How to develop resilience in children

Do you consider yourself to be resilient? Can you bounce back from failure, dust yourself off and power on?

The good news is that resilience can be learned. In its simplest form, resilience describes something that reverts to its original state after it has been bent or stretched – and we're not talking about yoga! Being resilient doesn't mean that you don't experience hardship or feel stressed, it just means that you are able to recover effectively.

Schools are increasingly aware of the need to help students build resilience and cope with the many different challenges of life and what is becoming an increasingly complex world. Wellbeing is a strategic priority at Mentone Girls' Grammar and Vice Principal Wellbeing, Mrs Jo Frost, discusses the need to develop happy, healthy and confident young women.

"Being resilient is an important life skill for coping with busyness, unexpected events and perceived failure. We teach our students to 'bounce back' and learn to try again. We go through this process when we learn to ride a bike – it's as natural as breathing – but as adolescence strikes, girls especially can develop a fear of failure that can stay with them their whole lives. They don't want to disappoint or be ridiculed.

"The environment we create here at school is about getting girls to try new things and experiment with the risk of failure, supporting each other in the process. It is vital that we remind girls that failing is simply an essential part of learning and living – it's human. 

"Research suggests that school and family play an essential role in helping students build resilience. Parents and teachers can help by being role models and practising these behaviours themselves. Here are seven ways to build resilience in children that we use here at school."

1.  Avoid solving all their problems. Engage children as active participants in family/group problem-solving, let them contribute meaningfully to discussions and any solutions.

2. Model a positive 'can do' attitude. Encourage children to take decisive action rather than detaching from problems, and wishing they would just go away. Help them to see every experience as an opportunity.

3. Positive relationships. Encourage children to develop relationships with positive people who offer mutual support and who are not 'dream stealers' or 'energy zappers'.

4. Embrace change. Flexibility is an essential part of resilience so teach children how to be more adaptable and to accept that change is a part of living and can bring new opportunities.

5. Goal setting. From an early age, encourage children into the habit of developing realistic goals and making small yet regular progress towards accomplishing them, or adapting them as things change. 

6. Be optimistic. Encourage children to visualise what they want from themselves, rather than worrying about what they fear.

7. Be responsible for personal wellbeing. Teach kids to listen to their own mind and body, to know when they need to engage in some relaxation, to eat nutritious food and exercise regularly. Feeling energetic and healthy will keep them primed to deal with tough situations.

Source: http://www.essentialkids.com.au/all-about-girls/seven-tips-for-parents-to-help-develop-resilience-in-children-20160902-gr7m0c#ixzz4MGFW5Wfg
Also www.soyoga.com.sg