Right from the Start: Developing Resilience for a Sustainable Future

Currently, at the global level, we are witnessing continual conflict and a fight against terrorism, resulting in thousands of young children and their families fleeing their homes in fear of their lives, especially in Southern... [ view full abstract ]

Currently, at the global level, we are witnessing continual conflict and a fight against terrorism, resulting in thousands of young children and their families fleeing their homes in fear of their lives, especially in Southern Sudan, Iraq and Syria. This leads to a question that continues to puzzle early childhood professionals and that is, "How is it that some children growing up in the most impoverished and unstable circumstances manage to surmount these obstacles and to successfully triumph over them while others fail?" The answer lies in the development of resiliency or the ability to bounce back in the face of adversity from an early age. This paper outlines the factors that support the development of resiliency and provides specific strategies to build resiliency in children aged 0-8 years.