June O'Sullivan, CEO of London Early Years Foundation, considers why building resilience is positive for children's wellbeing

Resilience is the ability to cope with difficult challenges and function in the face of adversity. This means having the mental strength to pick yourself up and keep moving forward after something tough and challenging has happened. As no circumstance is ever the same, being resilient means you can identify the most suitable strategies that help you react appropriately. Being resilient requires self-efficacy – the belief that we can create and navigate our own path through adversity.

What does resilience look like in a child?

Highly resilient children learn ways that suit them to get through difficult challenges, mistakes or difficulties without collapsing. They problem-solve, persevere and show resourcefulness. They also learn to describe their situation with a well-developed emotional vocabulary and in doing so learn to forgive others, build hope and compassion, which helps them retain their sense of self in difficult times. Children who are resilient will grow up to be more confident, curious and adaptable.

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