RESILIENCE & COPING

Throughout the healthcare journey you may hear a lot of people refer to your child as resilient. But what is resilience? And how can you help your child develop more?

Throughout the healthcare journey you may hear a lot of people refer to your child as resilient. But what is resilience? And how can you help your child develop more? 

When your child receives a diagnosis, and is in treatment, it can be very stressful. Your lives change suddenly and you may worry how you and your family will get through this difficult time.

What is resilience and why is it important?

Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” from a stressful situation, including a diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury. Building resilience in yourself and your child will result in better coping now, as well as when faced with future challenges.

What makes a child resilient?

When looking at resilience, experts focus on three factors: Attachment/Relationships, Initiative and Self-Regulation/Self-Control.

Attachment/Relationships

Healthy attachment is the ability to create and maintain positive connections with others.

Initiative

Initiative is the ability to think and take the steps needed to meet one’s needs without the help of others.

Self-Regulation/Self Control 

Self-regulation is the ability to adjust feelings, thoughts, etc. in order to handle a situation in a healthy manner.

When your child receives a diagnosis, and is in treatment, it can be very stressful. Your lives change suddenly and you may worry how you and your family will get through this difficult time.

What is resilience and why is it important?

Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” from a stressful situation, including a diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury. Building resilience in yourself and your child will result in better coping now, as well as when faced with future challenges.

What makes a child resilient?

When looking at resilience, experts focus on three factors:

  1. Attachment/Relationships  –  the ability to create and maintain positive connections with others
  2. Initiative  –  the ability to think and take the steps needed to meet their needs without the help of others
  3. Self-Regulation/Self Control  –  the ability to adjust feelings, thoughts, etc. in order to handle a situation in a healthy manner

  

Tips to Promote Your Child’s Resilience

What can you do to help build resilience in your child? Here are a few tips to get you started.

 

  1. Create and maintain routines or schedules.
  2. Set aside some time to do a family activity or talk about each other’s day.
  3. If possible, try to eat meals together.
  4. Look for the positive things in their lives. “We are stuck in the hospital for the holiday but our family was able to visit and we could all be together.”
  5. Offer realistic choices. “Would you like to go to the playroom, watch a movie or take a nap while you are getting your IV medicine?”
  6. Use encouraging words. “You did it!” “You almost did it.” “Keep trying!”
  7. Practice ways that your child can calm themselves when they are upset, like deep breathing or visualizing their favorite place.

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