Latest Podcast Episode: Raising Resilient Kids in a Not-So-Resilient World
- Aliesha Embleton
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Have you noticed that kids today seem to struggle more with everyday challenges, and wondered what’s actually going on?
You’re not alone. And that’s exactly what I explored in my recent interview on the Magical Learning Podcast, where we dove deep into the heart of resilience in children… with plenty of laughs along the way.
If you’ve ever questioned whether your child gets enough unstructured time, whether you’re helping too much (or not enough), or why technology is both a gift and a headache, this conversation is for you.
Why Resilience Really Matters
One of the first things we unpacked was the growing resilience gap; the widening space between the challenges children face today and the skills they’ve been taught to handle them.
Resilience in children isn’t about being “tough” or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about learning to move through discomfort, solve problems, bounce back, and trust themselves in the process.
As I often say (half-joking, fully serious): “Resilience is the difference between ‘That ruined my day’ and ‘That was annoying, but I’m okay.’”
The Magic of Unstructured Time
One of my favourite parts of the episode was talking about the role of boredom. Yes, boredom. The childhood villain that’s actually a secret superhero (though kids believe it's the worst villain ever - except for brussels sprouts!).
Unstructured time builds creativity, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and self-direction. It’s where imagination lives… and where resilience quietly takes root.
Because let’s be honest: nothing builds coping skills quite like realising the Wi-Fi is down and being forced to rediscover the outside world.
Letting Kids Struggle (Just a Little… I Promise It’s Good)
Parents are natural fixers; we love our children, so of course, we want to smooth every bump. But in the episode, we explored why stepping back at the right moment is an act of deep care.
Struggle teaches:
Problem-solving
Frustration tolerance
Adaptability
Confidence
Self-trust
These are foundation stones not only of resilience, but also of authenticity and an entrepreneurial spirit - qualities our children need to thrive in a world full of uncertainty and opportunity.
If we want resilient children, we need to give them space to feel, space to struggle, and space to try again.
Simple. Not always easy. Always worth it.
Tech, Pressure Culture & the Modern Child
We also touched on how technology and societal pressures are shaping children’s development, sometimes in ways we don’t realise.
Kids today grow up constantly comparing themselves, managing more stimulation, and having fewer natural opportunities for trial and error. It’s no wonder resilience is harder to build; they’re often overloaded before they even start.
This is why emotionally safe environments, clear boundaries, and space to decompress matter more than ever.
Practical Strategies You Can Use Today
One thing I loved about this conversation was how practical it was. We covered strategies you can start using straight away, like:
Creating “growth moments” through small challenges
Building unstructured time into weekly rhythms
Modelling healthy coping skills
Reframing mistakes as learning
Redefining success so kids value effort over perfection
(We also talked about what not to do… like rescuing children at the first sign of frustration or doing their project for them at 11pm. No judgement, we’ve all been there.)
For Adults Too: Resilience Isn’t Just a Kids’ Lesson
A surprising highlight of the episode?The reminder that kids watch how we handle things.
When we model emotional regulation, self-compassion, and calm problem-solving, our children learn that challenges aren’t something to fear, they’re something to navigate.
Because sometimes the most powerful lesson we can teach our kids is simply: “I don’t have it all figured out either, but I’m working on it.”
Listen to the Episode
If you care about raising confident, capable, grounded humans, and want to understand what resilience looks like for today’s children, you’ll love this conversation.
👉 Explore Magical Learning: https://magicallearning.com/
👉 Learn more about my work: https://www.saplingminds.com.au/
A huge thank you to the Magical Learning team for a generous, energising, and deeply important discussion. If the episode sparks thoughts or questions, I’d absolutely love to hear from you.
Here’s to raising resilient, authentic, wonderfully imperfect humans - one conversation at a time.
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