Children’s Mental Health Week takes place during the first full week of May each year. In 2026, CMHW is celebrated from May 4-10.
In recognition of this important week, we are focusing on resilience.
What is resilience?
Resilience in children is the ability to cope effectively with challenges, adapt to adversity, and recover from stress while developing confidence, problem solving skills and emotional strength. Resilience is a dynamic and multisystemic process that enables children to manage risk, threat, and crises successfully and it is something that can be strengthened and nurtured over time.
Our resiliency is something we develop all through our lives, shaped not only by our internal traits, but also by external factors including caregiving, attachment, problem-solving, and community stability (Masten, 2014).
Masten, A. S. (2014). Ordinary magic: Resilience in development. Guilford Press.
What can you do to get involved with Children’s Mental Health Week?
- Engage with your child in one of the age-appropriate resilience exercises linked below. Remember, it’s perseverance, not perfection, that matters!
- Wear a green ribbon or green clothing
- Post on social media tagging Kinark (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and using the hashtags #CMHW2026 #WeAreResilient
Accordion
Bluey teaches children resilience by modelling coping skills, emotional regulation, and supportive relationships through playful storytelling and gentle guidance from parents.
Watch Bingo demonstrate resilience as she dusts herself off and carries on with the show!
Download the Bluey Colouring Sheet
It’s okay to colour outside the lines! There’s no one ‘right’ way to create 🙂
These resilience exercises allow for your child to self-reflect on their support systems and coping strategies.
Download our Resilience Exercises
Together, try working through these resilience exercises with your child and discuss their responses to each question.
Come see us during Children’s Mental Health Week!
Kinark teams will be attending community events throughout the week, come see us at one of the following events near you:
- May 6, 2026 – Championing the Mental Well-Being of Young People
from 4 to 8 p.m. at Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, 700 Stevenson Road North, Oshawa, ON L1J 0A2
This event includes free workshops and interactive activities, talks and discussions.
mental-health-event-durham.mystrikingly.com
- May 8, 2026 – Come Together Northumberland
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre, 750 D’Arcy St, Cobourg ON K9A 0G1
This event includes a panel discussion, a guest speaker and an open house.