Why does a child need to be resilient?
Resilience should be encouraged and developed in all children. All children are born with the potential to be resilient, but resilience
has to be developed just like other skills and capacities. We need to promote resilience in the children we care for daily. Resilience
prepares children for hardships and suffering they may face in the future - not only when they are young, but also when they are
adults.
How can I help my child to become resilient?
Steps can be taken that actively build a child's resilience. This is done by nurturing the internal and external resources available to
them. This may involve
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providing a safe and loving environment;
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spending time listening to and playing with your child;
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teaching your child how to communicate;
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allowing your child to make mistakes;
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involving your child in day-to-day activities and routines;
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praying with your child; and
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trusting and valuing your child.
How will the children's group sessions help a child to become more resilient?
Mothers and children will take part in the intervention sessions separately for the first 14 sessions. Sessions 15-24 will be joint sessions.
Children are not little adults. Children's needs and interests are different from adults' needs and interests. Children learn from playing
and having fun. The facilitators in the children's group sessions will focus on the following:
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Communication skills
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Management of feelings
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Reaching out for help
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Solving of problems
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Self-confidence
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Survival and social skills
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Coping
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Hope for the futureĀ . and many more skills
They will use games and other fun activities for the children to practise resilience skills.
OPEN DISCUSSION
If there are no questions, the group can begin by getting to know each other by going around the group saying something about
themselves. If this does not lead to conversation, it may be a good idea to pose a question to the group, such as, 'What do you want
to get out of the group?' or, 'What do you want your child to get out of the group' or 'What topic are you most excited to discuss'.
This conversation is an opportunity for the group to get to know each other a bit better and for them to begin to form a group dynamic.
It is not necessary for the group to discuss anything HIV related unless it comes up, as this will depend on the needs of the group.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
Briefly discuss the themes that will be covered in the sessions, and explain the structure of the sessions with the group. It should be
explained to the group that the themes are a guideline for the sessions, but they must not feel bound by the structure, as there will
be time for open discussion where they will be given the opportunity to voice any worries and concerns, and to share experiences.
Remind the mothers that after some group sessions, the children in the 6-10 year group might receive homework and that it is
important for the mothers to complete these easy and short tasks with their children. The homework will also be dis cussed with the
mothers.
HIV
Intervention Programme for the ENHANCEMENT OF CHILDREN'S RESILIENCE
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