Resiliency

 

Resiliency is the capacity to recover, resist, and possibly even thrive in the face of life problems ― for example, tragedy, personal crises, or stressful situations. Some common characteristics in resilient people are they:  

 

  • feel appreciated
  • are aware of and feel valued for their unique strengths
  • accept their weaknesses
  • have realistic expectations for themselves and others
  • do not get discouraged by problems but rather have learned effective ways to solve them.
  • are able to cope when faced with adversity
  • have a supportive network and seeks support from others when needed

 

One of the most valuable gifts parents/caregivers can give their children is the confidence in their abilities to achieve, and live independently on their own. Help children develop a sense of competence by giving them opportunities to make decisions they are capable of making.  In other words, it is good to offer children a chance to make choices and come up with possible solutions.

 

For example, instead of telling a child “You will wear this sweater because I say so and for no other reason,” a parent/ caregiver can ask the child if he/she wants the blue sweater or the red one. Other examples are the following: Does he/she want green beans or carrots for supper? and Does he/she want to clean his/her bedroom before or after supper? The type of choices given would change as the child gets older. This gives the child a sense of responsibility.

 

Give them the chance to think and figure out simple problems. Help them learn that mistakes are a part of life, not to be afraid to fail, and to deal with and learn from mistakes in a constructive manner. Teach children how to respond constructively when life seems unfair, how to deal with disappointments These factors are important for the child to develop a sense of ambition, drive, motivation, and resiliency.