20 Ways to Build Resilience in Children
20 ways to teach your kids to recover from challenging situations that help them grow holistically.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Teaching children to navigate life’s challenges leads the way toward their growth and well-being. Resilience is one of the key skills they should learn at a young age. To do so, here are 20 ways to build resilience in children while fostering a positive mindset.
1. Maintain a Daily Routine
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Children who maintain their routines tend to be more responsible and independent. A good routine also keeps them in control of their time and sleep.
2. Teach Self-Care
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Teach your child how to take care of their body and mind. Encourage self-care through breaks and handling stress. Through this, they learn to take responsibility for their well-being.
3. Teach Gratitude
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Educate your child to make it a habit to say “thank you” for the little things they get daily. You can also initiate a gratitude journal where your child writes or draws stuff for which they are thankful.
4. Teach Self-Compassion
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Teach your child kindness toward themselves, particularly when they get things wrong. Let them know that everyone experiences challenges sometimes and that it’s okay not to be perfect.
5. Teach Problem-Solving Skills
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Do not solve all of their problems. Instead, ask questions to make them come up with solutions. Guide them by asking, “What could you do next?” When they make some small decisions and learn from the outcomes, it’ll prepare them to handle future challenges.
6. Teach a New Language
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Broaden their knowledge by teaching them a new language. Make learning fun with songs and games.
7. Foster a Sense of Purpose
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Get your child interested in something meaningful. It could be an activity, helping others, or working towards a goal. When children feel they are contributing, they become even more resilient.
8. Encourage Physical Activity
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Regular exercise helps the child feel better physically and mentally. Activities such as running, swimming, or playing sports can help improve their moods.
9. Encourage Help-seeking
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Give your child the understanding that asking for help is a good thing. Make them understand that it’s okay not to have everything worked out and that one needs help.
10. Provide Opportunities for Success
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Let your child have opportunities to succeed in different areas. Examples include simple and actual regions, such as solving a puzzle or completing a particular undertaking in the house.
11. Set Realistic Expectations
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Ensure that the expectations you set for your child are reachable. They might become frustrated or give up if the expectations are too high. Celebrate their progress, no matter how small.
12. Build a Strong Support Network
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Encourage your child to foster close bonds with family, friends, and mentors. A strong network will make them feel safe and loved.
14. Practice Mindfulness
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Teach them to remain in the present moment. This will keep them steady and not easily stressed out. They will also not get worried about troubles, as mindfulness makes them live in emotional control.
15. Provide Stability
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Stable things make things more secure, and problems can be handled better. A set schedule for homework, bedtime, and other tasks creates a secure feeling. When stability is provided, your child can deal with life changes with fewer stress issues.
16. Encourage Creativity
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Give your child enough time and space to be their most creative selves. This can be through drawing, music, or devising new games. Creativity will help them find their means of expression, what they feel, and how to think outside the box.
17. Use Humor
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Let your child learn it’s okay to laugh, even at the most trying times. Humor can help children see threats as less daunting and themselves as less vulnerable.
18. Practice Meditation
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Guide them through concise sessions of deep breathing or peaceful thought. Meditation reduces stress and helps children concentrate. It also develops children’s ability to overcome negative thoughts and hard feelings.
19. Take Walks
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Taking walks in nature helps to relax your child and clears their mind. Allowing your child to walk some distance frees them from problems and connects them with nature.
20. Trust Their Abilities
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Believing in them makes them believe in themselves, too, so telling your child you believe in their skills is highly encouraged. Let them also take on challenges, but trust them to decide and make things happen.