Raising Resilient Children
7 Steps to Help Children Thrive in the Classroom and Beyond
Gavin McCormack
In Raising Resilient Children, Gavin McCormack invites us into a grounded, compassionate conversation about resilience, not as an one-of addition, but as a daily practice woven through learning and life. Drawing on his deep Montessori and educational leadership experience, McCormack presents a seven‑step framework that centres empathy, autonomy, emotional literacy and connection as the foundations of resilience.
His tone feels like a trusted colleague offering an encouraging nudge. He blends everyday language with practical insight, there’s no jargon, just ideas you can picture being shared over a cuppa in the staffroom. One of the most memorable features is a set of simple but powerful affirmations; phrases like “You’re loved, no matter what” and “Honour mistakes as learning”, which both adults and children can speak into their daily lives to build trust and emotional safety.
Crucial to the success of this book is its ability to balance heart and hand. McCormack doesn’t stop at intention. He offers accessible strategies (such as structured check‑ins, autonomy‑support conversations and reflective routines) that staff, pre‑service teachers and support teams can practically weave into classrooms and school culture.
This isn’t a weighty academic essay. Instead, it feels like the kind of discussion you’d hear on a podcast or around a staff‑room table: professional and optimistic, warm without being sentimental, insightful yet immediately usable. McCormack doesn’t tell you what to do; he invites reflection, shared learning and small, kind gestures that ripple outwards.
If your aim is to nurture children who are emotionally grounded, adaptable and self‑aware, this book is both compass and companion. It honours the resilience already in all of us and offers gentle, human‑centred ways to help it grow.
