Building resiliency in children requires mindfulness on the part of the parent. We all want our kids to be strong, brave, capable, and brilliant. How do we do that? Creating a parenting strategy of encouraging kids to be resilient gives them a foundation for personal and professional success in the long term. While culturally, many parents work to provide comfort and security for their children, it benefits children from expanding out of their comfort zone and becoming self-reliant. Make children better equipped to adapt to any circumstance that life offers. Learn strategies from an expert on how to help children be more resilient in this list!

1. Practicing Mindfulness

Giving kids powerful tools like learning mindfulness techniques will help them every day for the rest of their lives. The best way to start with teaching children mindfulness is by modeling mindfulness. Encourage strategies such as taking deep breaths and identifying emotions early on in your child’s life. Mindfulness also helps children to develop empathy, which empowers them to be better team players and make educated choices in their lives.

There are several unique ways to include mindfulness in parenting. For example, having children differentiate between “needs” and “wants” will allow them to have self-discipline. There are also breathing techniques and other methods of bringing awareness to mind and body’s connection. Encouraging self-reflection and understanding while young open many doors for children as they can operate from a higher perspective most of the time. They can look at problems in their lives, take a step back, and identify the many components involved to make better decisions.

2. Allow them to take risks

It is up to your discernment as a parent to decide which risks are age-appropriate, and you are willing to let your children face them. Let them experience the self-fulfillment of achieving something they never felt possible. If necessary, let them experience the bumps and bruises that come with living life. While some parents are wary of letting their children play sports, exercise is one of the best ways to experience safe risk-taking and build strength in many areas.

3. Create a support network

Healthy relationships are the key to help children grow more resilient. While children are busy growing and playing, they may not always be aware of the support systems. Tell them how much their cousins enjoyed playing with them. Let them know that their aunts and uncles loved seeing them. Share the message that their teacher was proud of their excellent grades. Help them to build friendships. Strengthening interpersonal bonds gives a child the support network they need for resiliency in all stages of life.

4. Nurture Optimism

Children are often mirrors of their parents. They are exceptionally attuned to the emotional states of their caregivers. When they experience something unordinary, their first reaction will usually be to mom or dad to see how they should feel about it. Face life, together, with a smile on your face.

5. Give them space

As children mature, parents explore and reframe their roles. Often, mom and dad do not need to be the protector, rather than a positive influence and role model for their kids. It is good to show them how to have a complete universe of interests, hobbies, values, and beliefs. Ask them what they think about things, and allow them to introduce you to new interests as you also share your knowledge and wisdom. This independence creates character and confidence in your child and lets them challenge themselves to live a life they find valuable.

Taking the step to nurture resiliency in your children is an excellent move for any parent to make. Having the mindfulness and strength to improve as a parent will benefit you, your child, and generations to come!