When children gain something positive from setbacks, understand their own strengths, and work through challenges on their own, we say they are resilient. Dr. Michele Borba, in her book Thrivers, shares some interesting facts about resilience and gives pause for reflection on how we can teach kids about resilience.
The ability to control attention, emotions, thoughts, and actions is one of the most highly correlated strengths of success and resilience.
Instilling seven character strengths (self-confidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and optimism) has many benefits, including increased resilience so kids can cope with adversity, solve problems, bounce back, develop healthy relationships, and boost confidence.
Her research shows that self-confidence leads to more resilience. It helps kids navigate life, stay the course, and rebound from setbacks and more.
Among other benefits, kids who are optimistic are more resilient and better able to bounce back from adversity.
“Kids with a strong understanding and sense of self are happier and more engaged at school, more likely to stick with harder tasks and bounce back from failures so their learning increases.”
Research with several hundred people confirms that gratitude improves resilience while also enhancing traits such as empathy and optimism and reducing diagnoses such as anxiety and depression. Simlarly, Dr. Borba reports on a study by Ervin Staub in The Psychology of Good and Evil, that contributing in a meaningful way is proven to reduce stress and increase resilience.
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