- Building resilience in children involves modeling calm and empathy, helping them put challenges in perspective, and empowering them to solve problems independently so they develop confidence, self-reliance, and emotional strength.
- Key personal traits that support resilience include adaptability, perseverance, motivation, and self-reliance—all of which can be strengthened in children.
- Kids face daily stressors (school, peer relationships, family stress, sports), so learning resilience is essential.
- Overprotective parenting (“helicopter” or “lawnmower” parenting) can undermine resilience by preventing kids from developing self-reliance.
- Parents can foster resilience by:
- Providing a loving foundation and modeling resilience in their own behavior.
- Showing empathy for children’s struggles instead of minimizing their feelings.
- Helping kids “right-size” problems (putting challenges in perspective without inflating or dismissing them).
- Empowering children with problem-solving skills rather than taking over, which builds confidence, competence, and self-efficacy.
- Celebrating small successes reinforces resilience and encourages kids to keep tackling challenges.
Building Resilience in Children: A Parent's Guide
Resilience is the ability to cope effectively with challenges, both small and large.
Susanne Tanski, MD, MPH, Pediatrics
