Be Kind, Be safe, Be respectful, Be responsible, Be resilient, Be ready

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Dear Parents

Building resilience in children is essential for helping them navigate life’s challenges and develop coping skills. Here are some practical tips for parents to foster resilience in their children and teens:

Make Connections: Teach your child the importance of engaging with peers and connecting with others. Encourage empathy and active listening. Suggest ways for them to connect in person, through phone calls, video chats, or texts. Building a strong family network also provides social support and strengthens resilience.
Help Others: Empower your child by involving them in age-appropriate volunteer work or asking for their assistance with tasks they can handle. Brainstorm ways they can help classmates or younger students at school. Feeling helpful contributes to resilience.
Maintain a Daily Routine: Consistency and structure are comforting for children, especially younger ones. Work with your child to develop a routine that includes designated times for schoolwork and play. During times of distress or transition, flexibility may be necessary, but maintaining schedules is important.
Take Breaks: While some anxiety can motivate positive action, it’s crucial to validate all feelings. Teach your child to focus on things they can control or act upon. Challenge unrealistic thinking by asking them to consider the chances of worst-case scenarios and what advice they’d give a worried friend.
Teach Self-Care: Encourage your child to take care of their physical and emotional well-being. This includes getting enough rest, eating nutritious meals, and engaging in activities they enjoy. Self-care contributes to resilience.
Move Toward Goals: Help your child set achievable goals and take steps toward achieving them. Celebrate their progress and encourage perseverance even when faced with setbacks.
Nurture a Positive Self-View: Encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing effort, learning, and improvement. Teach your child that setbacks are opportunities for growth and learning. A positive self-view enhances resilience.
Keep Perspective and Maintain Hope: Help your child maintain a hopeful outlook. Remind them that challenges are temporary and that they have the ability to overcome difficulties. Encourage optimism and resilience in the face of adversity.

Remember that resilience doesn’t mean children won’t experience distress; it means they can adapt well, despite challenges. By fostering these skills, parents can support their children’s emotional well-being and help them thrive. Additionally, modeling emotional awareness, acceptance, and adaptiveness can further contribute to building resilience.

Keep smiling

Cathy

FoOLSS (Friends of OLSS)