One of the traits that’s important for all of us to develop is resilience. Resilience refers to one’s ability to cope with life’s challenges, hardships, and stress. It’s like having a reservoir we can tap into that helps us carry on through life’s ups and downs without falling apart. While most of us tend to face more serious challenges as adults, kids can also encounter a fair share of difficulties. Children experience stress from school and may encounter anxiety as they navigate life’s many changes and interpersonal relationships. This is where the importance of raising resilient kids comes in.
Resilience helps kids deal with the challenges they face throughout their childhood and beyond. Whether they’re at home or school, this trait is what equips children with the mental strength they need to help them battle stress and tackle obstacles more easily.
Teaching resilience doesn’t mean leaving kids to figure everything out on their own. Parents are encouraged to help equip their kids with the skills they need to help them deal with the unexpected. Read on for some tips to help you raise resilient kids.
Carve out time for parent-child bonding
One of the key sources of resilience in children is a strong relationship between a parent and a child. Young kids need to feel that they are supported, and as a parent, it’s your job to cultivate that kind of relationship with them.
Make it a point to carve out adequate time to bond with your child, and make sure this bonding time is free of distractions. Connect with your child by talking and asking about his or her day. Help your child feel that he or she can talk to you about anything without hesitation or fear.
Do not eliminate all risks
As parents, one of our priorities is keeping our kids protected and safe. However, removing all risk from our children’s path will not help them learn about resilience. Being overprotective isn’t encouraged when raising resilient kids. There are appropriate risks that parents should allow so their children experience in order to learn essential life skills.
For example, dealing with challenges at school or handling conflicts with friends are the kinds of things that don’t require parents’ immediate intervention. Give your child space by allowing him or her to deal with the situation first while you observe and only offer guidance if needed. By doing this, your child will have the opportunity to develop resilience in addition to problem-solving skills.
Prioritize sleep
Adequate sleep is a major factor when it comes to the health and well-being of all children. Quality sleep is crucial not only for your child’s physical growth and development. It also plays an important role in his or her mental health and well-being.
Make adequate sleep a top priority in your home. Establish and adhere to a consistent bedtime routine. Limit the use of screen time at least an hour before bed. Don’t allow devices in your child’s bedroom and stick to a consistent bedtime.
Encourage problem-solving skills
It’s normal for us to want to help our children avoid experiencing difficult moments. We devote time and effort to making their lives as easy as possible. However, that isn’t always realistic. In fact, it’s better to allow kids to have the opportunity to navigate certain difficulties on their own. This is an important part of raising resilient kids. Let your child figure out how to handle life’s challenges because this is how youngsters develop vital problem-solving skills.
Ask more “how” questions
Kids will get themselves into trouble from time to time, and that’s a normal part of growing up. Instead of nagging them with “why” questions, it’s better for us to ask “how” questions.
For instance, rather than asking, “Why weren’t you careful with your sister’s toy?”, ask your child, “How will you fix your sister’s toy?”
Keep children physically active
We all know how important it is to stay physically active. In addition to helping your kids stay healthy, exercise also helps increase a child’s resilience! That’s right. Regular physical activity is just as important for a child’s mental well-being as it is for his or her physical health.
Exercise strengthens the brain. It helps alleviate stress and anxiety so that a person recovers from challenges more efficiently. Keeping your child physically active doesn’t mean limiting your family to boring workout routines. Physical activity comes in many fun forms, such as dancing, playing outdoor games in the backyard, running and climbing at the playground, and so on!
Developing resilience is crucial for both adults and kids alike. Resilience helps a child navigate the trials and challenges that come along with childhood. Strengthen your child’s ability to thrive in the face of stress by following these tips for raising resilient kids.
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