August 2020

“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” – English Proverb

Life has an interesting way of testing a person’s will. Challenges that come our way might dampen our hopes and spirits, and giving up may sometimes seem like an option. However, these are the challenges that mold and refine us.

As adults, we have gone through many challenges and survived them. We remember that life is ups and downs and we try not to allow the feeling of hopelessness settle in our hearts. We keep things in perspective and make room to grow seeds of hope that spread positive vibes to the people close to us. When things get tough, we are able to persevere and keep going.

Similarly with our children, we want to encourage them to have the same optimistic and positive outlook while accepting and persevering through negative circumstances or emotions.

We can help our children learn this by:

• Modelling behaviours of resilience and optimism i.e. Let your child see how you see the good things in life and keep going even in the toughest times.

• Having conversations with your child about his/her strengths and how he/she can tap on this strength to overcome difficulties. E.g. “Think about how you responded. What strengths did you show? What strengths do you need to overcome this challenging situation?”

• Praise your child for persevering and for having a balanced perspective.

• Show support and encouragement for your child when things get tough in his/her life.