We all know how important emotional resilience is for navigating life’s ups and downs. The good news is that it starts from day one. Children who are supprted to face challenges from a young age often grow into confident, resilient adults. While much of the research on resilience focuses on teenagers, we also know that nurturing resilience in children aged 0–12 can support their mental well-being now and lay a strong foundation for later in life.
Beyondblue discovered that children who are transparent with feelings, tackle failure early and lean toward positive thinking, are better geared to handle difficulties. By protecting children with ‘bubble wrap’, they don’t gain exposure to the gamut of learning that life can throw at them.
In honour of this month’s R U OK? Day, we explore how to support children to build emotional resilience.
Building Resilience, Inside and Out
Emotional resilience grows both within a child and through the world around them. Inside, we support children in developing coping skills, self-confidence, and the ability to manage their emotions. Outside, we create opportunities for positive interactions, meaningful relationships, and safe moments of adventurous play. Free play, in particular, gives children countless chances to explore, take risks, and strengthen their resilience.
Family also plays a vital role. At home, children continue to build resilience through strong connections, supportive relationships, and learning to understand and regulate their emotions. Together, our centres and families create a foundation that helps children feel confident, capable, and ready to take on the world.
How do children learn to connect, care, and grow within a community?
The world around children is where they learn to give, take, and grow together. In our centres, we become their community—a place to connect with peers, form caring relationships, and strengthen bonds that last. In our early learning centres, we celebrate children taking on new challenges, encourage them to adapt, and cheer them on as they keep trying—building confidence, problem-solving skills, and independence along the way.
Our expert educators never speak for your child; instead, we listen and ask thoughtful questions about how challenges make them feel. Alongside fostering empathy, we guide them in being supportive friends and recognising kindness in others. Through stories about people who overcome obstacles, and by sharing experiences from a diverse range of people, we help children see the strength in resilience, compassion, and community.
How can children learn to navigate challenges and make confident choices
We believe that children flourish when they understand the world around them. Encouraging independence and responsibility is a big part of this. We talk with children about planning for challenges and thinking through social situations—like feeling left out of a group—and exploring who they can turn to for support and strategies. We create opportunities for them to practice problem-solving, both independently and with others, so they can grow in confidence and learn to make thoughtful decisions.
How do we support children to manage their emotions?
Helping children understand and manage their feelings starts with noticing and reflecting on them. That’s why we pay close attention to their experiences in the moment. For example, if a child is feeling sad, we might say, “We can see you’re feeling sad, and it’s okay to cry.” This gentle approach helps children build the language to describe both their own feelings and those of others.
At our childcare centres, we guide each child to think positively, practice self-compassion, and approach situations with optimism. We also support them in preparing for things that might make them nervous and reflecting on what strategies worked afterward. By asking open-ended questions and allowing children to express themselves in their own words, we help them grow into confident, thoughtful, and emotionally aware individuals.
Looking for the best early learning centre in the community that support your child’s social and emotional development? Head here to find your closest Guardian centre.
