Raising Resilient Kids with Dr. Meghan Barlow
Hudson Community First welcomed Dr. Meghan Barlow, Ph.D., for two engaging sessions of “Raising Resilient Kids,” a presentation designed especially for parents of preschool and kindergarten-aged children. Over 100 parents attended the sessions to learn practical ways to nurture resilience in young children. What is resilience? It's the ability to get knocked down, get back up, and keep going.
Dr. Barlow began by reminding parents that resilience is built, not born. Children grow stronger when they experience, and work through, frustrations, setbacks, and disappointments. “Resist the temptation to protect your kids from every hurt or challenge,” she advised. “These moments are necessary and not so terrible. They’re opportunities for growth.”
Throughout her talk, Dr. Barlow emphasized the importance of letting children try, fail, and try again, even when it’s inconvenient or messy. Parents, she explained, can serve as “emotional anchors” by staying calm and demonstrating the behavior they hope to see in their children. When frustration arises (like tears over spilled hot chocolate), she encouraged parents to first pause and breathe, assess the situation, and then guide their child through the steps of problem-solving:
Validate the frustration – Affirm, acknowledge, accept, and reflect their feelings.
Begin problem-solving – Define the problem, start small, and offer guidance as needed.
Move forward – Try again, create a new plan, or simply do the next thing.
Debrief (optional) – When calm, review what worked, praise efforts, and reframe the moment as a success story.
“Kids need to learn that they can rely on their own ideas,” Dr. Barlow said. “Our words and actions matter. We can ‘prime the pump’ by reminding them of past successes and showing confidence in their ability to handle new challenges.”
Her practical, compassionate approach left parents with new tools, and renewed confidence, to help their children grow stronger through life’s everyday ups and downs.
Here are the slides from the evening:
