Adapting to Adversity

Resilience Guide for Kids & Families

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. (America Psychological Association) Resilience is part of what makes kids thrive as they grow.

The 7 C's to build Resilience:

  1. Competence: having your child know he/she can handle a situation effectively.
  2. Confidence: having your child believe in his/her own abilities.
  3. Connection: having your child develop close ties to family and community to create a solid sense of security and strong values.
  4. Character: having your child develop a set of morals/values to know right from wrong and have a caring attitude.
  5. Contribution: having your child realize the world is better because they are in it by contributing to others in need.
  6. Coping: having your child to be prepared to overcome life’s challenges.
  7. Control: having your child know that they are able to control the outcome of their decisions; this builds their ability to bounce back from adversity.

How to build Resilience:

  1. Make connections, for example: make friends.
  2. Help your child by having him/her help others through volunteering at school, etc.
  3. Maintain a daily routine.
  4. Take a break from the daily routine if needed.
  5. Teach your child self-care: eating properly, exercising, rest, having fun, etc.
  6. Move toward reasonable goals and focus on what your child has accomplished.
  7. Nurture a positive self-view.
  8. Keep things in perspective and maintain a hopeful outlook. There is a future that can be good, even though the present may have painful events.
  9. Look for opportunities for self-discovery.
  10. Accept that change is part of living, and new goals can be made.