By Stephanie Lord-Darby and Dr. Tessa Grigg
Embracing the Journey
“Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward!” – John Pirlo from Ninja Parc.
John Pirlo beautifully sums it up the journey of resilience by telling us at GymbaROO-KindyROO that:
“What limits our growth and development is the risk that we will fail. That risk is what stops us from acting and from achieving. It’s true! The boundaries of our comfort zone are often shaped by the risks we face. While we can’t eliminate all risks from our lives, activities that reward overcoming challenges can help children grow and tackle other obstacles in their paths. Of course, our goal is to minimise harm and distress, but it’s also crucial for kids to understand that failing is a natural part of achieving something great. Our role is to help them build resilience so that when faced with risks, they can truly shine!” — Movement expert John Pirlo, Ninja Parc, Australia (2025).
Yes John, yes, is what we whispered to ourselves in response. Let them run, let them jump, let them climb, let them explore and let them fail! Our approach at GymbaROO-KindyROO aims to nurture our next generation to build resilience and prepare them for so much more.
Resilience is all about having the resources and processes that help us adapt and grow, even when life gets tough. It’s a fantastic life skill that enables us to face challenges, bounce back from setbacks, and thrive in the face of adversity. Think of it as one of life’s little secrets that can make a big difference!
The Impact of Teaching Resilience
Research by Hugh Van Cuylenburg from The Resilience Project, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, shows just how impactful teaching resilience can be, even in children as young as those who go to GymbaROO-KindyROO. It can be seen in a child’s development of confidence and self-esteem, their emotional intelligence and expression, stronger relationships at home and school, and supportive, inclusive classroom environments. While resilience isn’t a brand-new concept, it’s more important than ever to focus on it. Now is the perfect time to integrate resilience-building practices into early childhood settings, building on the great work that’s already been done in schools (Masten et al., 2024)!
Building Resilience at GymbaROO-KindyROO
When we focus on building resilience in the early years at GymbaROO-KindyROO, we sync with other researchers to aim to help children bounce back from challenges, foster growth through experiences, and positively manage difficulties (Raising Children Australia, 2025). This involves creating strong relationships and providing children with the skills and attitudes that nurture resilience. At GymbaROO-KindyROO, we’re all about helping children build resilience through fun and purposeful activities. Our teachers focus on resilience in these top 5 ways:
- Prepare Gross Motor activities that encourage children to challenge their body awareness through balance, grip, and strength.
- Encourage parents to ‘let go’ of their children and allow them to take calculated risks in a controlled environment.
- Provide desirable equipment for fun and manipulation, while also encouraging the skills necessary to share and return items to develop opportunities for self-control.
- Give children the opportunity to push themselves beyond their comfort zone through dance, rhythm, music, and movement.
- Allow children repeated exposure to challenging learning that helps them build a pattern of successes and failures.
By building resilience, we are not just preparing children for challenges; we are empowering them to thrive!
Stephanie Lord-Darby (MRes, B.Ed.) is an experienced researcher, teacher and the Program Specialist at GymbaROO-KindyROO.
Dr Tessa Grigg (PhD, Dip Tch Primary and ECE) is an experienced teacher and the Research and Education Manager at GymbaROO-KindyROO.
References:
Masten, A. S., Gewirtz, A. H. (PhD), Spienza, J. K. (PhD). (2024). Resilience in Development: The Importance of Early Childhood. Encyclopedia of Early Childhood Development, retrieved August 7 https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/pdf/expert/resilience/according-experts/resilience-development-importance-early-childhood
Raising Children Australia (2025, August 7). Building resilience in children 3-8 years old. Raising Children. Retrieved August 7, 2025, from https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/development/school-age-social-emotional-development/resilience-how-to-build-it-in-children-3-8-years
The Resilience Project. (2025, August 6). University of Melbourne Evaluation. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/543413584?fl=pl&fe=ti