3 Real Things You Can Do TODAY to Help Your Kid Be More Resilient
Let’s be honest: a lot of kids today are struggling.
Anxiety is up. Confidence is down. And somewhere along the line, resilience—the ability to take a hit and get back up—started getting replaced with fragility.
But here’s the good news: resilience isn’t something you’re born with. It’s built. And it’s never too late to start.
You don’t need to be a therapist. You don’t need a parenting degree. You just need to show up and be intentional.
Here are 3 things you can do today to help your kid get stronger—not just emotionally, but mentally and spiritually too.
1. Stop Fixing. Start Listening.
You want your kid to be resilient? Start by being someone they can actually talk to.
Not someone who lectures.
Not someone who minimizes.
Not someone who jumps straight into “here’s what you should do.”
Try this instead:
Ask, “What’s been weighing on you this week?”
Then shut up and listen.
When they answer, respond with “That sounds really tough. I’m glad you told me.”
Why? Because resilience begins with safety. And safety starts with being seen. If they can’t come to you with small stuff, they won’t trust you with the big stuff.
2. Teach Them How to Face Stress—Not Avoid It
Our culture teaches escape: scroll it away, snack it away, swipe it away.
But you don’t build resilience by running from hard things. You build it by facing them—little by little, with support.
Try this today:
Teach your kid a simple breathing exercise: In for 4. Hold for 4. Out for 4.
Talk through a hard situation: “What could help you feel braver next time?”
Don’t wait for a meltdown to teach coping. Practice when things are calm, so the tools are ready when the storm hits.
3. Let Them Struggle—Just Don’t Let Them Struggle Alone
Helicopter parenting doesn’t build strength. Challenge does.
Let your kid try something they’re not already good at. Let them wrestle with it. Let them feel frustrated. Then be right there cheering them on.
Try this today:
Ask: “What’s something you want to get better at?”
Set a 10-minute challenge. Just try. No pressure.
Praise the effort, not just the outcome.
Why? Because confidence doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from doing hard things—and knowing someone’s in your corner when it doesn’t go perfectly.
Let’s Be Real…
Your kid doesn’t need perfect circumstances. They need tools.
They don’t need a smooth path. They need sturdy legs.
And those legs? You help build them.
Resilience isn’t a trait. It’s a habit. One that gets stronger every time your child feels supported, stretched, and seen.
Final Thought
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to keep showing up.
Because your voice matters more than you think. And resilience starts in the quiet moments—over dinner, in the car, or after a hard day at school—when your kid realizes: I can do this. I’m not alone.
And that? That’s how we help them win.
