In a world that demands instant success, the true power lies in teaching children the art of rising again and again.

The world watched in awe as Simone Biles, one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, stepped back onto the Olympic stage in 2024. This moment was years in the making. Just three years earlier, she had withdrawn from several events at the Tokyo Olympics, citing mental health concerns and the need to prioritize her well-being. Many wondered if this marked the end of her career.

But Simone Biles taught us all a valuable lesson: Overcoming adversity takes time. Her journey wasn’t about how quickly she bounced back, but about how fully she recovered. Through dedicated effort, seeking support, and an unwavering belief in her ability to overcome challenges, she made a triumphant return to competitive gymnastics. Her comeback wasn’t just about winning medals. It was a powerful demonstration that resilience is a process, not an instant rebound.

Simone’s journey shows the essence of true resilience. It’s not the capacity to immediately recover from difficulties, but the ability to adapt, grow, and keep going despite setbacks, even when the process takes years. While not all our children will face challenges on a global stage, they will inevitably encounter their own obstacles, disappointments, and failures.

The question is: How can we help children develop the resilience to rise again, just as Simone did?

More Than a Buzzword

Resilience is more than a buzzword. It’s a crucial life skill that develops over time. Think of resilience not as an emotional suit of armor, but as a muscle that grows stronger with each challenge faced and overcome. Just as Simone Biles had to rebuild her confidence and recalibrate her skills over several years, our children need time and support to develop the tools to navigate their own challenges.

In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, understanding resilience as a long-term process matters more than ever. 

Resilient children…

1. View challenges as temporary and surmountable, even if overcoming them takes time.
2. Have strong problem-solving orientation, and will try multiple approaches.
3. Regulate their emotions effectively, a skill honed through many. experiences
4. Maintain a sense of hope and optimism, even in the face of repeated setbacks.
5. Have strong social connections and know how to ask for help when needed.

These skills are not just beneficial in childhood. They lay the foundation for a lifetime of emotional health and success. Simone Biles didn’t just return to gymnastics overnight. She came back stronger, both mentally and physically, after a long journey of self-discovery and growth. This is the power of building resilience developed over time. It doesn’t just help us survive immediate challenges, but often helps us thrive because of them in the long run.

Remember, these traits don’t appear overnight. They’re cultivated through repeated experiences and supportive guidance.

Building Resilience 

1. Create a Supportive Home Environment: Establish routines and structure while fostering open communication. Provide unconditional love and support, especially during long-term challenges.
2. Encourage Problem-Solving: Guide children through the problem-solving process instead of solving issues for them. Celebrate persistence as much as success.
3. Teach Emotional Regulation: Help children identify emotions and introduce coping strategies. Recognize that mastering these skills takes practice.
4. Build a Strong Support Network: Encourage positive relationships and help children identify trusted adults they can turn to over time.
5. Promote Physical Health: Ensure adequate sleep, encourage regular exercise, and provide a balanced diet. These habits build resilience over the long term.
6. Cultivate Optimism: Help children find the silver lining in difficult situations and practice gratitude, even when progress is slow.
7. Develop a Growth Mindset: Reinforce the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, emphasizing the journey over immediate results.

Facing Setbacks

When your child faces a setback, consider these growth mindset strategies, remembering that true resilience develops over time. 

1. Acknowledge Feelings: Validate your child’s emotions without trying to change them. Allow time for processing.
2. Separate Event from Identity: Help your child understand that a single event doesn’t define them, no matter how significant it seems in the moment.
3. Encourage Reflection: Guide your child to analyze what happened and why, considering the broader context.
4. Highlight Past Resilience: Remind your child of times they’ve overcome challenges in the past, even if it took multiple attempts.
5. Plan Next Steps: Work with your child to develop a long-term plan of action, understanding that progress may be gradual.
6. Find the Learning Opportunity: Help your child identify lessons learned from the experience, recognizing that wisdom often comes with time and reflection.

The Path to Success

Building resilience isn’t about eliminating stress or adversity from our children’s lives. It’s about giving them the tools to navigate challenges, learn from setbacks, and emerge stronger on the other side, no matter how long the process takes. 

Building resilience isn’t about shielding our children from life’s storms. It’s about teaching them to dance in the rain. This journey aligns closely with cultivating a growth mindset, which I explore further in my article, Failure Isn’t Fatal: Cultivating a Growth Mindset at Any Age. Together, resilience and a growth mindset form a powerful toolkit for lifelong learning and development.

In our rapidly evolving world, resilience isn’t just a skill—it’s a superpower. It’s the ability to bend without breaking, to rise after every fall, and to find strength in the struggle. As parents and educators, our mission is clear: we must prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.

This preparation isn’t about clearing obstacles, but about equipping children with the tools to navigate life’s unpredictable terrain. By fostering resilience, we’re not just helping them overcome today’s challenges. We’re empowering them to face tomorrow’s unknowns with confidence and grace.

Remember, every setback is a setup for a comeback. Every struggle is an opportunity for growth. As we guide our children through life’s ups and downs, we’re not just building resilience—we’re sculpting the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow.

So let’s embrace the journey, celebrate the effort, and watch in wonder as our resilient children rise, time and time again, ready to take on whatever the world throws their way. After all, it’s not about how many times they fall—it’s about how many times they get back up, stronger and wiser than before