What is resilience? Is it grit? Determination? Being able to take a knock or a disappointment and stand up ready to try again? It’s all of these things and more. True resilience is a combination of determination, toughness and flexibility which not only extends to the physical but also the mental abilities of children and adults.
It stands to reason that all parents want their child to be resilient. Being resilient means that failure is just a blip on the path to success – resilient people aren’t put off by failures but see them as an opportunity to learn.
Resilience also means having the ability to adjust thought process to fit in with changing circumstances – especially those circumstances we cannot control.
This private college in the UK teaches pupils that flexibility is often the key to success.
How to start teaching resilience to your child
You can never start too soon. As soon as your child is old enough to explore their environment and to learn physically, encourage them to test their limits – safely of course, so that they grow in courage and in physical dexterity at the same time.
Having confidence in their own physical abilities is a great starting point when it comes to tackling mental resilience. Play plenty of physical games with your child, enrol them in sports and keep challenging them.
Mental resilience
This is the skill to remain determined in the face of tricky odds and to stick to your guns even when others discourage you. You can help your child become mentally resilient by challenging them intellectually. Word games, board games, card games, debates and quizzes will all foster mentally resilient attitude.
Praise your child for his or her successes but also praise them for their efforts. Encourage them to set goals – daily goals, weekly goals and long-term goals.
This habit is excellent for adults and children alike as it helps us all to organise ourselves in terms of our ambitions.
Chat often with your child about their goals, their ambitions and their plans for the future both short-term and long-term. This will ensure they don’t drop the ball!