This page is for you to re-visit when you are low in resilience, or perhaps your kids are too! It is also a page that has been created for you to practice the steps over time.
First up: ask your kids what they think resilience means.
Here is a fancy definition of resilience from an expert in the field, Dr Karen Reivich
"Resilience is the ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenge and bounce back from adversity."
Grow Your Mind has come up with + 4 steps to grow our resilience. The + bit is in the introduction to the Growing Resilience Rap that features in the: You can't grow it alone podcast episode. The + is: surround yourself with reliable people.
Think and share:
Who is a reliable person in your life?
Watch the rap in visuals:
Discuss: "Resilience it's in you and me but it ain't something that you do independently." What does this mean?
Can you remember the 4 steps + the bit of advice at the start of the rap? Surround yourself with ________________________
Have any of these 4 steps ever helped you when facing a tough time?
Look/Cover/Say the steps:
Listen:
Practice:
print a student reflection journal
Reframe
Ages 7 - 12
Reframe your unhelpful thoughts. Visit the shark and dolphin page to practice reframing unhelpful thoughts.
Remember you can compete against shark thoughts by creating the start of a resilient thought. Think of a shark thought you currently have, now complete these sentences:
That thought is not true because...
Another way of thinking about this is...
The most likely outcome to all of this is....
NB There is a video lesson for K-2 and 3-6 about wellbeing where the concept of shark thinking is introduced.
Feeling frustrated by a situation? Perhaps you are super worried or anxious about something? Can you control what is happening? Can you control the outcome? A strong way to remain resilient is to practice letting go of what you cannot control and shifting the focus to what you CAN control.
Print the above
Ask students to brainstorm things that can't control. E.g. the weather, getting COVID, floods, wars etc.
Now invite them to put their focus on what they CAN control. E.g. My thoughts, my treatment of others, helping others, my attitude etc
Watch:
Click on one of the images above and watch a Guess Who about that particular person. Each of these individuals have shown incredible resilience throughout their life.
What steps from the rap can you see the Guess Who person using?
What enabled the person you watched to be resilient?
NB Sam Bloom is suitable for Year 4 and up.
Alternatively, print and share 12 Guess Who Stories with questions
Support the messaging of the podcast episode: You Can't Grow it Alone with excellent literature:
