Building resilience in children for outdoor experiences — what’s effective?

Establishing a Growth Mindset

Children should be encouraged to view challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. This can be achieved by using phrases such as “I can learn this” or “Let’s figure this out together.” Parents or caregivers should model this mindset themselves, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity. Studies have shown that children who adopt a growth mindset exhibit greater confidence and perseverance in outdoor activities.

Teaching Essential Survival Skills

Children should learn basic survival skills such as building shelters, starting fires, and finding food and water in the wild. The key is to start with simple tasks and gradually increase the level of difficulty. For example, a child aged 6-8 can learn to build a simple lean-to shelter, while an older child can learn to start a fire using a flint and steel. This not only builds their physical skills but also their confidence and self-reliance.

Stress Inoculation through Gradual Exposure

Children should be gradually exposed to challenging outdoor situations to build their resilience. This can start with small challenges such as spending a night in a tent or going on a short hike. As they become more confident, the challenges can be increased, such as spending several nights in the wilderness or participating in a multi-day hike. This gradual exposure helps children develop coping mechanisms and builds their ability to manage stress and uncertainty.