PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3
There’s a topic that makes many educators and policy makers uncomfortable when it pops up. So of course, I’m going to jump right into to it today because our kids need for us to confront this hard work for their sake. One of the greatest fears parents of young African American children have is that their children will not be prepared to withstand the onslaught of negative and toxic ideas and language they will face from people who judge them by the color of their skin as opposed to the content of their character.
For many, it’s not a case of if their child will have these encounters, but when it will happen. Our children are often stereotyped on the basis of preconceived notions by individuals and groups who have no idea who our children really are. An increasing number of parents are opting out of public education for their children in an effort to shield them from these encounters until they are older but the bottom line is this; our children need our help in developing the key to overcoming obstacles and withstanding challenges that threaten their survival. That key ingredient is resilience.
Resilience is defined as the ability to recover from difficult life events, to withstand adversity, to bounce back and to grow despite life’s downturns. (Hurley, K., What is Resilience, 2019). The college professor in me knows that it can be helpful to point you towards some additional resources to help clarify this challenging subject matter. Here are a few to help outline what I mean about the strategies for and importance of raising resilient children.
Children who are resilient have grit. These are children who:
1. seek solutions to problems and refuse to give up
2. bounce back quickly from bad events
3. tend to grow and learn from their mistakes
“How To Raise Resilient Kids Who Never Give Up (Based On Science)” – Ashley Cullins
Children who display this characteristic generally become resilient adults able to adapt to the challenges of a world that is far from perfect and often unfair.
“10 Ways to Raise Resilient Kids in Turbulent Times” – Lori Day
Resilient children are more likely to try new things and not worry about failing. They display a higher degree of curiosity, increased ability to trust their own instincts and a willingness to operate outside their comfort zones. This mindset stimulates a significant degree of independence which can support children in achieving their long range goals.
Resilience in Children: Strategies to Strengthen Your Kid – Katie Hurley
Over the next few weeks we will explore practical and effective strategies to encourage the development of resilience in young children. Tune in next week for my segment on “Modeling Resilience for Your Children”.
Every Monday you can meet me right here and on TheWRITEaddiction where I contribute various tips and tricks for helping all you parents and early childhood educators succeed in preparing children to excel in lifelong learning. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel for plenty of free resources.
If you have any questions feel free to email me at info@AskDrMarta.com or visit my website martacollier.com.