How to Encourage Resilience in Young Children

Childhood is the most carefree phase of life. No stress, no worries, just enjoying life at its rhythm. But is it true?

Kids also face difficult situations in their everyday lives. Just like we adults, they also face anxieties and stress. Even a slight change in routine can affect them deeply. 

Kids’ issues might not be as big as ours, but the feelings are the same. Changing schools, shifting homes, being shy about making new friends, not learning at the same pace as their classmates—you never know what might be affecting them. But you can make them capable of dealing with such tricky situations effectively by building Resilience in children.

A study on “The science of resilience” at Harvard University’s Centre on the Developing Child

emphasised the critical role of supportive relationships in building resilience in children. It highlights the importance of having at least one stable and caring adult in a child’s life. We’re here to help you become that parent. 

Importance of resilience in kids

We teach kids a lot about positivity and keeping self-esteem high. But is it possible to be positive all the time, especially when you are in a low phase? It’s not, but this is where resilient kids manage to keep their heads high and mind in the right place, demonstrating significant emotional strength in children.

Resilience teaches kids to accept the uncertainty of life, deal with the setbacks, and bounce back stronger than before. Children become emotionally secure and don’t give in to negative emotions when things don’t go their way. 

• This is your sign to help your kid develop resilience. Here are some ways to build resilience in children so they deal with problems in a healthy way.

How to teach resilience to kids

• Experience delayed gratification 

Life has its ways of rewarding and teaching you lessons, and it’s better if children realise it at the right age. Love is like a rollercoaster journey filled with all kinds of highs and lows – fun, thrilling, and a little scary too. Resilience prepares children to live life on their terms. Board games are one of the best ways to teach them – you take turns, make critical decisions, regulate your emotions, win, lose, or turn the game last minute. Enrolling your little one in a good play school in Gurgaon will offer them the opportunity to enjoy play-based learning benefits.

• Give responsibilities 

Most valuable lessons are not taught; they are learnt through experiences. Delegate some household chores to your child and let them figure it out themselves. They will learn through mistakes, make their own decisions, find pride in their work, and develop confidence in their abilities. It will be a great learning curve, teaching problem-solving skills for kids. Make sure to not forget to appreciate and reward them to promote their self-esteem. 

• Model gratitude

Have you introduced your child to the power of positive thinking? Challenging situations feel so small when you start counting your blessings. There are so many things to be grateful for, but we never realise until we start counting them. Follow a simple exercise of asking positive bedtime questions to your child, like What did you learn today? Or what was your favourite moment of the day? This will teach them to always look at the brighter side of things and move ahead with resilience.

• Push them to move their body 

If you can’t get out of your head, get outside and get your body moving. A good workout doesn’t just make your body feel better, but also works wonderfully to free your mind from the chaos. Exercise boosts stress-response hormones in your body and helps deal with challenging situations efficiently. Encourage your child to do some squats, lunges, star jumps, or frog hops. It would turn out to be fun than just beneficial. Choose a good play school in Gurgaon that incorporates outdoor play and physical activities into its curriculum, recognising its invaluable benefits.

• Foster a deep emotional bond 

Resilience doesn’t appear magically at the touch of a magical wand. Good relationships are the backbone of resilience. Kids need support from friends and family to reaffirm their talent, skills, and confidence. Children can navigate the toughest of situations if they have the right support and people around who believe in their capabilities. While teaching them resilience, make sure to develop a healthy and supportive relationship too, fostering crucial social skills development in kids. Take out quality time at the end of the day to have a heart-to-heart with your child.

Preschool children are not the best at expressing their stress and worries. Keep looking out for the signs, provide your warmth, love, & support at every step while building resilience in children. Beansprouts Pre-primary, the top play school in Gurgaon, utilises similar strategies to develop resilience and promote child growth and development. Try these at home to nurture your little one from a young age for early childhood development.