News 12’s Elizabeth Hashagen was joined by Dr. Michele Borba, educational psychologist and parenting and child expert to talk about ways to help your child deal with setbacks and thrive.

Scientific studies and researchers looked at and spoke to more than 100 young people from all walks of life. Seven essential character strengths that set thrivers apart are self-confidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance and optimism.

Today's kids are considered to be the most stressed cohort on record -- terrorism, lockdown drills, daily death counts, insurrections, and fires are the new normal for our kids. Then came the pandemic, and their mental health problems surged higher.

Studies show that this sort of fear can have long-term consequences for their futures, both their mental health and their future success. However, research shows that kids can be taught ways to be more optimistic.

Dr. Borba offers evidence-based tools to help kids be less pessimistic and more hopeful so they thrive despite an uncertain world.

Dr. Borba uses the acronym S.T.A.N.D. to help kids recall the steps of Slowing down to think, Telling their problem, Asking, Naming everything you could do solve it and Decide what’s the best choice.