Building Resilience in Early Childhood Through Play

In your preschool room, you can see children working hard on small but important challenges. One child may try again and again to build a tall block tower. Another might find it hard to share a favourite toy or feel nervous about a new activity. These moments may look simple, but they are powerful chances for children to grow stronger inside. When we guide them with calm voices and gentle support, we help them learn how to cope, adapt, and try again with confidence.

Resilience helps young children, from birth to age eight, handle stress, solve problems, and bounce back after hard moments. These early skills are the building blocks for success in school and later in adult life. Research shows that resilience grows when children have warm relationships, caring adults who respond to their needs, and daily chances to practise simple problem-solving (Harvard Center on the Developing Child, 2022). Play is one of the best ways to build resilience because it lets children explore feelings, take safe risks, and learn at their own pace.

In this article, we will look at how teachers and caregivers can support resilience through play-based learning. We will also connect this to social-emotional development, child development theory, and everyday routines. Each part includes practical tips, real classroom stories, and research findings from around the world published between 2010 and 2025.

Understanding Resilience in Early Childhood

Before we can support resilience, it helps to understand what it actually looks like in the early years. In the classroom, you might see resilience when a child keeps trying after their block tower falls, takes a deep breath after feeling frustrated, or confidently asks an adult for help. These behaviours do not appear overnight. They grow slowly through many small experiences and steady, caring support from adults.

Child development theories also guide us. Erikson’s psychosocial theory reminds us that young children build confidence when they feel safe, loved, and able to do things for themselves. Vygotsky adds that children learn best when adults gently guide them, especially during moments that challenge them. Together, these ideas show us that resilience grows when children have both trust and support as they try new things.

Actionable Tips

• Use simple words to validate feelings. Try saying, “This looks hard, but you are trying really well.” This helps children feel seen and supported.
• Show calm behaviour yourself. Your steady voice and slow breathing teach children how to stay calm during stressful moments.
• Give children time to work things out. Pause before helping. This short wait often gives them the chance to solve the problem on their own.
• Create routines that feel safe and steady. Predictable daily steps—like greeting time, snack time, and cleanup—help children feel secure and ready to try new things.

Why Play Builds Strong Resilience Skills

Play is full of freedom, curiosity, and fun. When children play, they test out ideas, decide who does what, and try out different solutions. These moments are perfect for building resilience. For example, in pretend play, a child might switch roles, solve a make-believe problem, or deal with a surprise change in the story. Each of these experiences helps them grow emotionally and socially.

Research shows that high-quality, play-based learning helps children practise controlling their emotions and solving problems even better than formal lessons (UNICEF, 2023).

Actionable Tips for Play-Based Resilience

• Provide open-ended materials. Blocks, sand, water, and loose parts let children explore and solve problems in their own way.
• Encourage cooperative play. Invite children to share ideas and space, helping them practise teamwork and patience.
• Set up pretend-play areas. These spaces let children act out feelings, try new roles, and understand relationships.
• Watch before stepping in. Give children time to figure things out on their own, only offering help when it’s really needed.

Using Problem-Solving Play to Strengthen Coping Skills

Watching children at play shows us just how much they grow from small challenges. Building tall block towers, finishing puzzles, or solving simple tasks helps them practise focus and keep going, even when things get tricky. When teachers guide gently without taking over, children get the joy of succeeding through their own effort.

Piaget reminds us that young children learn best by exploring with their hands and trying things out again and again. Giving them challenges they can manage helps them grow stronger, both in resilience and in understanding their own emotions.

Actionable Tips for Play Challenges

• Offer puzzles and building activities at different levels. This lets every child find something just the right amount of challenge.
• Use gentle questions instead of giving answers. Try asking, “What else could you try?” to encourage thinking and independence.
• Celebrate effort, not just results. Saying, “You worked really hard on that!” helps children value trying, not just finishing.
• Provide materials that spark creative problem-solving. Loose parts, blocks, or everyday items can inspire children to explore many solutions.

Supporting Emotional Resilience Through Play

Children show many emotions during play – joy, frustration, or worry. When we respond with understanding, we help them notice their feelings and learn how to manage them. These moments are small but powerful ways to build resilience in young children.

Research shows that emotional coaching during play – talking about feelings and guiding children gently – can reduce stress and help them adjust positively to challenges (Zero to Three, 2021).

Actionable Tips for Supporting Emotions

• Use puppets or stories. These help children act out and talk about their feelings in a safe, playful way.
• Offer quiet spaces. Some children need calm areas to relax and reset during the day.
• Help children name their emotions. You can say, “You look disappointed,” to help them recognise how they feel.
• Guide children to match solutions to feelings. Encourage them to find ways to cope that fit what they are feeling, like taking deep breaths or asking a friend for help.

Using Social Play to Build Confidence and Peer Resilience

Social play is a powerful way for children to learn trust, cooperation, and communication. In classrooms, you can see children practising resilience when they take turns, share ideas, or work through small disagreements. These moments help them grow emotionally and socially.

Vygotsky reminds us that learning happens through social interaction. When children play together, they watch each other, practise understanding feelings, and learn to adjust their behaviour – skills that are essential for resilience.

Actionable Tips for Social Play

• Set up small-group play with shared goals. This helps children work together and practise teamwork.
• Use role-play to teach problem-solving. Acting out common situations teaches children how to solve conflicts with friends.
• Encourage turn-taking through simple games. Games like passing a ball or building together help children wait and cooperate.
• Support children who struggle to join in. Gentle language prompts, like “Would you like to try this with us?”, can help them feel included.

Outdoor Play: Building Resilience Through Risk and Exploration

Outdoor play is full of natural challenges. When a child climbs a small hill, balances on logs, or explores new textures, they learn to trust their body and their choices. These real-world experiences help children take safe risks, explore, and grow resilience.

Research shows that outdoor play also boosts emotional control, persistence, and problem-solving skills (Brussoni et al., 2017).

Actionable Tips for Outdoor Play

• Offer safe, supervised risk-taking. Small challenges help children build courage and confidence.
• Provide natural materials. Stones, leaves, and water let children explore and create in their own way.
• Encourage trying again. When something doesn’t work, remind children that it’s okay to have another go.
• Use confidence-building language. Try saying, “You are thinking carefully about where to step,” to support safe decision-making.

Building Resilience Through Daily Routines and Transitions

Daily routines help children feel calm, confident, and independent. Simple routines – like arriving at school, tidying up, or getting ready for snack time – give children a sense of order and safety. These everyday steps also support play-based learning, creating more chances to practise skills and solve problems.

Montessori principles remind us that routines encourage independence and self-discipline. When children know what to expect, they can handle challenges with less stress and more confidence.

Actionable Tips for Daily Routines

• Use visual schedules. Pictures or charts help children see what comes next and feel more secure during transitions.
• Add songs or gestures. These make group routines fun and easy to follow.
• Give extra time for independence. Let children practise tasks at their own pace, like pouring water or putting away toys.
• Praise their efforts. Saying “You did a great job getting ready!” encourages confidence and pride in their skills.

Conclusion

Resilience starts to grow when children feel supported, encouraged, and understood. Play gives them natural ways to practise solving problems, handling feelings, and gaining confidence. Teachers and caregivers are the guides in these moments, offering warmth, patience, and gentle support.

By using play-based learning, building strong relationships, and keeping daily routines predictable, adults help children develop skills that last a lifetime. Small, everyday actions – whether in the classroom or at home – teach children to bounce back, stay calm, and keep trying, even when things get tricky.

Key Takeaways

• Let play lead the way. Play is the best tool for helping children practise coping skills.
• Support emotions gently. Guide children through their feelings without taking over.
• Offer small challenges. Give children tasks they can manage to build persistence and confidence.
• Encourage social play. Playing with others helps children learn communication, cooperation, and empathy.
• Keep routines predictable. Simple, steady routines reduce stress and help children feel safe.
• Model calm problem-solving. Show children how to stay steady and think through challenges.
• Celebrate effort every day. Praise trying, perseverance, and resilience, not just results.

With thoughtful guidance, children develop the strong foundations needed for healthy development and a confident future. Every small moment matters, and teachers and caregivers play an essential role in shaping resilient, capable learners.

References

1. Harvard Center on the Developing Child (2022). Resilience and Early Brain Development. — A →Guide to Resilience← from the Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University. Harvard Developing Child Center
2. UNICEF (2023). Learning Through Play: Strengthening Early Childhood Skills. — UNICEF / LEGO Foundation brief “Learning Through Play.” UNICEF
3. Zero to Three (2021). Emotional Development in Early Childhood. — ZERO TO THREE Resource Center. ZERO TO THREE
4. Brussoni et al. (2017). Outdoor Play and Resilient Development. — Research on risky outdoor play and resilience. PMC