Resilience in Children Julie E. Yonker, Ph.D.

Resilience Theory Quote The greatest gains in building resilient students comes from a student’s solid, meaningful connection with just one very caring individual. - Bonnie Bernard

Objectives  Resiliency definition  Resilient children example  Attachment & Child Development Theories  Child attributes to predict teen thriving  Resilient children characteristics  How to promote resiliency in children

Resiliency  The ability to successfully cope with change or misfortune

Traveling through Europe

Sweden to Belgium, August 1999  New home  New school  New friends  New country Change Sweden Belgium

Overijse, Belgium, October 3, 1999 Accident Site

Brussels Hospital  October 4, 1999

2 Months in a Brussels hospital  Misfortune

8 months total: Swiss Paraplegic Center

Theories, concepts, applications

Attachment  A social and emotional bond between infant/child and caregiver that spans both time and space.

Secure attachment  A relationship of trust and confidence stemming from reliable reassurance and comfort that permits independent exploration of the environment.

Will this child become a thriving teen?

Children’s Brain Development Requires more brain development

Brain Development

Characteristics of Resilient Children who become Resilient Adults Characteristics  Superior emotional regulation skills  Outgoing personality  At least one warm loving relationship  Strong faith or sense of meaning in life  Special talent  High self-efficacy and optimistic world view  Good “genes”: easy temperament, superior intellectual and social skills

What does this mean for you as educators?  Superior emotional regulation skills  Outgoing personality  At least one warm loving relationship  Strong faith or sense of meaning in life  Special talent  High self-efficacy and optimistic world view  Good “genes”: easy temperament, superior intellectual and social skills

At least one secure attachment figure  Determine the basic needs of the child  Educational setting  Social setting  Your sphere of influence  Strive to meet emotional, educational, social, physical, spiritual needs

Special Talent  Discern that special talent  Discuss with child and parent/caregiver  Reinforce when observed  Encourage realistic opportunities to develop talent

High Self-Efficacy  Self-Efficacy  A sense that one can meet one’s goals

Faith and Meaning  God is there, even though may not seem like it  Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Phil. 4:13 MSG)

Faith and Meaning (do not’s)  Don’t use religious platitudes  Romans 8:28  “Rejoice in the Lord”  Diminish the suffering  If someone is suffering, they are suffering and it is hard

James 1:2-5 (The Message) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.

Heidelberg Catechism  28 Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?  A. We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from his love. All creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.

Resilience Individuals  regain balance and keep going despite change and misfortune  find meaning in confusion and difficulty  self-confident, understand strengths and abilities  do not feel pressure to conform but take pleasure in being unique  confidence in ability to persevere because they have done so before  anticipate rather than fear change and challenges  Don’t ask “Why me?” rather ask “What for?”

Resiliency and Restoration

You need two eyes  The eye of the mind  The eye of the heart

Summary Statement 30 Perfect peace comes not from the absence of bad circumstances but the reassuring presence of God despite circumstances. Nicky Gumbel

Questions/Discussion