Resilience is the ability to recover, grow, and move forward—even in the face of life’s setbacks.
Helping your child develop this skill from an early age can make a meaningful difference in how they handle tough times and bounce back from adversity. Building resilience in children doesn’t mean shielding them from every challenge—it means giving them the tools to grow through it.
Model Emotional Awareness and Calm Responses
Children learn by watching the adults around them. If your child sees you managing stress in healthy ways, they’re more likely to learn how to manage their emotions, too. Use simple language to name feelings like “frustrated” or “nervous.” Showing empathy and validating their experiences helps kids feel safe and understood—key factors in resilience.
Early Advantage supports this growth through social-emotional learning embedded in programs like the Conscious Discipline Curriculum.
When at First You Don't Succeed — Try Again
Children develop resilience when they learn that setbacks are just a bump in the road. Whether it’s building a block tower that topples over or forgetting to bring a toy home, these early missteps help children learn how to adapt.
Encourage effort over perfection and guide them through the process of trying again.
This aligns with the child-led learning in our preschool programs, where exploration and experimentation are part of everyday learning.
Create a Steady, Nurturing Routine
A predictable environment helps your child feel secure enough to take small risks. Strong relationships with caregivers and consistent daily routines serve as a buffer against adversity. Children who feel safe at home and in care settings are more confident when faced with new challenges.
At Early Advantage, our child care programs offer age-appropriate structure paired with warm, responsive interactions to help children thrive.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills Early
Even young children can begin learning how to solve problems. When a child faces a disagreement or a broken toy, talk them through possible options: “What can we do if we want the same toy?” or “How could we fix this together?” This helps them think critically and develop resilience through problem-solving.
Our use of the Second Step Curriculum includes guided social-emotional learning activities that teach kids how to identify emotions, handle conflict, and make thoughtful decisions.
Celebrate Growth, Not Just Wins
It’s tempting to cheer when your child gets something right—but praising effort matters more. When you acknowledge persistence, bravery, or trying something new, your child learns that growth is what really counts.
This approach helps foster a growth mindset, which supports the development of long-term resilience in kids.
Offer Safe Choices Every Day
Simple choices like “Do you want to wear the red socks or blue ones?” give children a sense of control and autonomy. When children feel empowered in small ways, they’re better prepared to face bigger decisions later.
Our daily curriculum supports this by encouraging children to take the lead in activities and decision-making, building independence and confidence along the way.
Support your child’s resilience journey with Early Advantage
At Early Advantage, we believe resilience is a skill every child can build—with the right support. Through nurturing relationships, consistent routines, and intentional curriculum choices, we help children become confident, resilient learners.
Want to learn more about how we help children thrive? Contact us today or schedule a tour to see our programs in action.
