Building Resilience Brick by Brick: How to Build Children’s Resilience

        Life is full of ups and downs, even for children. From tumbling in playgrounds to their challenges academically, it may be a small thing for us, or we may not notice it, but children face difficulties each day. So how could we equip children with the tools to be flexible, learn, and grow stronger? Well, it’s about building our little one’s resilience.

Resilience is not just about bouncing back from hardship; it's also about developing coping mechanisms and strength to adapt and grow from difficult times. Research of the American Psychological Association shows that positive childhood experiences play a crucial role in shaping a child's resilience. Here are some key contributors:

1. Safe and supportive relationships

Strong family bonds create a safe environment for children to gain support during difficult times. This safe haven enables them to explore themselves and guides them to build a skill or a mindset to navigate life’s difficulties and build resilience.

2. Positive self-esteem

Believing in oneself builds courage to try, cope with setbacks, and learn from mistakes. Having positive self-esteem contributes a lot to being resilient as this enables them to have the capacity to learn from their experiences, try again, and bounce back.

3. Healthy emotional expression

Teaching children to have a good and healthy way to express their emotions enables them to have a better understanding of themselves and a better coping mechanism. These can be through arts and crafts activities such as painting, scratch art, drawing, and more.

4. Problem-solving skills

Sharpening their problem-solving skills by helping them to find solutions to their problem enables them to be resilient, as well as build confidence and create a sense of control over their lives and decisions.

5. Meaning and purpose

Having a sense of purpose, whether through hobbies, interests, or contributions to the community, provides motivation and strength in tough times.

So how will we be able to build these key components of resilience? Well, let’s get creative! Let’s nurture these factors through fun arts and crafts activities for the whole family like:

• Creative Journaling. Encourage children to write or make a collage about their feelings and experiences. This arts and crafts activity paves the way for self-reflection and emotional processing.
• Storytelling through Art. Act out stories using puppets, costumes, or simple props. This encourages self-expression and emotional literacy.
• Drawing and painting. Drawing and painting can serve as an outlet for your child to express their thoughts, feelings, and imagination visually. This promotes not only creativity but a safe and healthy way for your little ones to have a coping mechanism. We made a list of painting and coloring kits to help you get started!
• Origami. Origami involves creating something out of paper which not only touches your child’s imagination and dexterity but also promotes problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which are crucial in building their resilience.
• Sewing. Sewing dolls or stuffed toys teach them about patience and perseverance, as well as promotes problem-solving and critical thinking as they follow the instructions and understand patterns. You can browse through these sewing kits to get started, where your kids can learn how to sew cute stuffed animals with kid-friendly materials.

               Through these simple arts and crafts activities, you can build your kids’ resilience as well as promote various skills for them along the way. Resilience is a lifelong skill that they need to navigate life's challenges and emerge stronger. By incorporating arts, crafts, and other playful activities into your child's life, you're equipping them with the tools to be more resilient individuals as they grow.