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To help a child develop resilience, several tools must be provided. Here are five practical (and useful!) tips to strengthen their ability to face challenges.
What is resilience? According to the Larousse dictionary, it is the ability to build oneself and live satisfactorily despite traumatic circumstances. In other words, resilience refers to an individual’s ability to bounce back. But how do you teach a child to get back up after a difficulty? Nina Ahuja, a professor specializing in emotional intelligence, suggests working on this resilience in 5 different ways.
Challenge your child
“As parents, we have the wonderful opportunity to shape our children’s experiences by providing them with a mix of opportunities and challenges that foster growth.”she confides to the magazine Psychology Today.
The goal? Encourage your child to gradually move out of his “comfort zone” so that he understands that he can cope with the difficulties encountered.
At home, “Start with tasks that are slightly beyond their current abilities to encourage them to develop their skills. Celebrate small victories.”
A perfect example? Team sports. They require not only physical skills, but also a strong ability to handle failure, collaborate with others, and persevere despite obstacles.
Empowering your child and developing their critical thinking skills
According to Nina Ahuja, encouraging your children towards independence is very beneficial.
“Promoting independence does not mean letting our children navigate the world alone; it means guiding them and helping them solve the problems they face.”she emphasizes.
The idea here is to let your child ask questions and then find answers to their questions.
You can also encourage him to explore his own ideas further.
“This strengthens their ability to think critically and to make decisions independently, crucial skills in everyday life”explains the expert.
Celebrating individual success
Winning a medal in sports, receiving a prize at school… are all small successes to celebrate during childhood.
“Every child’s journey is unique and success can look different for everyone. It is crucial to support their individual growth and celebrate the milestones they reach based on their own interests. This helps them develop a positive self-image and instills a strong sense of confidence, which is essential for their growth and success.”says Nina Ahuja.
The right attitude to adopt? Value each “small step” of your child rather than focusing on the results… resulting from your own expectations.
Encourage your social skills
“Social skills are just as important as academic or individual achievements. Activities that require teamwork, such as group projects or sports, are excellent for developing social skills.empathycommunication and collaboration”confides the professor.
But how do you do it in everyday life? Just increase the opportunities for social interaction. Then encourage your child to talk about it, so that he understands that it is nice to share his experiences with other people.
Teaching your child to manage their emotions
Finally, it can be beneficial to teach your child how to manage their emotions… just by observing us!
“Our children learn a lot from watching us. Demonstrating how to effectively manage emotions and stress teaches them valuable coping mechanisms. I explain my thought process and how I handle difficult scenarios and emotions with calmness and clarity. This helps them learn to manage their own stress and shows them that success comes from managing your emotions intelligently, not just achieving external goals.“, explains Nina Ahuja.
For example, instead of getting angry while driving (at an obstacle or a person), verbalize it. Expressing your emotions out loud in front of your children shows them how to handle stressful situations calmly.
Slideshow: 10 tips to give your child confidence