© 2000 Jordan Institute
for Families

Intervention Points: Increasing Resiliency in Families and Children

Following are some tips for increasing resiliency in families and children:

• Promote a stable, supportive, continuous relationship with at least one responsible adult in the child's life (this significantly enhances resilence).

• Accept families as they are--be aware of and respect their cultural heritage, home life, and past experiences.

• Give support and encouragement, whether or not the child has a "difficult" or "easy" temperament--we all need support and encouragement; telling families they are doing something right can build trust.

• Understand their reality--know what experiences they are having and their developmental level.

• Support development of resilient traits based on their strengths--use what they already have to strengthen weaker areas.

• Invite them to reach out to peers, adults and groups to widen positive social support--help them make friends, find groups, or learn where to look for help.

• Model constructive thinking and problem solving--use opportunities to work through problems with them by asking questions.

• Seek their strengths--look for and verbally reinforce all they are good at doing.

• Assist them in self awareness and reflection--ask them what they think; try to understand what they are saying.

• Encourage humor and other natural coping personality traits.

Source

Giordano, B. P. (1997). Resilience--a survival tool for the nineties. AORN Journal, 65, 1032-1036.

© 1998 Jordan Institute for Families