaxation, and fulfilment, and model healthy self-care habits yourself.

Look into community involvement projects

A lot of schools make time for their students through community involvement. For example, this co-ed school in London offers different volunteering activities and group work for students to try out at any time.

These are often provided for children and young adults to help build their life skills, a key thing when it comes to building someone’s resilience. Examples of community involvement projects include volunteering at a charity shop, fundraising for an event at school by going on hikes or helping a community at a local care home.

Show your child how to work on different problems

There’s a lot of issues that your child will encounter, from a young age right the way through into adulthood. It’s a life lesson that shows your child how to manage themselves should a problem arise and you’re not there to be able to help them. The thing is, problems come up all the time, and you can’t prepare your child for all scenarios!

It’s about giving your child the knowhow to keep themselves calm, take the problem apart piece by piece and give them that chance to work on potential solutions. By implementing these strategies consistently and compassionately, you can help your child develop the resilience they need to thrive in the face of adversity and build a strong foundation for lifelong well-being and success.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.