It is an uncommon person who, in the face of obstacles, loss, and low expectations, still asks why not. Why not me? Even if I’m starting from behind, even if nobody in my family has ever gone to college, even if all my friends are getting in trouble, even if everyone expects me to fail…why can’t I succeed?
The driving force behind the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation’s mission is the belief that circumstances should never limit a young person’s ability to create his or her own future. So even though we can’t control what a kid’s life looks like, knock down their challenges for them, or protect them from getting hurt, we can equip them with the skills they need to handle whatever life throws their way. And one of those key skills is resilience.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back, to keep asking why not, even when you have every reason to shut down. Research has shown that when resilience education is incorporated into everyday learning, kids improve their social competencies, enjoy learning more, and do better in school.
Last December, our team participated in a training with WhyTry, an organization with the single aim of helping people overcome their challenges to achieve success in school and for the rest of their lives. We knew immediately that we had to share what we had learned with the kids we serve!
That’s why the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation teamed up with WhyTry to create the Healthy Choices, Healthy Children: Resilience Edition. By teaching kids a resilient approach to life, we can equip them with tools to land on their feet when challenges arise throughout their lives.
- Check out HCHC: Resilience Edition and all the related resources (including music videos) today!
How do you try to build resilience in the kids you serve?