Ways To Raise Well Adaptive Children
Nurturing Resilience: Key Strategies for Raising Well-Adaptive Children
Living in challenging situations, self – image, parental expectations, climate change, political unrest, social media acceptance, fierce competition, diminishing resources, modern family structures and cyber security are just a few concerns faced by each one of us. Today’s learners are dependent on Artificial Intelligence which has the potential to make them smart citizens of the future as well as less reliant on their own power of thought. Every little change of today has the power to impact our children today and hence a safe and supportive growth environment for children to flourish is the need of the hour. An emotionally stable child will be well equipped in managing any adversity in life – and this is what we call the skill of RESILIENCE.
Building resilience in school-going children is important for parents and educators alike so that they develop the power to face any situation with an open mind set and positive thought process. Children can deal with the challenges when they have self-confidence, and truly believe in themselves. Parents and schools can do quite a bit to build resilience in children today. Below you will find three ways in which you can contribute to the building of this skill in your children. Further, as parents, choosing a school that caters to the needs of the children today so that they can exhibit their ability to adapt in any adversity, will also contribute to the growth of this skill in your child.
Three ways that can help to build resilience (ability to adapt) in children:
- Children must be encouraged to set goals for themselves that provide challenges and stimulation. The subconscious mind tends to lead us towards our goal in spite of the obstacles. Hence self – driven children cope with changing scenarios in life.
- Parents must celebrate every time children overcome hurdles along the way and move closer to achieving their goal. This could be a challenge to read a certain number of books over a month and successful completion of the same. Encourage a shy student to participate in a stage performance. Schools should cater boosting the morale of the learners by appreciating the small milestones along the way to reach their goal.
- Society must focus on developing an environment that assures a learner of his safety as well as challenges him to exceed his own expectations. Promoting respect, inclusion and healthy relationships within the community will function as a protective blanket for children to bounce back when they suffer setbacks in life.
At KES International School, a strong parent- teacher partnership provides meaningful solutions to all learner concerns. Keeping this approach in mind, we primarily use the best practices to instill confidence in all our students from pre-primary, primary, upper-primary, and secondary classes while also igniting their passion for learning and putting them in the best possible way to succeed globally.
Developing resilience is a personal journey for a child. We can fall back on our own experience of challenges, failures and success to guide children on their journey. An approach to building resilience that works for one child might not work for someone else. Hence, schools must sensitize practitioners to strengthen children in their resilience quotient and overcome the storm with courage. The choice of schools made by parents should be appropriate with a hope to raise a child who’s well adapted, strong-willed and resilient.
Dr. Ashima Arora
English Teacher