Locale Hub 4300 - Issue 1

Resilience is the ability, skills or qualities of
positive adaptation that enables one to master
themselves and their reactions to remain
balanced in spite of adversity.
The development of resiliency isn’t immediate,
it’s built over time and is affected by not only
the person’s character but also dependent on
the interactive process with one’s environment.
A child’s level of resilience is a continuous
balance between the positive and negative
outcomes occurring in their life with respect to
one’s genes and personality, which results from
their reality and daily circumstances (i.e. health,
family life, financial stability, etc.).
As a child’s positive experiences accumulate,
they learn coping skills that aid in stress
management making an emphasis on positive
outcomes easier. At the heart of the process is
the supportive network and relationships they
have, particularly the family, caregivers and
larger community, who play a supportive role
and contribute to child development.
Positive interactions enable children to build
coping skills and adaptive abilities like how
to self-soothe, delay gratification, regulate
behaviour and more. It is during stressful times
that people tap into the lessons learned that
allow you to manage challenges.
The key to building resilience in children is
to equip community members with the right
skills, tools and support mechanisms for more
positive outcomes for children. Below are some
important steps factors to consider, including
quality childcare, parental coaching, stronger
schools and much more.
For parents who want to build resilience in
young children, below are some things we can
do to provide support in young children. These
things include:
1 ∙Don’t over accommodate∙
We live in a world where parents want to give
their children comfort and protection. It’s
important to realize that over protection fuels
anxiety and fear. Eliminating all risk and giving
all comforts rob children of learning resiliency.
2 ∙Make strong connections∙
Encourage children to connect with
others and teach basic skills of empathy
and understanding. This will foster the
establishment of a strong family and social
network that will provide support for them
during difficult times.
3 ∙Empower through helping∙
Children will benefit from helping others. By
engaging children in age-appropriate goodwill
activities, they will experience the benefits
of helping others and asking for help when
necessary.
4 ∙Nurture a positive sense of self∙
Help your child appreciate themselves and
those around them. Make every opportunity of
strength a lesson that shows your child they are
able to handle difficult situations. This will build
character and strength that will aid in handling
future challenges.
5 ∙Maintain a routine∙
Sticking to a routine can be a source of comfort
the predictability and structure offers security,
especially in younger children. Encourage your
child to develop their own routines and coach
them on how to maintain flexibility within that
structure.
6 ∙Accept that change is inevitable∙
While structures are important, children need
to know that life will always have unexpected
turns. Change can often be scary but when a
child sees that it is part of life and offers various
opportunities, children will be much more
adaptive with stronger coping skills.
By promoting resilience in children, despite
the odds, more children can grow up to be
balanced and productive members of society.
With the right foundation, children grow up
to have healthier and happier relationships,
become more successful in the different
aspects of their lives. Resilience is one of the
factors in helping children to reach their full
potential.
The importance of resilience is discussed
in much more detail in my upcoming book,
“Reeboot Your Mind”.