This activity helps children become mentally stronger

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This activity helps children become mentally stronger

Taking care of a child and supporting them in their development also means wanting what is best for them and avoiding difficulties as much as possible. But the failures, the challenges and the more or less important tests will inevitably get in his way. So in addition to trying to teach him to avoid them as much as possible, it is imperative to teach him how to deal with them when he is confronted with them.

This is what resilience is all about. Resilience refers to the ability to face difficulties and continue to move forward without denying them. Resilient people are able to draw on their skills or call on those of others to meet challenges. And it is possible to encourage it in children.

The importance of resilience

“A resilient person is someone who has strong coping skills and is able to mobilize their available resources, seek help when necessary, and find ways to manage the situation they face,” summarizes Kendra Cherry, specialist in psychosocial rehabilitation, for Very Well Mind. Instead of falling into despair or hiding using unhealthy coping strategies, resilient people face the difficulties of life. » Resilience allows us to face the major challenges that we can all potentially face one day, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, financial problems, illness, job loss or even life problems. health.

Resilience is not only of interest in the face of life’s challenges. A study published in the journal Geriatric Nursing in 2022 notably revealed that people with high levels of resilience tend to have lower rates of chronic diseasessuch as cardiovascular diseases, and to have a stronger immune system. Furthermore, resilience is an asset for mental balance. It is a powerful ally against stress, anxiety and depression. Emotional resilience improves mental health, but also relationships, productivity and overall quality of life.

Teaching children resilience through stories

A study published in the Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing highlighted an effective activity in developing resilience in children. Through the results of the analysis of 11 studies published between 2012 and 2022, the researchers were able to verify the interest of reading stories to children. The stories told to children act on several levels. Stories of bravery, perseverance and hope can inspire and cultivate children’s strengths, storytelling stimulates children’s imagination and creativity, allowing them to adapt and discover new ways to cope with adversity and the perspectives and emotions explored in the stories allow them to develop their empathy and social intelligence to in turn create a support network useful for resilience, comments Kelly-Ann Allen, educational and social psychologist. development, for Psychology Today.

For a story to truly serve the development of children’s resilience, it must respect three rules described by researchers :

  • The stories must be diverse, reflecting different cultures, experiences and emotions and adapted to the age of the children.
  • A safe space must be created for telling stories, but also for children to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions when discussing the stories or recounting their own experiences.
  • Finally, open the discussion. During, or even after reading, encourage the child to reflect on lessons learned, identify strategies for coping with challenges, and express their emotions in a safe and supportive space.