Supporting Resilience & Optimism in Children Jo Lange P/F: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Jo Lange P/F: (03) 9431 1999 E: jolange9@bigpond.com www.ozednet.com.au

Supporting Resilience & Optimism in Children

The ability to bungee jump through life Perceiving issues as temporary, specific and

impersonal, rather than global, pervasive or personal (Maurice Seligman)

What is resilience?

What effects Resilience?

 Not having a ‘life bank’ to draw on when thing get tough  Being constantly protected from negative events & feelings- ‘risk

free’ environment

 Emotional literacy & maturity- ‘egocentric’ view of the world  Rubbery limits & boundaries  A social/emotional condition  Having adult models who model poor resilience  Starting to see that life is not perfect & fail

What can we do?

 Acknowledge children/young person’s feelings and perceptions but

move them onto problem solving to ‘avoid’ over-immersion’ in the problem

 Encourage independence & problem solving, through everyday

experiences

 Affirm children’s sense of competence and capability  Enhance self-esteem by allowing children/young people to “do well’

for themselves rather than just “feel good” about themselves

 Celebrate a broad spectrum on ‘success’ and ‘achievement’  Stop protecting children from ‘life lessons’. Support and

strengthen by discussion, acceptance, problem solving

Protection resides not in the evasion of risk, but in successful engagement in it

Michael Rutter