Raising Resilient Children and Teens from Tough Love

Before you dive in to protect your children, ask yourself three questions:

1. Does my child need a little extra support right now so she will be more confident moving forward?
2. Do I so relish the feeling of being needed that I may be choosing to jump in because it makes me feel good myself or because I believe my child's appreciation will draw him closer to me?
3. Is this an issue of safety or  morality? If the answer is yes, act immediately and firmly

Rules for building a resilient child:

1. Unconditional love is the bedrock of resilience because it creates security;
2. Children live up or down to adult expectations, for better or worse;
3. And children watch what we do more than they listen to what we say.

By Kennth R. Ginsuburg, MD, MSED, A pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine, a professor of pediatrics and a parent of two teenage daughters