Resilience

About resilience
What makes children resilient?
Characteristics of resilience
Ways to promote resilience
The value of recreational programs
References
Resources

What makes children resilient?

While many children seem to be optimistic by character, others learn how to deal with adverse conditions like poverty, community violence, parental depression or illness from watching adults.

Some adults mistakenly believe that building a child’s self esteem is the best way to promote resilience, and that the best way to do this is to praise children lavishly for performing even minor tasks.  In fact, telling a child that everything he/she does is “fantastic” does not build self-confidence.  Instead, it makes the child crave constant praise, and they may become dejected when they don’t receive it, feeling worthless instead of confident. 

Of course, in order for children to feel competent, they need praise, too.  However, when children know that they have people in their lives who support them, that they are capable of developing friendships and loving relationships that will provide sustenance to them, it gives them strength. 

Some children who are raised in homes that don’t provide for their emotional needs often seek out another adult or family member who can help them get the emotional care they need.  That’s why mentoring of young children is so valuable.  It can take only one interested and caring adult to turn a child’s life around and give them a future that might not seem possible given their situation.

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