Dr. Aliza Pressman, a resilience expert, shares insights on how to help children navigate challenges. She explains that resilience can be developed through supportive relationships and emotional intelligence, rather than being an innate trait. Dr. Pressman emphasizes the importance of parental modeling and unconditional love, as well as teaching kids to recognize and manage their emotions. Her strategies empower children to foster coping skills and a growth mindset, essential for thriving during tough times.
Resilience, defined as the ability to thrive despite hardships, is a skill that can be cultivated through supportive relationships and coping strategies.
Parents play a crucial role in developing resilience by allowing children to face challenges, learn from them, and encouraging healthy risk-taking.
Deep dives
Understanding Resilience
Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back and thrive despite hardships, and it is not an innate trait but a skill that can be developed. The concept can be visualized as a balance scale, where adverse experiences weigh down one side, while coping skills, such as optimism and mindfulness, weigh down the other. Factors that contribute to building resilience include having strong relationships and a sense of agency, which create a supportive environment for children to thrive despite challenges. Recognizing that childhood is filled with inevitable emotional hurts, parents are encouraged to focus on developing skills that foster resilience, ensuring that children can handle life's difficulties more effectively.
The Role of Relationships
The foundation of resilience lies in strong relationships, which provide the emotional support children need to navigate challenges. When a child feels unconditionally loved and supported, they are more receptive to guidance that equips them for future obstacles. This relational support can come from various adults in a child's life, such as parents, teachers, and coaches. Fostering connections allows children to develop coping skills that benefit them throughout their lives, emphasizing the critical importance of nurturing these relationships in their early years.
Building Coping Strategies
Kids learn resilience through practical experiences that involve facing challenges and developing coping strategies rather than having their problems solved for them. It's essential for parents to model seeking help and encourage children to take healthy risks, allowing them to experience setbacks in a supportive context. Engaging in activities that promote physical movement can also enhance resilience by boosting mood and reducing stress. Additionally, teaching children to reframe negative thoughts and emphasizing a growth mindset helps them view challenges as opportunities for learning rather than insurmountable obstacles.
Dr. Aliza Pressman defines resilience and talks through ways parents can help their kids build the skill necessary to thrive in challenging and adverse experiences.