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Every child faces challenges at some point in their development—whether it’s struggling with schoolwork, managing friendships, or dealing with changes at home. As a parent or carer, your support and encouragement can make all the difference. Helping your child navigate obstacles is not just about solving problems for them, but about empowering them to develop resilience and confidence in the face of adversity.
Understand the Challenge
The first step in supporting your child is understanding the nature of the obstacle they’re facing. Is it emotional, social, academic, or physical? Try to create a safe, open space where your child feels comfortable sharing their worries. Like this prep school in Devon, listen without judgement and avoid jumping to conclusions. Sometimes, what seems like a small issue to an adult can feel overwhelming to a child.
Ask open-ended questions to help them articulate their thoughts:
– “Can you tell me more about what happened?”
– “How did that make you feel?”
This will not only help you better understand the situation, but also show your child that their feelings are valid and important.
Encourage Problem-Solving
Rather than offering immediate solutions, guide your child through the process of finding their own answers. This might involve brainstorming ideas together, weighing up pros and cons, or considering what’s worked for them in the past.
Teaching problem-solving skills is key to helping children grow into independent and confident adults. Try breaking the issue into smaller, manageable steps so it feels less daunting. For example, if your child is overwhelmed with homework, help them create a timetable that spreads the work across the week.
You can also role-play different scenarios with them. This allows your child to practice how they might respond in real-life situations, such as approaching a teacher for help or resolving a disagreement with a friend. These exercises not only prepare them practically, but also reduce anxiety around the unknown.
Build Resilience and Self-Esteem
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from difficulties—and it’s something that can be nurtured over time. Praise your child’s efforts rather than just their achievements. Let them know that it’s okay to fail sometimes and that mistakes are a natural part of learning.
Encouraging a growth mindset—where children understand that abilities can be developed through hard work—can make a huge difference. Statements like “You tried so hard on this!” or “What did you learn from this experience?” promote resilience and perseverance.
Be a Positive Role Model
Children learn a great deal from observing how adults deal with stress, setbacks, and difficult emotions. By demonstrating patience, self-compassion, and problem-solving skills in your own life, you’ll show your child that challenges are a normal part of growing up—and that they can be overcome.
Talk openly (and age-appropriately) about the obstacles you’ve faced and how you worked through them. This can help normalise struggle and encourage your child to approach problems with a constructive attitude.
Know When to Seek Support
While it’s important to encourage independence, there are times when professional support might be necessary. If your child is experiencing persistent anxiety, low self-esteem, or significant academic struggles, don’t hesitate to speak with their teacher, GP, or a counsellor. Early intervention can have a lasting impact.
Schools often have pastoral care teams or access to mental health resources, so reaching out doesn’t mean you have to face it alone.
By supporting your child with patience, understanding and encouragement, you’ll help them build the confidence and tools they need to face future challenges with resilience and determination.