If you want to build resilience in kids, there’s one simple, yet powerful thing you can tell them. Its impact will be long lasting and far reaching.

Tell them,

“You’re important to me and to the world.”

‘You’re important’, tells children they are not only valued, but they have a role to play in the bigger scheme of things.

It says they can make the world a better place, whether it’s through love, creativity, ideas, skills or simply being kind.

Every child, no matter who they are, has something to offer. This especially applies to Neurodiverse kids and kids who may have suffered trauma, have being bullied or struggle with self acceptance. They are important to the world.

Telling them they’re important lifts them up and inspires them.

It helps them see beyond themselves, to wonder about what they could do, achieve and offer to others.

Reminding kids that they’re important to world, might help them when they need it most. So instead of feeling small, insecure and anxious, they might find the inner resilience to feel stronger and more confident in themselves.  

PREVENTING A TRAGEDY

When I was doing research for my third kid’s book, Magnificent Mistakes and Fantastic Failures; Finding the good when things seem bad, I was astonished to read about the high rates of anxiety, depression and suicide ideation (suicidal thoughts) in children, even as young as 4. The Beyond Blue website has the rates here.

Teachers at the schools I visit, tell me similar stories, and that it’s getting worse.

While I don’t have the answers and I’m not a parenting expert, but having my parents, or even teachers, tell me when I was young, that I was important to them and to the world, would have made a big difference to how I was feeling at the time.

I think your kids need to hear it too.

“You’re important to the world”

While you may tell them they’re special, unique and one of a kind, also tell them they’re important to the world.

Because when they hit a low point in their life, it could be the foundation that they need to spring back from.

Ways to remind your child they are important to the world:

• Inspiring Kids Home Program
• Magnificent Mistakes and Fantastic Failures; Finding the good when things seem bad,

Regards

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If anything in this article has triggered something in you or you feel your child maybe at risk, please reach out to someone. Parents can call their local state Parentline: Numbers can be found here.

There’s also Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800 Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 224 636; Rurallink 1800 552 002; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; The Samaritans Crisis Line 08 9381 5555.