Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Maria Anguiano, discusses how parents and caregivers can help children grow through challenges.

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She shares that resilient children don't give up easily when things get tough, resulting in becoming self-confident and taking healthy risks.

 

While children can feel big emotions, resilient children will learn to manage stress, finding a way to calm down and try again, and learn from their mistakes.  This can also lead to building stronger relationships.

 

Resilient children will ask for help when they need it, learning from their mistakes, believing that problems can be worked through.  This leads to a sense of hope and optimism.

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Parents and caregivers play an important role in developing this resiliency by allowing children to do things on their own, even if it gets messy or takes longer.  Examples include: pouring their own milk or juice, make their own cereal, pick their clothes and dress themselves, and ask them to help with chores.

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Maria takes attendees through an exercise to help them understand how to handle their emotions when things are difficult or stressful, thereby providing a model to children when they solve problems without losing control, and handling stress in a more manageable way. Use words or statements such as:

• Accidents happen, that’s ok!

• Every mistake helps us grow

• We bounce back together

• Challenges make us stronger

• We keep moving forward when things are hard

• Growth comes from trying

• We learn from every experience

• We are resilient and brave

• Strength grows when we don’t give up

• We turn obstacles into opportunities

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Lastly, parents and caregivers are given an opportunity to practice their new learnings.