In fact, some children develop into competent adults and lead productive lives, even after experiencing highly negative life events. In other words, they are resilient. Children's Institute Identifies Keys to Resilience Studies of children living in adversity, including those in the RCRP, identify that a number of key factors promote resilience. A positive relationship with a nurturing parent or other adult who provides appropriate structure helps children adapt well despite a great deal of adversity. Competent parents can help limit children's exposure to ongoing problems, such as neighborhood violence.
Parents also help children understand and deal with problems in ways that are less damaging.
For very young children this involves a parent providing comfort. As children get older, this role involves helping children develop an appropriate understanding of problems. Children's own capabilities and resources can help them adapt to serious life challenges cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. Children face formidable challenges of adaptation when their parents are seriously affected by adversity, such as substance abuse, violence, or mental health problems. Among children in RCRP, we found that as early as second and third grade, resilient children can distinguish between problems they can and cannot change.