Emotional Resilience in Kids Archives - UPower Presentations - Sara Westbrook

Kids Afraid to Try

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 17:50:00 +0000

Your child is not going to excel at everything – and that’s okay. Kids can think they need to be good at something before they’re willing to try. If they can’t be sure they’ll succeed, they may decide it’s better not to try at all. I was reminded of this when my son had the […]

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Before You Say “Don’t Worry”

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:47:50 +0000

Helping kids with anxiety starts with letting them know it’s okay to feel nervous or anxious. Instead of trying to make those feelings go away, give them tools to work through them. Here’s how you can help: 1. Connect before you redirect. Find out what’s worrying them. Maybe they’re thinking: “What if my friends aren’t […]

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The Benefits of Boredom for Kids

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:29:39 +0000

Summer break is here. Routines disappear, structure shifts, and for many families, technology becomes the easiest way to fill the day. When it isn’t an option, that’s when you might hear those familiar words: “I’m bored.” Without it, our instinct is often to make suggestions or figure out something for our kids to do. Truth […]

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Courage Isn’t the Absence of Nervousness

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:57:55 +0000

After my presentation, I invited a Grade 3 student to come up and answer two questions. He was nervous, but he raised his hand anyway and joined me. Afterward, he shared something powerful. He said learned that it’s possible to feel nervous and still be brave and calm. That moment stayed with me. What he […]

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Nervous but Choosing Courage

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:11:12 +0000

Helping kids face fear can show up in simple, everyday moments. Their heart starts to race. Their thoughts get louder. And then the butterflies show up. They can feel them before school, before speaking up, before trying something new. And we feel them too – before appointments, conversations – anything that stretches us. I remember […]

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The Year I Forgot the Words…

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:03:32 +0000

At 15, I entered the Rotary Music Festival again, determined to finally win gold after placing second two years in a row. I had practiced for months. Memorized every note. Imagined the applause when I nailed my performance. And then, in the second verse, I forgot the words. Panic set in. Embarrassed? Absolutely. But I […]

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Kids Need to Love Themselves Every Day

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:39:53 +0000

Many people celebrate Valentine’s Day – a day to appreciate the people you love. But there’s a celebration we often miss: teaching kids to love themselves. Loving themselves isn’t about arrogance or thinking they’re better than others. It’s about knowing they still matter: It’s a powerful, unwavering belief that who they are is enough. As parents and […]

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Resilience Isn’t What You Think

Linda Westbrook — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:37:52 +0000

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from what happened. It’s about bouncing back from how it made your child feel. When kids face challenges – a friend is unkind, a game is lost, or a mistake is made – the hardest part to manage is often their emotional reaction, not the event itself. If a […]

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Mindset Phrases for Kids That Work

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:52:20 +0000

We all want our kids to feel confident and capable. Sometimes we tell them things like believe in yourself, try harder, or be more determined and they’re left thinking, OK… but how do I actually do that? That’s where mindset phrases for kids come in – simple, usable words that help strengthen their inner voice when they need it most. […]

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Gratitude in the Unexpected

Linda Westbrook — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:15:29 +0000

When you choose to only focus on what you expected to achieve or what you wanted to occur, a mindset shift for gratitude helps you notice the learning and opportunities that can come from life’s detours. When I was travelling to BC, I expected that my holiday would be stress free – a time to […]

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