Bouncing Back: Raising Resilient Children

Late last year, I attended the “Bouncing Back: Raising Resilient Children” parenting seminar by CREO Early Learning Partners Inc. under their Family Forward program.  It was a half-day event with a keynote and two topics delivered by experts in the field of child development. I never hesitated to join because even though I have been parenting for 6 years and I have a background dealing with kids as a teacher for 10 years, I felt that there is so much more to learn all the time. I never regretted it.

The keynote address by Ma. Carolina De Ocampo, consultant of Kidzania Manila, was about approaches in early childhood education and how it applies to parenting. In her keynote, I learned that:

The keynote speaker, De Ocampo, as she discusses approaches in Childhood Education.

• ·         For preschool learners (ages 0-8 years old), there are readiness predictors for them in terms of independence, communication, and the ability to do activities briefly.
• ·         At an early age, we can actually provide opportunities for our children to acquire soft skills such as being able to choose and make decisions, improve their communication skills, and do some light chores at home.
• ·         Preschool curriculum should also focus on these soft skills, rather than strict academics, to prepare them fully for formal school life later on.
• ·         Being able to foster these soft skills among children, they become more prepared as they grow up because definitely, they will also experience challenges and problems later on in life.

With Ms Kristine Canon

The 2^nd topic in the seminar was about Peaceful Parenting by Frances Kristine V. Canon, an award-winning children’s book author. The concept is actually new to me and this topic was the reason why I joined the event. Accordingly, peaceful parenting is about

• ·         Modeling
• ·         Being the “adult”
• ·         Being true to your self amidst chaos

Listening to the talk, I think Peaceful Parenting is likely related to Positive Discipline wherein, as adults, we model and instill good behavior and actions to children so they too will eventually learn to do these good deeds, instead of punishing or negatively reinforcing bad or manipulative behaviors.

Peaceful parenting is also about raising happy kids. Does social-emotional precede academic achievement? Yes, because a happy kid does her best!

With Ms Katherine Tandoc

The last topic was on child development and learning by Katherine Claudette A. Tandoc, a Family Life and Child Development Specialist. Though I am very familiar with concepts and theories about child development, it was to relearn and be reminded of these concepts.

Here are some characteristics of a resilient child:

• ·         Trying Again. For example, a child falling down but standing up again to learn how to ride a bicycle. The child learns how to persevere and not give up on what she wants to do and learn.
• ·         Learning how to wait. A child develops patience if he or she is taught to fall in line and wait for his/ her turn. If the child develops this, he or she will have a better relationship with others as she grows up and he or she will have the understanding and patience and be able to cope with the challenges and problems that will be encountered.
• ·         Having a choice. When a child is given the opportunity to make choices, he or she feels ownership of his or her choice and that the child learns to be accountable for the choices and decisions he or she has made. When good things happen because of their choices, they would feel happier with their success. When bad things happen because of their choices, at least, they would learn to own their mistakes, apologize, and make better choices the next time.

I hope we all get to raise resilient children. With what is happening to our environment and in our world nowadays, they need to be resilient. For parents, let’s start with our own kids.