THE SOLUTION

Resilience

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. To gain a greater understanding of resilience and how it relates to childhood trauma, you can watch the following videos from Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child.

Encouraging and enhancing resilience in children:

  • Allow children to solve problems on their own with your support.

  • Build a strong, healthy relationship as a parent, guardian, teacher, or other adult figure in their life.

  • Let them go outside of their comfort zone.

  • Explain emotions and different types of coping mechanisms.

  • Be a role model — demonstrate resiliency.

Resilience can lead to:

  • Goal setting with realistic expectations

  • Self esteem

  • Learning from their mistakes

  • Understanding and acceptance of their own strengths and weaknesses

  • Self control

  • Willingness to overcome difficulties rather than avoid problems

  • Optimistic thinking patterns

  • Social skills and ability to seek assistance from others

  • Ability to recognize their own emotions and those of others

  • Problem solving skills