Raising Resilient Kids: The Power of Growth Mindset at mainstages

Raising Resilient Kids: The Power of Growth Mindset at Mainstages

At mainstages, our theme for the year is resilience, a vital part of social-emotional development. Let's dive into why resilience is so crucial and how we incorporate it into our programs!

Understanding Social Emotional Development

Social Emotional Development helps people understand who they are, what they feel, and how to relate to others. Emotional awareness and intelligence are essential life skills for managing internal and external stressors. Our culture's access to limitless information and our commitment to equity and inclusivity can make us more sensitive to the world. This heightened sensitivity can sometimes make it difficult to cope with emotions, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and frustration—especially when expectations don't align with reality.

For adults, this misalignment can result in self-isolation, self-harm, and substance abuse. Educators and loved ones often wonder: How do we encourage social-emotional development while keeping reality and sensitivity levels in check?

The Answer: Resilience

Resilience is the key to developing a growth mindset—the belief that intelligence or talents can be developed through hard work, creative strategies, and support from others. Life isn't perfect, and neither are we. Things don’t need to be perfect, but it's crucial to trust that things will get better if we keep trying.

As educators and families, it's our job to praise efforts, not just results. How we cope and rise to life's challenges as children informs how we function in society as healthy adults. Motivating each other to learn how resilience helps us thrive in the face of adversity is essential.

How Mainstages Fosters Resilience

At mainstages, we support development through creative storytelling and challenging activities. We focus on process over product, working together to analyze struggles and explore solutions. Our programs emphasize:

• Connection: Building strong relationships.
• Character: Developing a strong sense of self.
• Confidence: Believing in one's abilities.
• Collaboration: Working together to overcome challenges.

This year, as we celebrate 15 years of mainstages, we reflect on our journey and our evolving vision with a clearer understanding of what fosters collaboration and creative expression.

Supporting Resilience in Educational Theater

Numerous studies highlight the value of teaching resilience in educational settings. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association , resilient children are better equipped to manage stress and navigate challenges effectively. Additionally, a report by Harvard's Center on the Developing Child emphasizes that resilience can be built through supportive relationships and adaptive skill-building.

Videos can also be a powerful tool in illustrating these concepts. For instance, this TEDx talk on "The Power of Resilience" provides inspiring insights and real-life examples of resilience in action.

Check out our profound workshop series , which speaks to resilience and the values of difficult conversations. These workshops are designed to build resilience and equip participants with the tools to navigate life's challenges.

A Touch of Inspiration

In the spirit of resilience, let's take inspiration from Elphaba in the musical Wicked:

At mainstages, we're committed to helping children develop resilience so they can defy their own limits and thrive.