Bouncing Back (Resiliency) 101
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What is Resiliency?
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We hear a lot of people use the word “grit” as a synonymous term for resilience, especially in the U.S. But, there are as many interpretations of the word as there are contexts. What some consider internal strength that can be fostered, others think of as the ability to bounce back from major life events like loss, grief, etc. Is strength a part of being able to bounce back from life? Does it take strength to bounce back? Sure. But it takes a lot more than that. As we now know, resilience is a process and not an end state.
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The Big Parenting Questions
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As it relates to “grit” and resilience, parents, educators and caregivers alike have a lot of questions:
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How can they help their child manage big emotions in a little body?
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How can they teach their child to deal with stress and adversity so they bounce back easily?
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How can they empower their child to reach out to the right people when they need help?
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How can they help their child have long-lasting self-compassion, self-worth, self-trust and self-confidence?
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How can they help their child learn compassion for others and for the world at-large?How can the Milo books help answer these questions?
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How can the Milo books help answer these questions?
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Stories are a powerful way to help children learn, grow and even heal. Through stories, children can talk about their feelings through the character’s journey, which often feels less overwhelming than talking directly about their own.
As Milo learns how to “tame the scribbles”, use his body to regulate his emotions, and develop a language for the big emotions that feel overwhelming, he’s able to help teach children how to do this. In fact, Milo is just as much a co-student and teacher to children as the wise grown-ups in the book are to parents and caregivers.
Throughout the books, children learn along with Milo as he:
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Develops compassion for himself and for others
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Learns to trust his intuition
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Learns thought awareness
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Learns to believe in himself and have confidence to try new things
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Learns that he can reach out for love and support and it will be there to guide and nurture him
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Learns to move big emotions through his body.
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Learns to use resiliency tools like journaling and meditation.
Ultimately, the Milo books give children a safe place to explore the inevitable experience of being alive, while helping them understand that healing doesn’t mean losing joy or hope. And that often times what seems like the end of the world can be the beginning of an incredible new adventure and a new “normal” they might never have expected.
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