Resilience
The capacity to bounce back from adversity, cope with challenges, and adapt to change.
Here’s a supportive and empowering set of practical activities to help build the emotional skill of resilience in home educated children. These activities are designed to help children bounce back from setbacks, manage challenges, and develop a growth mindset.
🧠 What Is Resilience?
Resilience is the ability to:
Cope with difficulties and setbacks
Stay positive and keep trying
Learn from mistakes
Adapt to change and keep going
🎲 Game-Based Resilience Activities
1. “Try Again” Challenges
Set up tasks that are tricky but achievable (e.g., stacking blocks, balancing games).
Encourage children to keep trying even if they don’t succeed the first time.
2. Obstacle Course with a Twist
Create a physical or mental obstacle course.
Add unexpected changes (e.g., “Now hop instead of walk!”).
Teaches adaptability and perseverance.
3. Resilience Role Play
Act out scenarios like:“You didn’t win the game.”
“You forgot your lines in a play.”
Discuss how to respond positively and try again.
📚 Storytelling & Reflection
4. Read Stories About Overcoming Challenges
Choose books where characters face and overcome difficulties.
Discuss:“What was the challenge?”
“How did they keep going?”
“What would you do?”
5. My Brave Moments Journal
Children write or draw times they were brave, tried again, or solved a problem.
Builds self-awareness and confidence.
6. Failure Is Part of Learning
Share stories of famous people who failed before succeeding (e.g., Thomas Edison, J.K. Rowling).
Discuss what they learned and how they kept going.
🎨 Creative Resilience Builders
7. Design a Super Resilience Hero
Create a superhero who never gives up.
What are their powers? How do they help others stay strong?
8. Growth Mindset Posters
Make posters with phrases like:“Mistakes help me learn.”
“I can do hard things.”
“Every day is a fresh start.”
9. Resilience Rocks
Paint rocks with encouraging words or symbols.
Place them around the house or garden as reminders.
🧘 Mindfulness & Emotional Regulation
10. Breathe Through It
Teach calming breaths for when things get tough.
Use “square breathing” (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4).
11. Name the Feeling
Help children identify and name emotions when they’re frustrated or upset.
Use a “feelings thermometer” or emotion cards.
12. Positive Self-Talk Practice
Role play or write down negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones.
E.g., “I can’t do this” → “I’ll try again and get better.”
🧺 Everyday Resilience Boosters
13. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results
Praise trying, learning, and improving—not just winning or getting it right.
14. Set and Track Personal Goals
Help children set small, achievable goals.
Track progress and celebrate milestones.
15. “What I Learned” Reflection
After a challenge or mistake, ask:“What did you learn?”
“What would you do differently next time?”
“What are you proud of?”