

As parents, we like to give our kids positive reinforcement, but you want to be mindful of saying things like, “You’re the absolute best.” That can be problematic and set up unrealistic expectations. You want to praise the process, not the result. Make sure you are taking care of yourself with good sleeping and eating habits.Īre there ways to help kids cope with disappointments or failures?

Your tone matters, and your ability to adapt to change matters.Īnd just as you pay attention to your child’s overall health, you should look after your own. It’s not about pretending some things aren’t hard it’s about keeping things in perspective. If you can adapt to change, and maintain a hopeful outlook, your child is more likely to model that behaviour. When she’s older, she might consider volunteering or donating her time to a cause she’s passionate about. It needn’t be a skill or talent necessarily it could be as simple as family game nights. Having something in your child’s life that’s meaningful to her - sports, art, chess, singing - can also help build resilience. Something that can help is finding a purpose. If your child feels depleted or is over-tired, that can play a role in diminished resilience. Also, make sure your child’s basic health is looked after - she’s sleeping well, eating well, exercising well. Having a community of empathetic people can build resilience. Try to ensure your child is engaging with family and friends, that she has people around her who are compassionate and who understand her. Think about how your child reacts to things thrown her way: Is she easygoing and flexible, or does she struggle? If she is struggling, she might need support or help in building up her resilience.Ĭan I help my child become more resilient? Like all of us, kids experience twists and turns in their lives, and their ability to adapt and navigate them is what I would say is resilience. The ability to adapt in the face of stress, adversity or trauma navigating those difficult waters that happen in everyone’s life.

Let’s start with a definition: What is resilience? If your child is more apt to sweat the small (and big) stuff, Suneeta Monga, psychiatrist-in-chief at the Hospital for Sick Children, says there are steps you can take to help. Whether it’s coping with the fallout from a global pandemic or navigating daily frustrations, some kids just seem to handle with greater ease life’s ups and downs. Some are faring better than others, which many chalk up to one somewhat elusive quality: resilience. Our kids have been through a lot these past 20 months.
