Page 20 - Issue 5 Cornwall Hill

ADVERTORIAL

HOW TO RAISE

RESILIENT CHILDREN

esilience is the ability to
bounce back from stress,
challenge, tragedy, trauma
Ror adversity. In South Africa,
we’ve had to face many hardships and
adversity in the past. These include
load shedding, floods, droughts, crime,
poverty, and many more. Covid-19
brought about new challenges and has
been described as the most devastating
crisis we’ve had to face so far.
IMPACT OF COVID-19
As parents, we are faced with risk factors
like financial losses, health concerns,
and restriction of our movements,
which all lead to our own anxieties
getting out of control. During these
times of stress, the body goes through
many changes to assist us to be faster,
stronger, and more alert. Our heart rate
and breathing increase, blood pressure
goes up, and adrenaline and cortisol are
released throughout the body. In the
short term, these changes are necessary
and important for survival. When the
stress is ongoing (like a pandemic), the
physiological changes stay switched on,
and cortisol levels remain high. Over
an extended period, this can weaken
the immune system, the body, and
the brain. It affects our ability to pay
attention, solve problems, and regulate
our emotions.
THE IMPACT OF RESILIENCE
Resilience is related to the capacity
to strengthen our health and activate
the parts of our brain that we need to
perform at our best. It has been said to
reverse the physiological changes and
expand the capacity to recover from,
adapt to, or find a solution to stress or
adversity.

How do we reduce the effects of genetically inherited. We can teach our When children are resilient, they are braver,
significant adversity on our children’s children to be resilient. Strengthening them more curious, more adaptable, and more
healthy development? Helping children to become physically and emotionally able to extend their reach into the world.
to thrive and become healthy human healthy human beings is about nurturing They have different levels of resilience and
beings is not about clearing adversity out within them the strategies to deal with might become withdrawn or act out when
of their way. Small amounts of stress are adversity. Here are a few suggestions to the demands put upon them outweigh
necessary for the development of skills foster resilience in children: their capacity to cope. Worried about
needed to flourish. We should rather • Let them know they are loved your child’s capacity to cope during this
focus on handling our own anxieties and unconditionally. highly stressful time? Then rather seek
be conscious of how we speak around • Build their problem-solving skills. professional help from a psychologist
our children. They learn by example, and • Let them face their fears (but with support), to give yourself and them the necessary
showing them how we manage stress and make mistakes, and learn from them. support.
adversity, will teach them how to handle • Build their self-esteem.
their own anxieties. • Cultivate empathy. For further information, please contact
• Accept them for who they are. Corneli Oosthuizen Educational
HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD • Identify their strengths. Psychologist on 082 920 6917
BECOME MORE RESILIENT? • Encourage a regular mindfulness practice. Email: info@cornelioosthuizen.co.za
Resilience can be learned and is not •Nurture optimism. Website : www.cornelioosthuizen.co.za
18 Cornwall View • Issue 5 2020