Building Resilience in Children: GRIT-e Expands to Empower the Next Generation

By Carrie Yeager, Ph.D.
Manager of Technology, Integration, & Support

At the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, our commitment to innovation in mental wellness and community support drives us to create tools that empower resilience across all stages of life. That’s why the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience is proud to introduce the expanded GRIT-e module, designed specifically to support resilience in children and youth.

This digital resource, GRIT-e, Greater Resilience Information Toolkit web application, offers educators, caregivers, and professionals working with youth the knowledge and strategies they need to help children build the inner strength required to face adversity and thrive.

Why Focus on Children’s Resilience?

Children today are growing up in an increasingly complex and fast-changing world. From academic pressures to social-emotional challenges, they are regularly confronted with stressors that test their ability to adapt. Research shows that resilience, the capacity to bounce back and grow through adversity, is not only critical for healthy development but also a key predictor of long-term success and well-being.

GRIT-e recognizes this and offers practical, research-informed tools to help the adults in children’s lives become pillars of support and sources of strength.

What Does Resilience Look Like in Children?

A resilient child may:

• Recover quickly after a stressful or traumatic event.
• Maintain daily routines and relationships even in challenging circumstances.
• Learn and grow from hardship, developing a deeper sense of confidence and self-awareness.

But resilience isn’t innate, it’s learned. And it flourishes in environments where children feel safe, supported, and understood.

How GRIT-e Helps Build Resilience in Children

The newly launched GRIT-e youth module equips educators and caregivers with strategies to:

• Foster Supportive Relationships
  Children thrive when surrounded by trusting, compassionate adults. GRIT-e emphasizes the importance of consistent, positive connections with teachers, parents, and mentors.
• Develop Self-Efficacy
  Helping children set goals, make choices, and celebrate achievements nurtures a belief in their own abilities to overcome challenges.
• Provide Access to Resources
  From school counseling to extracurricular support, access to emotional, academic, and community resources builds a buffer against stress and fosters growth.
• Create Safe and Predictable Environments
  Children need spaces that are emotionally and physically secure to feel empowered and explore their full potential.
• Teach Adaptive Skills
  GRIT-e encourages the development of coping strategies such as emotional regulation, mindfulness, and problem-solving, skills that serve children throughout life.
• Identify Strengths and Sources of Hope
  Children often draw strength from family, culture, faith, and community. GRIT-e helps adults guide children in identifying and nurturing these internal and external supports.

Supporting the Supporters: Resilience Starts with Educators and Caregivers

Children model the behaviors they observe. That’s why GRIT-e also includes resources to help adults build their own resilience through self-care practices, mindful reflection, and stress management.

Tips for Resilient Educators and Caregivers:

• Begin each day with intention: start with a mindfulness exercise or personal affirmation.
• Engage meaningfully with children: small connections build trust.
• Prioritize your own well-being: modeling self-care teaches its importance.

Explore the GRIT-e Module Today

The GRIT-e platform offers a practical, accessible, and empowering way to make a lasting impact on children’s lives. By investing in the resilience of youth today, we help shape stronger, healthier communities tomorrow.

We invite educators, parents, mental health professionals, and anyone who works with youth to explore the GRIT-e module and be part of this important movement.

Learn more on the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience website.