Transcript Chris Rush - Alberta Centre for Child, Family & Community Research

Raising Resilient Kids
in the 21st Century
The Healthy Kids Alberta!
Stakeholder Forum
Edmonton, Alberta
March 7, 2007
A Presentation by
Chris B. Rush
Founder and President
Resiliency Institute of Canada
“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,
the Master calls a butterfly.” Richard Bach
Raising Resilient Kids
in the 21st Century
Question: What will our children need to survive
and thrive in the 21st century?
 We need to understand the unique challenges
facing our youth today and tomorrow!
 We need to empower children and teens with the
internal and external protective factors discovered
in the resiliency research.
 We need to ‘begin with the end in mind’.
“It takes a village to raise a child!”
The Five Worlds
of Childhood
1.
Family
2.
Schools
3.
Peers
4.
Community
5.
Media*
Greatest Human Needs
Safety - I am free from physical or psychological threat (real or imagined).
Love & Belonging - I feel unqualified love or acceptance from at least
one other person.
Meaning & Purpose - My efforts and contributions are needed, valued
& recognized.
Capable - I feel confident in my ability to learn, achieve goals and
overcome adversity.
Autonomy & Freedom - I have a sense of power and control over
what my life becomes.
Fun & Joy - I need to laugh often and experience periods of pure joy!
The 3 Components of Change
Managing at the Speed of Change
Dr. Darryl R. Conner
1. Magnitude or Volume There is
more change occurring than ever before in
the history of the planet!
2. Complexity or Sophistication
It’s more complex, confusing and is tending
to overwhelm more and more people!
3. Speed or Momentum Change is
happening more quickly and in shorter
periods of time. Exponential Growth!
In Times of Change
“In times of change,
learners inherit the earth, while
the learned find themselves
beautifully equipped to
live in a world
that no longer exists”.
Eric Hoffer
Tomorrow’s Scientific and
Technological Promises
Life Extension (120 years)
Genetic engineering (cloning of humans?)
Robotics and Nano-technology
Wireless Internet service worldwide
Human Genome Project
Pollution free energy
Virtual reality
The 2020 Challenge
Evolutionary Bounce or Crash?
Dr. Duane Elgin (Scientist and Futurist)
 Global climate changes, e.g., global warming.
 World population growth (in some regions).
 Mass extinction of species and their habitats.
 Poverty and diminished economic opportunity.
 Widespread diseases (pandemics).
 Pollution of air, soil and water resources.
 Wars (political & religious).
 Worldwide terrorism.
THE WORLD IS FLAT
Thomas L. Friedman
The Flatteners
Fall of the Berlin Wall (opened up Europe)
The Internet and Netscape
Common software platforms
Open source code enabling global collaboration
Outsourcing
Offshoring
Supply chaining
Insourcing
* Can Canadians compete on a global level?
Risk Factors for Canadian
Children & Youth
 High rate of teen pregnancy
 Increase in sexually transmitted diseases
 Misuse of tobacco, alcohol, drugs
 Teen suicide rate up 300% since 1960’s
 Dramatic rise in eating disorders (27% of girls)
 One in five children live at the poverty level
 High rates of obesity, poor physical condition
 High rates of adolescent depression
 Increasing bullying, violence & gang activity
Pioneering Resiliency
Researchers
 Dr. Norman Garmezy - University of Minnesota
 Dr. Michael Rutter - Institute of Psychiatry – London
 Dr. Emmy Werner - University of California
 Dr. Martin Seligman - University of Pennsylvania
 Dr. Ann Masten - University of Minnesota
 Bonnie Benard - Educational Research & Development
 Dr. Dan Offord - McMaster University
 Dr. Peter L. Benson - The Search Institute
 Dr. Paul Steinhauer - Psychiatrist & Researcher
Research on
Resilient Children
RISK FACTORS - negatively influence or
impact children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, academic success, and their attitudes and
behaviour.
PROTECTIVE FACTORS - positively
influence and support children’s physical health,
emotional well-being, academic success and attitudes
and behaviour.
A Definition of Resiliency
“The capacity of an individual
to bounce back and thrive
despite encountering personal
adversity, or rapid social,
political and technological
change.”
Chris B. Rush
Protective Factors for
Children and Youth
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Love, acceptance and support by at least one adult
Good inter-personal skills (communicates well)
Healthy self-esteem (competency & self-respect)
Trust, optimism and a sense of hope
Psychological hardiness (ability to manage stress)
Faith, religion, belief in a higher power
Personal values and principles
Emotional intelligence (manages emotions well)
A sense of control over one’s life (autonomy)
Involved in extra-curricular activities
Four Purposes For Using
Resiliency Building Strategies
1. To overcome the obstacles of childhood, e.g.,
broken home, abuse, poverty, neglect, etc.
2. To manage everyday adversities, e.g., daily stress,
with family members and peers, school pressure.
3. To deal with a major life altering event, e.g., a
serious illness or accident, death of a parent or
sibling, divorce of parents, etc.
4. To find renewed meaning and purpose in life, e.g.,
be open to new experiences and achieve one’s full
human and spiritual potential.
Resilience as Thriving*
When confronted with adversity, change
or challenge in life, individuals typically
often respond in one of three modes:
SURVIVAL -
Individual continues to function, but in
an impaired fashion.
RECOVERY -
Individual returns to previous levels of
psychological and social functioning.
*THRIVING - Individual grows beyond original level of
psycho-social functioning. He or she grows
vigorously, flourishes, thrives! Adversity
promotes new strength.
The Resiliency Quotient
The synergistic effect of the internal and external
protective factors when fully utilized, may be used
predict the following traits, qualities and
characteristics for individuals:
* Longevity
* Motivation
* Empowerment
*Joy *Creativity
*Productivity *Learning
*Happiness
*Emotional well-being *Energy
*Physical health
*Persistence
*Attitude
*Courage
*Compassion *Hope
Important Points
About Resiliency
•
Resiliency building is not a quick fix. It is a
process that takes place over time.
•
Resiliency is the synergy of personal traits,
strengths, characteristics & social supports.
•
Resilient does not mean invulnerable!
•
Resiliency building can be used cross-culturally.
•
Resiliency building strategies are similar for
children, teens and adults.
•
Resiliency can be taught and learned at any age
or stage of life.
The 7 Keys to Resiliency
Moving from Theory to Everyday Life
1. Mind Power
2. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
3. Positive Relationships
4. Mastery Learning
5. Moral Intelligence
6. A Compelling Future
7. Principled Leadership
I think we all agree.
The past is over.
President, George W. Bush
What Our Kids Really Need
• To know how to use their brains and their
minds to succeed in life.
• To learn how to give and receive love.
• To know who they are - who they really are!
• To live their lives with courage and passion.
Man’s Search for Meaning
“We must never forget that we may also find
meaning to life even when confronted with a
hopeless situation, when facing a fate that
cannot be changed. For what matters then is
to bear witness to the uniquely human
potential at its best, which is to transform a
personal tragedy into triumph, to turn one’s
predicament into human achievement. When
we are no longer able to change a situation we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Dr. Viktor Frankl
“Be the Change
you want to see
in the world.”
Gandhi