Emotional resilience is the ability to adapt to and navigate challenges and setbacks. By strengthening emotional resilience in preschoolers, children will be better equipped to handle tough situations by not losing control over their emotions. Emotionally resilient children often view failures as an opportunity to do better, thus not letting setbacks negatively impact their mental health. They learn to understand their emotions and self-regulate. This will help them to express themselves openly, build positive relationships and focus on learning in the classroom.
From building a healthy and long-lasting bond with children to creating a safe space for children to communicate their feelings, preschool teachers can help kids strengthen their emotional resilience in many different ways. Just like parents, the role of teachers in child development is crucial since they are the ones who accompany children in their activities for most of their day once they start attending preschool. Here are some of the strategies adopted by Mindseed Preschool to help children build this vital skill.
Learning Through Play
Playing gives children the opportunity to develop friendships, to learn to control their emotions and to solve problems confidently. However, they tend to feel frustrated when things don’t go their way during playtime. It is the responsibility of the teacher to strengthen their resilience daily by providing opportunities for them to learn through play.
At Mindseed, our instructors encourage children to be part of different mindfulness games such as the block games where they build creative structures using blocks. This creates an opportunity for children to initiate peer interactions while playing. Additionally, activities like breathing exercises and reading books empower them to regulate their emotions and respond thoughtfully during stressful situations.
Having Predictable Daily Routines
When a child feels that they have been forced to stop an activity they enjoy, they may respond with an emotional outburst which can ruin the mood of the whole class. At Mindseed, we let children feel in control of their day through predictable routines. Children are given a clear understanding of their schedule to reduce the chances of them getting anxious or angry. They also get enough time between activities to complete their task, relax and clean up their spaces. As we know how difficult classroom transition can be for some children, we warn them about upcoming transitions so that they feel prepared, relaxed and comfortable.
A Welcoming Classroom Environment
The learning atmosphere can influence a child’s mood, their behaviour towards others, and their resilience. A well-designed classroom will bring sunshine into the room and give children enough room to move around, relax and play. At the same time, it should also provide a safe environment where children feel comfortable sharing their feelings and the teacher must bring in the feeling of warmth and acceptance to the classroom. Simple questions like ‘What was your favourite part of the day?’ or ‘How are you feeling today?’ will help kids to recognise and express their emotions freely.
Building a Resilience Toolbox
As part of early childhood education, we help children learn the essential skill of problem-solving. Whether it’s figuring out creative solutions to puzzles or resolving a conflict with peers, we enable them to brainstorm solutions through each experience. In addition to building resilience, it also boosts their confidence to face future challenges.
The Art of Embracing Failures
At Mindseed, we believe that failures are stepping stones to personal growth. Our focus is on fostering a culture that views mistakes as not ‘The End’, but as a learning opportunity to improve. Here, it is ok to make mistakes. We teach to celebrate the process and not just the outcomes. This shift in mindset will allow children to perceive mistakes or failures as a chance to learn and do better. They will learn not to give up in the face of adversity.
These are some of the ways by which Mindseed ensures that it provides preschool emotional support, essential for children to achieve personal growth. The key here is to be consistent with your efforts to prepare them to tackle challenges on their own and feel confident about themselves while keeping in mind that building and strengthening resilience takes time.
