Resilience

Mrs Karen Humphreys, Preschool Coordinator

RESILIENCE is an important trait for all of us, and an essential one for our children to develop. We know that resilience creates happier, less stressed children wherever they are – whether it’s at home or school. Educators at TSS Preschool support our boys to develop not only their pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills but most importantly their social skills, including resilience. Through developing a secure environment and building trusting relationships, our educators provide opportunities for boys to practice their social skills in a safe space.

When we talk about resilience we mean a person’s ability to cope with the ups and downs of life. For children it also encompasses how they deal with challenges they might face throughout their childhood. Resilience is important mostly for our mental health. It’s a life skill we take with us into adulthood. It is thought that the more resilient a person is, the less they experience stress as they are equipped to deal with life’s pressures. Building resilience in children helps them to overcome obstacles more easily and reduces the chances of them suffering from anxiety or other stress-related disorders. Educators at TSS Preschool help promote the building of resilience by role modelling coping skills, teaching problemsolving and assisting our boys to solve their own problems when they arise.

Adversity, at times, can be a good thing. Children can be motivated by experiencing a manageable level of adversity or stress, and this can contribute to overall positive development. When children experience adversity, it helps them become resilient. The support children receive while experiencing adversity – and the extent to which that support meets their needs and circumstances – helps develop resilience. The recent disruption of life due to COVID-19 gave the boys a great opportunity to develop their resilience. The restrictions placed upon us in regards to social distancing have seen Preschool’s drop off and pick up procedures modified during Term Two. In the past parents came into Preschool to drop off and pick up. Now they drop their son at the front gate in the morning and pick them up in a drive through manner at the end of the day. It has been a major adjustment, not only for the boys but for the parents and staff too.

For some parents this was a very difficult situation to deal with. Letting go of our children is always hard, especially, I have found, between mums and their sons. Parents were left at the front door feeling quite redundant and not sure how their son could possibly manage all his belongings without their help. So with educators at the front door offering encouraging words and smiles (to boys and parents), the boys hoisted on their bags and after hugs and waves made their way down the Preschool corridor, without their parents/carers support. For some this task was daunting, their bags bigger than themselves! I’m sure the corridor seemed twice as long without someone holding their bag and their hand but with encouragement from their educators the boys made it! Educators supervised the boys unpacking their bags and with gentle reminders all their belongings were put in the correct place ready for the day ahead. This was a great achievement for the boys who were very proud of themselves. This seemingly small act increased their self-esteem no end. Day after day the boys continued to improve and now rarely need prompting on what needs to be done after that long walk down the corridor, which no longer seems that long. Through guidance and a belief in the boys, we have raised their levels of resilience and independence.

As I remember back to the first day, where the boys did very little in regards to their belongings and some were quite teary when left, I am now so proud of our youngest studens who stride with confidence down the corridor each morning. Parents stand mesmerised at the front door as their boys no longer need help to unpack their bags. In fact, one boy even told his educator he prefers this sort of drop off, he finds it much easier to say goodbye at the door. Too often we presume we know what is right for our children and spend a lifetime trying to protect them from adversity. In fact, we need to listen actively to them and provide opportunities, even negative ones, in a safe and secure way, to support the development of the whole child. Our Preschool 2020 boys have shone through adversity and have levels of independence and resilience that we would not normally witness at this early stage of the year. A positive outcome to a difficult situation. True TSS grit!