I argue that a bit of protection during the early years can be a good idea. There’s no need to abandon a child. It can be beneficial to children in the long run to give them some time while they are learning these skills, so that they develop confidence.
The best thing we can do for them is to make them feel loved, build their confidence and help develop their resilience. Our desire to protect them comes from a loving place, but it is important that they learn to protect themselves as they grow and how to bounce back when faced with adversity.
What is resilience?
Resiliency can be learned and is not something we are born with. Resiliency is defined as the ability to bounce back and recover after a setback, challenge, trauma, or disappointment. According to the American Psychological Association, building resiliency in our children when they are young will set them up for lifelong success.
Children who are resilient can try again and regroup instead of feeling depressed or hopeless. They can succeed when a less resilient child would have given up.