Back to School Essentials: More Than Just Supplies
As students across Webster County return to classrooms, the familiar checklist begins—new notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils, colorful binders, and erasers ready to tackle mistakes. But this year, it’s time we add another, less visible item to that list: mental and emotional resilience.
Bullying has always been a challenge for students, but the way it happens has evolved. With the rise of technology and social media, there’s often no escape from an aggressor, even outside of school walls. The 2021 Iowa Youth Survey revealed a sobering reality:
40% of 6th graders reported being victims of bullying.
26% of 8th graders said the same.
Even among high school juniors, 28% had experienced bullying.
These numbers raise an important question:
Do we have a bullying problem, a resiliency problem, or both?
The truth is, it’s not enough to simply address bullying after it happens—we need to equip our children with the tools to navigate challenges, recover from setbacks, and maintain self-worth in the face of adversity. Resilience is not about ignoring pain or pretending problems don’t exist; it’s about building the inner strength to face them head-on.
Parents, educators, and communities can all play a role in fostering resilience. This means open conversations about feelings, teaching conflict resolution skills, and encouraging empathy and kindness. It means modeling healthy coping strategies and celebrating effort, not just achievement.
5 Tips for Instilling Resilience in Your Children
Encourage Problem-Solving
Let children try to work through challenges before stepping in. Ask guiding questions instead of immediately giving answers.Model Healthy Coping Skills
Show them how you manage stress—whether that’s through deep breathing, taking a walk, or talking through your feelings rather than dwelling on them.Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results
Praise persistence, creativity, and determination as much as you praise achievements.Help Them Reframe Setbacks
Teach children to see mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures.Build Strong Connections
Ensure they have trusted adults and friends they can turn to for support, whether at home, in school, or in the community.- Help them Keep Challenges in Perspective Remind your children that, as important as emotions are, they are just one piece of the puzzle. As they work through each situation, teach them to set emotions aside for a moment to look at the problem logically for a more comprehensive view of the issue.
At the Safe Communities Coalition of Fort Dodge & Webster County, we believe that supporting children’s mental and emotional health is just as important as ensuring they have the right school supplies. By investing in resilience now, we can prepare them not just for academic success, but for life.
Because the most important tool in any backpack is the one that helps them stand tall—no matter what life throws their way.
