Growing Through What They're Going Through

Meredith High
Aug 11
5 min read

Supporting Students Facing Adversity as they Learn Resilience

Coach Meredith serves as the Wilmington Program Director of Steps 2 Success Solutions. She is passionate about the growth & abilities of students as they learn in & out of the classroom, and she believes parents should feel supported by the community as they navigate the complexities of raising capable and confident children in the 21st century.

Steps 2 Success Educational Solutions are experts in education, personalized online and in-person tutoring, curriculum development, and educational advocacy. Call or text 910-406-8884 to take your next step to success!

Changes & Challenges

In some ways, the school year follows a predictable, consistent pattern. Many changes take place, though, with the development of our children, the pressure of state standards on both educators and learners, and the capricious dynamic of peer relationships. Consequently, our children experience uncertainties on a daily basis while navigating their academic journeys.

It’s essential for families and support teams to recognize the strains today’s children encounter while growing up. Although many of these pressures are inevitable, it is entirely possible (and practical!) to equip children with skills that will help them overcome adversity. Developing resilience - the ability to adjust well to a stressful situation - can help children respond effectively to the demands they will face inside and outside of the classroom.

What Adversity do Children Face?

Adverse experiences in childhood (both physical and emotional) are wide-ranging and can take place within families, friend groups, communities, or schools. These ordeals can have long-term negative effects, contributing to a higher chance of health conditions, risky behaviors, and poor academic or career outcomes.

It's important to support our kids as they experience periods of stress in their lives. Photo from Wix Images.

In schools, children might experience adversity in the form of bullying or peer pressure, low expectations or lack of support from faculty, or unaddressed learning differences. It seems inevitable that children will be going through periods of stress in one form or another throughout the academic year. Thus, it is imperative that they are provided the necessary resources to be successful in the face of these obstacles.

Children with learning differences and neurodevelopmental conditions comprise one subset of youth in need of additional academic support. For example, children with ADHD generally receive lower scores on school assignments and standardized tests compared to neurotypical peers. Chronic academic failure or ineffective classroom accommodations could become an adverse trial for such a child. However, with a mindset and skill set primed for a resilient approach, students with ADHD can improve their academic outcomes and achieve confident, consistent success.

To that end, setting the foundation for resilience in the minds and behaviors of all children can change the trajectory of their academic experience. Strong mindsets and skill sets help to ensure a smooth transition to college and career as kids grow up.

Overcoming Struggles in School

When students hit a road bump, there are a number of interventions that might turn the experience around. Focusing on student strengths, for example, can lead to an increase in motivation, self-confidence, and interest in learning. Increased student interest often leads to completion of higher levels of assigned work - and many times, just turning in the homework or classwork can have a big impact on the grade for that challenging class.

Students who are excited about school have higher engagement in class, which can contribute to better grades. Photo from Wix Images.

If your daughter is enthralled by putting together creative videos, for instance, it could be fun for her to create a video essay or an animated short film instead of the five-paragraph essay or the Powerpoint presentation assignment. In fact, I recall thrilling my teacher when I turned in a detailed poem for an English project instead of the assigned essay. Later on, as a teacher myself, I was always pleased when a student came up with a new way to demonstrate knowledge, like designing a comic strip instead of writing a short story. A friend just recounted a high school experience in which he carved a model of a civil war ironclad, integrating his interest in woodworking with his history class that year.

Most teachers would probably love ideas for a new type of project, if your child is inspired by a different way to show content knowledge. Engagement with schoolwork can bolster confidence that allows students to overcome adversity with conviction.

Cultivating Support Outside of the Classroom

Each piece of your student’s support team - teachers, parents, and tutors - will play an important role in your child’s social-emotional growth and academic progress. With encouragement and engagement outside of the classroom, we can foster the growth of resilient skills.

At home, we can start with taking an interest in the child’s schoolwork. Inviting practical applications within your family will really make educational lessons stick. Consider measuring a DIY bird feeder to put those geometry skills into action, or building a catapult to test physics theories. For children struggling with interpersonal relationships, role playing social skills can increase the likelihood of positive peer interactions in the future.

A strong, comforting parent-child relationship is especially important for school-aged children. Regular family activities can be a great addition to your routine: parental participation in activities with children can positively impact children as they grow. Simple strategies like these can offer a powerful head start in building resilience.

Children who are supported by their parents are better prepared to overcome obstacles in life. Photo from Wix Images.

If your family hasn’t been seeing positive changes, consider an outside educational consultant for a fresh approach. Coaches from Steps 2 Success Solutions guide students to become independent learners, facilitating their self-efficacy. We develop vital strategies that can help your child persevere through academic adversity, and we work around your schedule to ensure lasting growth and success.

Developing Resilience that Lasts

Let’s face it - life without adversity seems unrealistic. While some researchers propose preventing the experience of adversity whenever possible, other scholars find it productive to build the characteristics and mindsets necessary to effectively address obstacles that may arise in the future.

The coaches at Steps 2 Success Solutions are ready to partner with you to expand your child’s support team. Whether you need tutoring, test prep (SAT, GRE, ACT, ASVAB), an executive function coach, a life skills mentor, or an educational advocate, we have the expertise to turn your child’s struggles into success. With a strong foundation of resilience, your child will become even more capable in the face of setbacks.

Trust Steps 2 Success Solutions to help build confidence and success for your child’s future. Our collaboration ensures lasting success in the near future and farther down the road. Let’s work together to help today’s children become confident, resilient young adults!