#Collaborative post
Protecting our children is a natural instinct for parents, but sometimes it’s important to take a step back and allow them to deal with problems on their own so that they become more resilient and confident in their own abilities. Seeing them fail is tough, but it will be worth it in the long run when they start to understand cause and effect and how to avoid or overcome certain challenges. I have teamed up with an independent girls’ school in Hillingdon to share some advice on how you can raise a resilient child.
Talk About Feelings
Your child needs to know that it’s ok to talk about how they are feeling, so try and provide them with an open and honest family environment where it’s safe to open up. Point out their emotions as you spot them and help them deal with them if necessary. For instance, if they’re getting angry because they’re losing at a board game, say something like “I can tell that you’re getting a bit frustrated, why don’t you go into another room and take a few deep breaths to calm down?”. They will be quick to recover from challenging situations if they understand their own emotional reactions and how to cope with them.
Promote Exercise
When we exercise, our bodies release endorphins that help tackle stress, anxiety and depression. With that said, it’s important to encourage your child to get plenty of exercise, even if it’s just a short walk each evening. The happier they are, in body and mind, the better they will become at coping.
Encourage Responsibility
Give your child some achievable tasks to do around your home so that they learn what they are capable of. This could be anything from taking the bins out to tidying away their own toys. If they are confident in their own abilities to reach goals and solve problems, they will become more independent, especially if they feel that you trust them with household chores. If they rely on you to get things done for them, they might feel anxious when you’re not around, which won’t help them with their resilience.
Praise Your Child
When you see that your youngster is coping well with a difficult situation by managing their emotions or solving complex problems, be sure to praise them and let them know you are proud of them. Generally, just try and create an enthusiastic home environment where you support your child even if they fail. Mistakes are an inevitable part of life and the sooner they realise this, the easier it will be for them to bounce back. So, even if your child makes a mistake, applaud them for their efforts rather than the end result.