Nurture the nature of resilience in children

By Nayan Rath

In an ever-changing world, we adults face adversities, struggles, and challenges. Our children are also exposed to new environments, challenging classrooms, bullying classmates, and family maladjustments. What they need, is a dynamic process of positive adaptation to adversity. This is resilience, a 'rubble ball ' factor for a child to recover from any setback.

Resilience consists of the 5C's: Connection, Contribution, Coping Confidence, and Control. Somebody may not be born with resilience, but anyone can learn and nurture it through thought and action. The single most important need for a child to be resilient is having one committed relationship with a supportive parent or caregiver.

How can working mothers foster resilience in kids?

1. Connection Enhancer

Establishing a solid connection goes a long way, helping children with rich emotional quotient. Help your child interact with family members, friends, and teachers and more importantly, with peers in person. This provides social support, strengthens resilience, and gives a sense of security. They can develop creative solutions to problems in a community.

2. Display Self-control

Help kids manage emotions while encountering distractions. Let them take part in activities with other children of the same age that need self-discipline. PRAISE the child's efforts even if they fail. Thus, they will know success and failure are parts of life. Which will help them develop the art of managing success and failure at the same pace. Discuss with the child what went wrong, without insulting their self-confidence.

3. Encourage his Competence and Confidence

Help them take the initiative to develop a higher level of perception and analyse the situation from a different angle. This develops a proactive mindset to take charge of cases during difficult times. When they come to the parents to solve their problems, resist your urge to fix it instantly for them. Don't lecture or explain. Instead, ask questions to help them think through the issues and come up with solutions.

4. Empathy matters

When your child says 'I am not good enough, or I can't do this', acknowledge their feelings with compassion. Don't dismiss them as silly. Instead, listen and help him calm down; this will help them learn to remain in control of their feelings before escalating or causing a meltdown.

5. Take a Pause

Help them to express all feelings in words. But TRAIN them to focus on something within their control. Help them challenge the unrealistic thoughts by asking about the chances of the worst-case scenario: what they will advise a friend in such a situation. This enables them to take call during difficult situations and own up to responsibility.

6. Develop a sense of humour.

What can make parenting easier is a Dash of Humour. Trust me, jokes and playfulness win children's cooperation more than threats and demands. Make sure that the child has good sleep, sufficient time for fun, and participates in activities they enjoy. This will help them balance stressful times well.

7. Contribution

The experience of offering help to others makes it easier for children to ask for help when they need it. Being ready to seek help is a big part of being resilient and adopting coping strategies to avoid triggering points and letting go of irrelevant things.

Today, take a moment to reflect on these strategies and commit to implementing at least one. Because in your hands lies the potential to shape a future of resilient, confident, and empowered children. Be the pillar of support your child needs. Start today. Foster resilience.