Why Building Resilience in Children Begins at Home

We know that resilience has become a bit of a buzzword - but also that it’s never been more important for kids and parents alike to have it. While it isn’t possible to avoid all stressful situations, it is possible to support children to cope more positively with stress and build their resilience.

It is possible to use potential stressors such as upcoming tests, events or competitions as catalysts to discuss and promote your child’s mental health and continue to grow their resilience skills. Navigating challenges can become opportunities for learning how to deal with things like stress, time pressures, and changes.

It is important to explore with your child how they are feeling and encourage them to identify things that they can do to feel more comfortable during times of worry or stress. This can help children build lifelong skills and feel capable of coping through many different situations in their lives.

Being attuned to signs of stress and anxiety in your children, and within yourself, can allow you to spot fluctuations in your own and your child’s mental health. Noticing these signs also gives you an opportunity to respond and react to stress in more positive ways.

Smiling Mind recently undertook research into the factors that are associated with resilience, what kids are struggling with most, and what families need to support and nurture resilience with their children. 

Read about some of the common issues Australian families are currently facing, and how you can start to build mental fitness in your home.