Resilience

Being resilient is important because it can help to protect us against the stresses and situations that we all experience in life.

Resilience is one of the keys to positive mental health. Helping your child become resilient will assist them to become effective adults. The resilient child is one who continues to work, play well, love well and expect well. (Bernard, 1991)

Children can be taught key social and emotional skills from a very young age. The development of these skills depends on the positive support and relationships that children have with the people who surround them in their family and community.

Some characteristics of resilient children
• being flexible, caring and able to communicate well
• being able to work out what the problem is, think of different ways to solve the problem and being able to plan ahead
• high self esteem
• self disciplined and independent
• having goals in life
• motivated, persistent and hopeful
• a sense of humour
 

What parents can do

For parents of children up to 8 years
For parents of children up to 12 years 
For parents of teenagers up to 18 years


For parents of children up to 8 years
Here are some tips on helping your child to become resilient and develop social and emotional skills.
• Raising resilient kids
• You’re welcome at our house
• Rules at our house
• Bounceback Bear goes home
• Shark and dolphin thoughts
• Ways our family stays in control


For parents of children up to 12 years
Here are some tips on raising a resilient child.
• Raising resilient kids
• Getting along with others


For parents of teenagers up to 18 years
Here are some tips on resilience and teenagers.
• Raising resilient teenagers