Building Strong Foundations: The Benefits of Resilience Groups for Kids

In a world where kids face more pressure, uncertainty, and screens than ever before, helping them build resilience is not just helpful — it’s essential. Enter: Resilience Groups. These are small, supportive programs designed to strengthen kids’ ability to bounce back from life’s challenges. And when guided by The Resilience Doughnut model, these groups become even more powerful.

So, what is The Resilience Doughnut?

Created by Clinical Psychologist, Dr Lyn Worsley, The Resilience Doughnut is a simple but effective model that identifies seven areas of life that build resilience:

1. the Parent factor – safe, secure caregiver relationships
2. the Skill factor – learning and attaining a hobbies, talent or and activity
3. the Family & Identity factor – sense of identity through the family
4. the Education factor – supportive schools and learning environments
5. the Peer factor – peers who connect through shared interests
6. the Community factor – belonging to something wider and bigger
7. the Money factor – attitude toward money with purpose and contribution (especially for teenagers and adults)

The big idea?

If a child has just three strong, positive areas, they’re much more likely to cope well with stress and change. By facilitating Resilience Groups for children and adolescents, they then become a space to recognise and reinforce those already existing three strong areas.

What Happens in a Resilience Group?

In these groups, kids get to:

• explore their strengths through storytelling, games and group discussion
• build confidence by identifying “what’s working” in their lives
• strengthen peer relationships in a safe, guided space
• reflect on challenges without feeling “broken” or “in trouble”

It’s not therapy — it’s skill-building through connection.

Why Do These Resilience Groups Work?

Because kids don’t build resilience alone. They need people to believe in them, skills they feel proud of, and communities that value their voice. 

Resilience Groups help our kids:

• to feel seen
• to feel capable
• to learn how to bounce back — not just toughen up.

All with the support of trained professionals using a model that’s grounded in research and compassion.

Our Final Thought

When we help kids strengthen just three areas of their life to build resilience, we don’t just improve their coping skills — we help them thrive. And let’s be honest, isn’t that what we all want for our kids?