A Guide to Resilience
Building young children’s capacity for resilience, thereby reducing the effects of significant adversity or toxic stress on early development, is essential to their lifelong health and well-being. Research has shown that some children develop resilience, or the ability to overcome serious hardship, while others do not. Understanding why some children thrive despite adverse childhood experiences is critical, as it can inform policies and programs to help support children and caregivers in coping with, adapting to, and even preventing adversity in their lives.
Indeed, learning to cope with manageable threats—or positive stress—is critical for developing resilience. The capabilities that underlie resilience can be strengthened at any age, underscoring the need for supportive policies and programs. Explore the resources in this guide and our guide to toxic stress to learn more.
