RESILIENCE

This has been written for us by Dr Tina Rae, an HCPC registered Educational and Child Psychologist, Author and Educational Consultant.

Resilience makes a big difference in our lives. People who respond to hardships with resilience are:

• Healthier and live longer
• Happier in their relationships
• More successful in school and work
• Less likely to get depressed

The word ‘resilience’ is used to describe the capacity people have to cope, learn and thrive in the face of change, challenge or adversity. Some children and young people find it harder than others to cope with the challenges they face in life. However, all children and young people develop coping strategies to help them deal with stress and challenges.

There are things that families and schools can do to help build the resilience of children and young people, and to help them to develop positive coping strategies.

Most importantly, they can teach and model key skills for resilience.  These are:

Self-awareness

Understanding their own emotions and needs and being able to communicate these to others

Self-control

Managing anger and anxiety and the expression of their emotions

Social Awareness

Being aware of the needs and feelings of others, and building the capacity to respect those with different views or beliefs

Social Management

Developing the skills and confidence to talk and mix with other children and adults, and to work and play well with others

Responsibility

Taking responsibility for a range of tasks, such as tidying up, doing homework and helping others

Effort and Persistence

Understanding the importance of hard work and persistence

Hope

Believing in the possibility of a good future and in the value of education

Self-esteem

Feeling proud of the effort they make at school, and their efforts to get along with others, and to be part of the ‘family'

Problem-solving skills

Building the capacity to think about how to deal with a range of challenges

Positive Coping Strategies

Developing the capacity to cheer themselves up, calm themselves down, ask for help when needed, and to work out ways to solve a problem

A useful programme to support the development of resilience - Bouncing back and Coping with change: Building Emotional and Social Resilience in Young people aged 9-14 (2016).  Author Dr Tina Rae Publishers Hinton House.

For information on this subject by Dr Tina Rae and similar resources, click here.
For Nurture Group's website, click here.