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The Resilience Scale: Negative Experiences vs. Positive Supports
When children have more positive supports than negative experiences, they are more likely to experience positive outcomes. (Resilience Scale adapted with permission of the Palix Foundation)
Red Boxes: Negative Experiences The red boxes on the left side of the scale represent negative experiences that can weigh on a child’s life, tipping it toward negative outcomes. Think about the children in your classroom and some of the adverse circumstances they face in and out of school. The child who comes to school hungry. The child who has just moved homes… again. The child who may be experiencing bullying or witnessing violence at home. The negative experiences might include exposure to poverty or hunger or any of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that have been cataloged, such as individual or community violence, substance use at home, and homelessness. Or they might include the stress that COVID-19 has placed on their lives.
Defining Resilience Resilience is the ability to respond positively in the face of adversity. Children develop skills
and capacities that help them become more resilient with
the guidance of caring adults and other social supports. By cultivating safe and supportive relationships and resources and nurturing internal coping skills, we can create optimal conditions for children to weather life’s adversities.
Green Boxes: Positive Supports The green boxes on the right side of the scale represent the
positive supports in a child’s world, tipping the scale toward positive outcomes. Imagine again the children in your classroom. What keeps them going when they
Chapter 1 • What Is Resilience? 19
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