Building Resilience
Understanding Patterns of Stress to Design Effective Doses of Meaningful Support
Did you know, it's okay, and actually good, to not be okay?
When children experience stress in doses over time, it helps them become mentally stronger and more resilient.
Enter a pandemic. The amount of stress increases and is prolonged. There's less your child can control. Nothing is certain. (Cue the distress alarm!)
In our latest Pandemic Parenting Exchange webinar, Building Resilience: Understanding Patterns of Stress to Design Effective Doses of Meaningful Support, we were joined by child psychiatrist and trauma expert, Dr. Bruce Perry, discussing how to help your children—and yourself—navigate these challenging times when aspects of life may feel amplified.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Slides & Resources
Check out Dr. Perry’s “best hits” slides, including the ones he shared in this webinar.
You can learn more about Dr. Perry at www.bdperry.com, and explore the his work with The Neurosequential Network at www.neurosequential.com.
Reflection Questions
Webinars and resources are all well and good, but having a ton of information is only as helpful as you can do something with it. Take a few moments to reflect on the following questions as you process the insights and tips that stood out most to you.
Dr. Perry has said, "Resilient children are made, not born." Do you agree with this quote? Why or why not?
What are some ways that you can shift the expectations that you hold for yourself and your family during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Stress can help children build resilience when it is (1) predictable, (2) moderate, and (3) controlled. What are some stressors that your child is exposed to that fit these resilience-building criteria?
How can you create opportunities for "dosed" stress for your child(ren) to help them build resilience? If you have more than one child, how might this look different for your different children's ages, temperaments, etc?
Dr. Perry noted that "Self care is not selfish." Discuss this idea and how you might create opportunities for self care, however brief, in your own life and family.
Additional Resources We’ve Found Helpful
Articles & Ebooks
“Parenting is hard work” (American Psychological Association)
Unstuck! 10 Things to Do to Stay Safe and Sane During the Pandemic (American Psychological Association)
“Resilience and Child Traumatic Stress” (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
“How to help children and teens manage their stress” (American Psychological Association)
“Inside Resilient Children” (by Ann Masten; Pop Tech)
“How to Build Resilience in Children: Strategies to Strengthen Your Kids” (by Katie Hurley, LCSW; Psycom.net)
“Building Kids' Resilience through Play Is More Crucial Than Ever” (by By Esben Stærk; Scientific American)
“Resilience guide for parents and teachers” (American Psychological Association)
Videos & Presentations
Child Trauma Academy YouTube channel
Neurosequential.com COVID-19-specific resources
Key Moments From This Webinar
How do you create structure out of chaos?
How do we move forward not knowing when this pandemic will end?
Why does trauma affect people differently?
Parenting & Stress: How much is too much?
What do our children need right now?
Are you a precrastinator?
Meet Our Guest & Moderator
Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.
Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. is Principal of The Neurosequential Model Network, LLC and Senior Fellow of The ChildTrauma Academy, a Community of Practice based in Houston, TX. He is also Professor (Adjunct) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Dr. Perry is the author of over 500 journal articles, book chapters, and scientific proceedings. His clinical research over the last ten years has been focused on integrating emerging principles of developmental neuroscience into clinical practice. This work has resulted in the development of innovative clinical practices and programs working with maltreated and traumatized children, most prominently the Neurosequential Model©, a developmentally sensitive, neurobiology-informed approach to clinical work (NMT), education (NME), and caregiving (NMC).
Rose E. Luehrs, M.A., M.S.
Our moderator, Rose, is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Suffolk University located in Boston, Massachusetts. She currently researches the impact of traumatic events on mental health outcomes and adaptation to life following exposure to trauma. As a psychologist in training, she sees adults for therapy to treat depression, anxiety, OCD, and trauma-related disorders in the Boston area. Her previous work with children and families as a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Kansas led her to pursue further education and training in treating trauma-related mental health symptoms.
Pandemic Parenting is a collaboration between two psychologists, scholars, and moms committed to sharing their expertise and research in ways that are immediately accessible and useful to families. Learn more about Dr. Amanda Zelechoski and Dr. Lindsay Malloy.