Building Family Resilience

At LIFT, we understand that all families experience challenges at times. Building family resilience means strengthening relationships, improving communication, and helping children and adults feel safe, connected, and supported.

What is family resilience?

Family resilience is the ability to:

• work through challenges together
• recover from stressful experiences
• build strong emotional connections
• support each other’s wellbeing

Resilience does not mean families never struggle. It means learning ways to cope, repair relationships, and grow stronger together.

How to build resilience

Some ways to build resilience are:

• connection - children and adults do better when they feel understood and supported
• routines - predictable routines can help to feel calmer and safer
• emotional regulation - children learn emotional regulation through supportive regulated adults
• positive relationships - strong relationships, effort and progress builds confidence
• self-care for parents - supporting yourself is an important part of supporting your child

Mindfulness and wellbeing

Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and without judgement. It can help reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen family connection.

Mindfulness ideas include:

• slow breathing exercises
• mindful tea or coffee moments
• grounding activities using the senses
• mindful walks outdoors
• self-compassion reminders

Mindfulness and wellbeing groups

Wellbeing and Social Support Groups in Conwy and Denbighshire are:

• Conwy community wellbeing activities (external website)
• Denbighshire County Council wellbeing information and services
• Conwy Mind Group Support and activities (external website)
• Conwy Libraries Wellbeing Support Links (external website)
• Vale of Clwyd Mind Social Support Groups (external website)
• Plas Meddyg Surgery Social Groups (external website)
• Working Denbighshire: Walk and Talk
• Denbighshire Talking Points
• Barnardo's Denbighshire Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service (external website)

Activities

Mindfulness activities for families could include:

• colour hunts during walks
• glitter jar calm-down activity
• bubble or balloon breathing games
• nature mindfulness
• family gratitude time

There are in-person groups, community hubs, and outdoor activities across Conwy and Denbighshire that provide excellent opportunities to connect with others, learn new skills, and actively support your mental wellness.

Activity groups for young people and families

The following activity groups for young people and families are available in Conwy and Denbighshire:

• Conwy Youth Service (external website)
• Ffit Conwy: Playing Out (external website)
• Creu Conwy Ifanc (external website)
• Conwy Community Arts and Heritage Hub (external website)
• Abergele Youth Den (external website)
• Denbighshire Youth Service
• Denbighshire Play Ranger Service
• Brighter Futures Rhyl (external website)

Creating a calm space at home

Families may find it helpful to create a calming space with:

• Cushions or blankets
• Sensory or fidget items
• Colouring activities or books
• Calm music or breathing visuals

A calm space is not a punishment space — it is a support space.

Support and guidance

You can find help and resources to create a calm space at home from:

• Taith (creative journeys to wellbeing) (external website)
• Conwy Mind: Youth Changemakers (external website)
• Conwy Connect for Learning Disabilities (CC4LD) (external website)
• STAND North Wales (external website)

Watch our video

The 'How to build resilience against stress for parents' video explores how ongoing stress affects your body, your brain, and your parenting. It explains:

• how the stress cycle works and signs of feeling overwhelmed
• the impact of long-term stress on your wellbeing and relationships
• quick ways to manage stress in the moment
• how to build resilience and the importance of self-care
• how to understand your own needs with more compassion

Watch the 'How to build resilience against stress for parents' video on YouTube (external website)

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LIFT is a multi-agency collaborative team, funded by North Wales Social Care and Well-being Services Improvement Collaborative.