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

Supporting Resilience & Optimism in Children Jo Lange P/F: (03) 9431 1999 E: jolange9@bigpond.com www.ozednet.com.au

What is resilience?  The ability to bungee jump through life  Perceiving issues as temporary, specific and impersonal, rather than global, pervasive or personal (Maurice Seligman)

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