Resilience
If you search the internet for ‘resilience’, you will find many definitions and explanations as to what it is. When we talk about resilience in children at its most elementary level, we are essentially talking about the way in which they handle ‘day-to-day’ living. At a deeper level, it involves how they respond to life’s challenges, how they cope with difficulties, and how they ‘bounce back. Such challenges might be ongoing or a once-off. As adults, we all cope in different ways, drawing on our inner strengths and life experiences to assist us in coping when things don’t go to plan. Children are no different, but of course, they don’t have the same depth of life experience to draw on. 

There are many and varied ways in which to build resilience in children. Some of the most common ways include: 

• listening carefully to others 
• encouraging positive and respectful relationships with peers 
• establishing and maintaining routines
• teaching and encouraging self-care 
• setting achievable goals
• encouraging independence 
• reflecting on events and issues
• assisting in managing emotions 
• building confidence through praise 
• explaining that change is inevitable at home, school, and the workplace 

Two excellent websites that outline how to develop resilience in children are Kidshelpline and Beyondblue where families can find a range of resources to assist them.

Maths - Why Math Word Problems are Important?
Math Word Problems are regarded as a vital part of the Australian Mathematics curriculum as it enhances the student’s mental skill, develops logical analysis, and boosts creative thinking. Problem-solving is one of the basic skills that students must take along with them throughout their lives and use long after they have left school. Problem-solving involves a range of processes, including analyzing, interpreting, reasoning, predicting, evaluating, and reflecting. Below is a mathematics word problem that your child can complete. Please feel free to change the numbers on the target below. 

Lucy Likes Darts
Lucy throws darts at this target. She never misses the target. Her darts always score 1, 3, 5, and 7.

She throws 2 darts. She adds the 2 numbers together. Her score is 8. 

• What could her numbers have been? Is there another way she could have scored? 
• After her third throw, her total score was 13. Where did her third dart hit? 
• Lucy throws a fourth dart. Explain why her total score is now even. 
• Lucy threw 17 darts for a total of 80. Explain why she must have made a mistake in her adding up.