Parental resilience
Resources for parents
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What is parental resilience?
Sometimes life is really hard. Parental resilience is how well you manage stress, recover from things that are hard, and handle everyday challenges. Parents who learn the skills it takes to stay calm, be emotionally available to their children, and focus on healthy relationships raise kids who are able to build these skills too.
Tips to become more resilient.
- Manage stress with mindfulness, breathing exercises, or relaxation techniques.
- Create a self-care routine that includes rest, exercise, and healthy eating.
- Think about your personal strengths and use them to face challenges.
- Use positive strategies to cope with hard times. Journal, talk to friends or family, or call a mental health expert.
How can you get better at dealing with stress?
Being a parent is hard work. It’s OK to feel overwhelmed sometimes. It’s not selfish to take care of your own stress. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do for your child. Kids learn how to manage stress and build coping skills when they watch you manage stress in healthy ways. Calm parents create a calm home. Research shows strong coping skills can reduce the risk of family conflict and support better outcomes for children.
Here are some easy ways to manage stress:
Take a break.
Even 5 minutes of time alone can help reset your mood.
Talk to someone.
Call a friend, join a support group, or call a mental health expert.
Move your body.
A short walk, stretch, or dance session can release built-up tension.
Breathe deeply.
Try slow, deep breaths to help calm your mind and body.
Do one small thing you enjoy.
(listen to music, read a few pages of a book, or have a cup of tea).
You don’t have to do it alone.
Reach out to someone you trust or a support program if you feel overwhelmed or burned out. Utah has lots of parenting classes, mental health services, and other resources.
Asking for help when you need it is one of the best things you can do as a parent.
Ask for help when you need it. No one gets through life without the help of others. Talk to someone. Saying things out loud is helpful and can reduce stress. Find ways to help manage your own stress in a healthy way. When you are calm, you help bring calm to your family.
- Remember, no parent has all the answers!
- Learn what is normal for your child’s age and development. Parents’ stress decreases when they know how to respond to their child's needs.
- Find friends, family, or people you trust to provide emotional support. Everyone takes turns needing help. It’s important to have safe people to lean on during hard times.
- Try to have people you trust in place before, so when hard times come, you have people to rely on.
- Learn about resources in your community—in case you or someone else ever needs them.
