In order to minimize the effects of deployment and other stress on children, here are some techniques in helping children how to cope.
Tips for Resilience Development
- Model appropriate problem-solving skills and encourage children to generate and evaluate solutions to problems
- Encourage children to express emotions appropriately
- Highlight children's positive experiences and identify their strengths
- Provide them with opportunities that will improve their talents and skills, which will in turn boost their self-esteem
- Teach children to be optimistic through cognitive restructuring techniques
- Teach them relaxation techniques
- Be consistent, maintain healthy boundaries, and model empathy
- Teach children social skills
- Engage them in physical activities
Additional Resources
Resilience Guide for Parents and Teachers - developed by the American Psychological Association that
provides different strategies on how to promote resilience for different age groups.
Little Children, Big Challenges - collaborated effort to help children develop self-confidence, problem-solving
skills, and emotional tools to cope with adversities.
Counseling Worksheets for Children - adapted from Trauma-Focused CBT, Living Well with Stress Manual,
and Pennsylvania Resiliency Program.
Quick Guide to Clinical Techniques for Common Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems - this
outlines several coping strategies for depression and anxiety. It also provides social skills training.
Examples of Unhelpful Thoughts - different types of cognitive distortions that can cause upsetting feelings.
Managing Unhelpful Thoughts - strategies to challenge and modify negative self-talk
National Military Family Association - non-profit organization that focuses on improving the lives of the
military families. They also offer annual camp for military children, Operation Purple Camp.
provides different strategies on how to promote resilience for different age groups.
Little Children, Big Challenges - collaborated effort to help children develop self-confidence, problem-solving
skills, and emotional tools to cope with adversities.
Counseling Worksheets for Children - adapted from Trauma-Focused CBT, Living Well with Stress Manual,
and Pennsylvania Resiliency Program.
Quick Guide to Clinical Techniques for Common Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems - this
outlines several coping strategies for depression and anxiety. It also provides social skills training.
Examples of Unhelpful Thoughts - different types of cognitive distortions that can cause upsetting feelings.
Managing Unhelpful Thoughts - strategies to challenge and modify negative self-talk
National Military Family Association - non-profit organization that focuses on improving the lives of the
military families. They also offer annual camp for military children, Operation Purple Camp.