How resilient is your child?

Do they struggle when faced with a challenge?

Do they shut down when things get too hard?

Are they a perfectionist?

Can they tolerate feelings of frustration?

This can have a negative impact on their learning and performance in the classroom. It is something we see frequently at school, even in preschool and Kindergarten.

BUT, there are things you can do to help your child!

• Model resilience.

  • Show your child how you work through a difficult moment. Learning a new recipe, fixing something around the house, training the dog, get creative!

• Talk about growth mindset.

  • Tell them about a time you learned something new or when something was hard for you. Learn a new skill and take your child along the journey with you.

• Acknowledge that learning is hard.

  • The space between not knowing something and knowing something is challenging, and that's ok! That's a sign of learning and growth. Make sure your child knows this. The more comfortable they can be with this feeling, the easier it will be for them to tolerate frustration and persevere.

• Support your child through difficult moments.

  • Instead of stepping in and doing it FOR them, sit with them while they work through it.

• Teach your child how to regulate their feelings.

  • Of course your child is going to hit periods of frustration. Teach them strategies for how to manage these big feelings (deep breathing, counting to 10, etc.)

• Address perfectionism.

  • If your child is a perfectionist, teach them how to recognize that voice inside their head and help them work through those feelings.