Using Activities, Routines, and Experiences to Promote Resilience

September 18, 2023

For Preschoolers
Activities are the intentional, planned events designed to engage children and support learning. They might include the whole group, a small group of four to five children, or one or two children. Other learning experiences are often unplanned and can be child-initiated or teachable moments. Teachable moments are spontaneous events that provide opportunities to introduce new ideas, build on children’s interests, and expand children’s understanding. When teachers intentionally plan activities and engage in experiences with children, they are helping them build a strong foundation for learning. Every interaction with a child is an opportunity to nurture their unique characteristics, culture, and development.

How can you ensure the preschool-age children in your care are taking part in activities and experiences that can promote their resilience? Here are some ideas…

• Plan and facilitate a few small group learning opportunities each day based on children’s skills and interests.
• Provide opportunities for children to plan, take part in, and review their own play experiences, alone or with others.
• Provide opportunities that promote cooperation and problem-solving (for example, simple games, partner pairing).
• Encourage physical activity.
• Offer a range of activities that support creative and dramatic play skills.
• Include activities that help children learn about social skills and emotions (for example, play emotion games, use feelings posters on the wall, support the use of conflict resolution steps).
• Provide many opportunities for children to build language and literacy skills (for example, talk, read, and sing with children every day.)

For Infants/Toddlers
Activities include child and adult initiated opportunities in which infants and toddlers use and explore a variety of skills at their individual developmental level. Routines are the consistent, predictable daily experiences such as feeding, sleeping, diapering, and clean-up time. When activities and routines are consistent, dependable, and individualized, infants and toddlers gain the sense of security and trust (building healthy attachments/relationships) they need to explore the world with enthusiasm.

How can you ensure the infants and/or toddlers in your care are taking part in activities and routines that can promote their resilience? Here are some ideas…

• Maintain a predictable daily schedule.
• Ensure smooth transitions for infants and toddlers.
• Plan daily routines (such as feeding, sleeping, and diapering) around each infant’s and toddler’s needs and abilities.
• Use daily care routines as times to connect with infants and toddlers.
• Invite infants and toddlers to take part in daily routines.
• Help infants and toddlers with hellos and good-byes.
• Encourage infants and toddlers to explore and choose what is interesting to them.
• Ensure time for active and quiet play each day.
• Talk, read, and sing with infants and toddlers every day.

For more information, including specific strategies for each of the above ideas, check out the following resources:

1. Promoting Resilience in Preschoolers: A Strategy Guide for Early Childhood Professionals, 2nd Edition
2. Promoting Resilience, Infant and Toddler Strategies Guide