Fostering resiliency in children

Life happens, even for children. Bullying, school problems, hunger, problems at home, illness, divorce. The list goes on.

Stress can affect children the same way it affects adults. But what can you do to help those children who need a little support?

Resiliency is the ability to become strong, healthy or successful again after something bad happens. It can turn victims into survivors and enable survivors to succeed.

Adults can help build resiliency in children by:

• Encouraging communication of feelings
  It's important for children to feel safe to communicate their feelings.
• Avoiding isolation
  Make sure your children are interacting with other people.
• Teaching empathy through helping others
  Helping others can empower children to overcome their own situation.
• Practicing self-care
  To support good health, maintain a routine. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious food and allow for downtime.
• Acknowledging that change is a part of life
  Although it can be challenging to accept and adapt to change, everyone can get through it.

These techniques can reduce the number of lost school days, illnesses, emotional outbursts and feelings of worry and fear. If these techniques don't help your children as much as you had hoped, seek help from mental health professionals to ensure your child's safety and well-being.

Learn more about resiliency:

• Children often are referred to as the forgotten or invisible grievers. Learn how to support grieving children.
• Texting and social media can be a great way for children to connect. However, they also can be avenues for bullying. Read about how to support children if you think they are being cyberbullied.
• Confident children know their own goodness, and that they are worthy of being loved and belonging with their friends and family. Use these practical ways to raise healthy children.

Julie Conway is a counselor in Psychiatry & Psychology in La Crosse, Wisconsin.