Hajja Salesjana January March 2018

22 consideration. It is important that you avoid messages that promote hatred, discrimination, or stereotypes. Help your children understand how their behaviour affects others, and how he could be a caring person. Communities, including church and youth centres, also play an important role in the formation of a child’s character. Finally, try to model Coping through appropriate means. It is important that you try to contain your own feelings and express them in a way that makes sense for the child. For example, try to talk about disappointment and/or frustration, rather than lashing out at whoever is closest to you in the moment. This needs to be practised consistently. Communicate that change is part of life, and manageable, despite being frightening at times. Rather than condemning the child’s negative behaviour, potentially increasing shame, recognise that some children’s risky behaviour is a way to alleviate stress and cope with their surroundings. Encourage, therefore, expression of feelings, and seek professional help where necessary. It goes without saying that there is no one, simple, resolution to a child’s development of resilience. However, we could empower children to negotiate their challenges, and support them to feel more capable to navigate life’s trials and uncertainties. Ginsburg, K.R. & Jablow, M.M. (2015). Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings 3 rd Ed. Elk Grove (IL): American Academy of Pediatrics.