Be a Role Model
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Show your child how you handle challenges, regulate emotions, and think positively.
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Children learn resilience by watching adults try again and stay calm in tough situations.
Provide Positive Role Models
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Encourage relationships with people who demonstrate resilience.
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For example, older friends, mentors, or relatives who have overcome challenges can help your child see it’s possible to cope and succeed.
Allow Small Disappointments
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Avoid preventing every problem or fixing every mistake.
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Let your child experience small setbacks—like handing in imperfect homework—to practice problem-solving and perseverance.
Build Self-Compassion
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Teach your child to be kind to themselves after mistakes or failures.
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Self-compassion helps them recover more quickly from setbacks and move forward.
Focus on the Positive
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Help your child notice successes, not just difficulties.
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Try sharing one positive thing from each day at family meals or bedtime.
Highlight Their Resilience
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Remind your child of times they handled challenges well.
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For example: “You were nervous about joining the team at first, and now look at how you did!”
Be Patient
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Resilience develops over time.
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Support your child as they navigate challenges, even when it’s uncomfortable—they learn by working through it themselves.
Source: Adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Resilience Guide for Parents and Teachers” (2012)