The Importance Of Building Resilience In Children
Resilience is the ability to face difficult situations and become stronger despite adversity. Of course, it goes without saying that children must receive care and protection from adults in their vicinity. But building resilience in children from a young age can be good for developing progressive autonomy.
Studies by the Minnesota Department of Health have found that resilience is the result of a set of dynamic interactions between a person’s negative experiences and protective factors. Although it may sound complicated, we will try to develop and explain the concept below.
How to build resilience in children?
It is not uncommon to meet individuals and families who have lived through extremely difficult experiences but managed to overcome them. At the same time, it is also easy to see friends and family members collapsing in the face of the slightest adversity.
But, what distinguishes one group from the other?
There are genetic, social and behavioral factors that play a role in these differences. But various studies agree that the decisive factor is resilience.
When a physicist speaks of resilience, she means “the ability of a substance to return to its normal form after being bent, stretched or pressed” (Cambridge Dictionary).
When it comes to resilience in humans, the term “the ability to be happy, successful, and so on. after something difficult or bad has happened ” (Cambridge).
Resilience: Does it make a difference?
Two families who lose a child will mourn in different ways. For example, the first family may completely collapse from the tragedy. At the same time, the other family can succeed in moving forward as they struggle through the five phases of grief:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Building resilience in children: A journey that means real change
So it seems that resilience is the link that can bring about significant changes in how a person sees and reacts to problems. The factors that nurture resilience are the following:
- Self-esteem
- Self-confidence
- Spirituality
- A sense of humor
During the last decade, resilience has increasingly come to be regarded as a very important ability in life. This does not mean that resilience is the universal cure for all difficult situations. However, it is an essential skill that we must promote both in our homes and in our classrooms.
Conclusion
Resistance is an ability to overcome problems and turn obstacles into strengths. While some biological and innate components may come into play, the good news is that resilience is something that people can learn and practice.
Juan de Dios Uriarte, from the Department of Developmental Psychology at the Masters of Education School in Bilbao, Spain, points out that:
It is of the utmost importance to encourage teachers, educators and parents to promote resilience in the children they come in contact with. It is a challenge that is worth taking on.
