The way our children handle adversity reflects how we, as adults, handle setbacks and challenges. Are we calm? Are we proactive thinkers? Are we quick with negative thoughts and anger? Do we react to small problems as small problems or do we inflate their importance with our explosive response?

Resilience is the ability to bounce back, to move forward and solve problems, to stay calm and think clearly. Resilience means easily forgiving. It means we seek solutions and positive outlooks. Having resilience skills will help us reach our short-term and long term goals.

3rd grade students at Erie Elementary School will spend their year learning and practicing resilience skills to improve their ability to handle academic and social setbacks and eventually to transfer these skills to career. We will focus on "looking on the bright side," the power of YET or believing we CAN and having a sense of humor.

Students will explore strategies to handle peer conflict, teases and put downs, to set goals and know when to seek support from trusted adults.

Remember. . .

Bad times don't last, things will always get better - stay optimistic

Other people can help, if you ask them.

Unhelpful thinking makes you feel more upset - think again.

Nobody's perfect, not you and not others.

Concentrate on the positives in a bad situation.

Everybody experiences sadness, hurt, failure, rejection and setbacks sometimes, not just you.

Blame fairly.

Accept what you can't change.

Catastrophizing exaggerates your worries.

Keep things in perspective.