How do you help your children develop resilience?

[Ocsic]

Just that really. I’m worried about my lovely DS, age 8, who is a sensitive soul & seems to have lost confidence at school lately. He’s had some friendship issues at school & some bullying, (which school has tackled & which seems to have stopped). Can anyone advise me how to boost his confidence?

Can he join a club something like martial arts. It's cool. Keeps him active and not a bad idea to know how to defend yourself sensibly. I want all my kids to join or self defence because the way the world is now it wouldn't be a bad skill to have...

Plus if friends know he can do something like that they will probably back down. Not that he should use it against them though!

I don't think I've managed it. The trouble is they've had a very easy life with very few problems. Now they are young adults they seem to make tiny issues into big things or get a bit stressed when it's no big deal. So far they seem to be fine but I do worry that if something big happens that they won't cope. Hopefully they'll be fine but I do worry.

I think the fact your ds is coping with those incidents with your help, will probably build resilience anyway. The self defence classes are a great idea.

Thanks guys. He does Kung fu & loves it, so that’s definitely a positive. It’s just so hard seeing his sad little face in the line going in to class each day. Don’t want him to know I’m worried though, because I think that will make it harder for him, so trying to be bright & positive & cheery.