Taking a break

As we move towards the end of this year into Term 4 it is very impotant that students have a restful break.  This year has been particularly trying for everyone with bushfires, Covid, floods and many restrictions compared to previous years.  The year has certainly tested resilience in our whole community.

Building resilience

Building resilience—the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress—can help our children manage stress and feelings of anxiety and uncertainty.  The foundations of building resilience begin at home and these foundations are built on in the community.

The American Psychology Society has some outstanding tips on how parents can help build resilience in the home which are outlined below:

Make connections
Teach your child the importance of engaging and connecting with their peers, including the skill of empathy and listening to others. Find ways to help children foster connectivity by suggesting they connect to peers in-person. It’s also important to build a strong family network. Connecting with others provides social support and strengthens resilience.

Help your child by having them help others

Children who may feel helpless can feel empowered by helping others. Engage your child in age-appropriate volunteer work or ask for assistance yourself with tasks that they can master.

Maintain a daily routine

Sticking to a routine can be comforting to children. Work with your child to develop a routine, and highlight times that are for school work and relaxation.

Take a break

While some anxiety can motivate us to take positive action, we also need to validate all feelings. Teach your child how to focus on something that they can control or can act on. Help by challenging unrealistic thinking by asking them to examine the chances of the worst-case scenario and what they might tell a friend who has those worries. Be aware of what your child is exposed to that can be troubling, whether it’s through the news, online, or overheard conversations.

Teach your child self-care

Teach your child the importance of basic self-care. This may be making more time to eat properly, exercise, and get sufficient sleep. Make sure your child has time to have fun, and participate in activities they enjoy. Caring for oneself and even having fun will help children stay balanced and better deal with stressful times.  Remember the key tips of no devices, including phones, in the bedroom at night.

Move toward your goals

Teach your child to set reasonable goals and help them to move toward them one step at a time. Establishing goals will help children focus on a specific task and can help build the resilience to move forward in the face of challenges.

Nurture a positive self-view

Help your child remember ways they have successfully handled hardships in the past and help them understand that these past challenges help build the strength to handle future challenges. Help your child learn to trust themselves to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.

Keep things in perspective and maintain a hopeful outlook

Even when your child is facing very painful events, help them look at the situation in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective.   An optimistic and positive outlook can enable children to see the good things in life and keep going even in the hardest times.

Look for opportunities for self-discovery

Tough times are often when children learn the most about themselves. Help your child take a look at how whatever they’re facing can teach them “what am I made of.” 

Accept change

Change often can be scary for children and teens. Help your child see that change is part of life and new goals can replace goals that have become unattainable. It is important to examine what is going well and to have a plan of action for what is not going well. 

Source: https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience-guide-parents 

Resilience is one of the key skills that employers are worried that is not being developed in young people.  This along with taking responsibility, constructive feedback, and forming meaningful connections is vital to be developed in our young leaders of tomorrow.

The College is always here to work in partnership with families to help equip our young people for the skills they require for the workplace and to become better citizens. 

Nathan Mansfield

Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care