Rana

What Is Prosilience?

Rana is almost 4 years old and has recently moved from another continent and has started at a new kindergarten where she is able to speak and understand the main language. The group has two female educators with soft and gentle voices. Rana’s behaviour at the kindergarten shows that she is often unable to focus in circle activities and seems to experience difficulty initiating or joining in a play activity in both structured and unstructured play settings. There was once a situation where an educator made a sudden movement next to Rana’s head and her response was to quickly cover herself with her arms. On another day, when a male support educator was helping in the group and spoke with a loud and clear voice, it was easier for Rana to follow directions. 

Age: 3 years and 9 months

Home language: English

Additional language spoken: German

Prosilience is an individual's ability to successfully adapt to life's tasks in the face of social disadvantage or other highly adverse conditions or bounce back from a negative or possibly traumatic experience with competent functioning (Hoopes, 2017). The concept of prosilience is not a trait, but rather a process activated to manage life circumstances. Resiliency can be inherited, given or acquired through learning processes (Böhm & Hehlmann, 2000, S. 168). 

• What might be Rana’s risk factors and her resources when it comes to prosilience? 

• How might Rana feel? 

• What might be a hypothesis for Rana`s behaviour? 

• What would be the next steps for the educators?

• How is the communication with the parents?

• Have all health factors been checked? Hearing, vision, etc.?

• Is the father in the picture?

• Could there be physical violence at home? How can this topic be addressed?