The Power of Resiliency
Nurturing Our Children through Activity and Community
By Coach Miguel Martinez
For over two decades, Coach Miguel Martinez has worked with children and youth and shares two key factors to building resiliency, an essential component of their development
Over my two decades as a philanthropist working with children and youth, I've discovered that building resiliency is an essential component of their development. Two key factors in this process are activity and community.
The Role of Activity
in Resilience
When faced with adversity, our bodies produce cortisol, a hormone that triggers a stress response. While this response helps us react quickly in dangerous situations, prolonged exposure to cortisol can cloud our judgment and hinder our ability to find solutions (Borreli, 2015).
This is where the importance of activity comes into play, especially for children navigating difficult times. Engaging in activities, whether it's playing a sport, creating art, or taking a walk in the park, gives the mind a break from stress. These activities shift focus from the problem at hand to the task being performed, offering an escape and a fresh perspective.
Participating in activities also promotes healthy physiological responses. Deep breathing during physical exertion oxygenates the body, reducing stress and fostering a sense of calm. This calmness allows for clearer thinking and better decision-making (Blanchfield, 2022).
While engaging in activities doesn't make problems dis-appear, it provides a crucial pause. It's a vital component of resilience because it allows children to step back, breathe, and approach their challenges with a fresh perspective when they're ready. Activity not only offers an escape from stress but also serves as a tool for problem-solving and resilience.
Nurturing a culture of activity among children and youth is essential. It's not just about diverting attention from problems; it's about equipping them with a crucial tool for resilience and problem-solving. As caregivers, we must encourage children to engage in activities they enjoy, allowing them to navigate stress in a healthy, constructive way.
Moreover, depending on the activity, it will release endorphins or dopamine, or both. These "feel-good" hormones can produce feelings of happiness or euphoria. The release of endorphins and dopamine not only offers immediate relief from stress but also contributes to long-term resilience by creating positive associations with problem-solving activities (Hopes, 2023).
The Importance of Community
Community is another crucial component of resilience. Knowing that we have someone to lean on during tough times is invaluable. As cortisol levels rise in response to stress, oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone," comes into play. Oxytocin can alleviate stress and foster a sense of security and bonding (DiDonato, 2014).
However, there is a delicate balance to be struck. As caregivers, our natural instinct is to shield children from hardship and solve their problems. While this is done out of love and concern, it can inadvertently have negative consequences. When we always rush to solve their issues, we teach them to rely on others to handle their problems, creating dependence and hindering their ability to cope with stress independently.
It's essential for children and youth to experience challenges and actively engage in seeking solutions.
This doesn't mean leaving them alone to face their problems but rather teaching them to explore and evaluate possible solutions. As caregivers, our role should be to guide and support, to give them options, not to be their solutions.
By doing so, we help them become their own problem-solvers, equipping them with the necessary tools to navigate life's ups and downs. This process strengthens their resilience muscle, building their confidence and independence. It's about fostering a balance of love and guidance with freedom and self-reliance, a blend that shapes resilient children ready to face the world.
Summary
● Building resilience in children and youth is a delicate balance of fostering a culture of activity and nurturing a supportive community.
● Encouraging engagement in activities helps children manage stress and offers them a fresh perspective on their problems, while a strong community provides the security and bond necessary to face life's challenges.
● As caregivers, our role is to strike the right balance between guidance and freedom, equipping children with the tools they need to navigate life independently. This blend of love, support, activity, and community shapes resilient children, ready to face the world.
In conclusion, the keys to fostering resiliency in children lie in encouraging them to be active and supporting them through a strong community. By doing so, we can help them grow into independent, confident, and resilient individuals, capable of navigating the challenges that life throws their way.
