With its glitz, glamour, villains, and heroes, Shushan is about as close to Hollywood as an ancient city can get. Still, what gives the story of Purim its bona fide blockbuster quality is undoubtedly the comeback-kid factor. I mean, who can help but cheer as the Jews bounce back from the brink of death, not only intact, but partying in the streets?

Of course, Mordechai and Esther’s coup is only the tip of the hamantaschen when it comes to the Jewish people’s history of bouncing back in the face of hardship. Whether sweating it out building pyramids, wandering through a scorching desert for four decades, or faced with a wicked man donning a triangular hat, we Jews have always managed to land cream-cheese-side up. In fact, you might say resilience is a Jewish tradition. Unfortunately, this particular tradition may be at risk of coming to a screeching halt, as recent studies show resilient children to be something of an endangered species in modern-day America.

What is causing 21st-century kids to morph into what researchers have called “bubbles apt to burst at the slightest smattering of adversity?”

Experts believe the answer lies among millions of well-meaning parents positioning themselves as human shields between their kids and disappointment and pain. Take the following representative scenarios in which parents unintentionally hinder the development of resilience in their children:

• Scenario A: During recess, nine-year-old Molly and her two best friends, Lauren and Sophie, decide to play a round of freeze tag. When Lauren announces Molly is “it,” Sophie concurs. When Molly begs to differ, Lauren and Sophie insist that either Molly be “it” or she can’t play at all. Later that afternoon, Molly recounts the playground saga to her mother. Within milliseconds, Molly’s mom is engaged in a three-way conference call with Lauren’s and Sophie’s moms discussing the problem.
  
  
• Scenario B: Josh worked super-hard on his spelling homework one night. He dotted every “i” and crossed every “t.” Except one, that is — he forgot to put his homework in his backpack.
  
  
• The next morning, after Josh’s carpool pulls off, his mom notices the homework on the kitchen counter. Not wanting her son to get in trouble, she hightails her way to school and delivers the spelling assignment safe and sound before the first period bell.
  
  
• Scenario C: Ben wants to play catcher for his little league team. He thinks the equipment is really cool, and he’s not at all interested in playing his current position in right field. Unfortunately, the coach feels Ben isn’t quite ready to play catcher and gently explains that if he practices really hard, he’ll likely be ready to take a whirl at the coveted position by midseason. Later that evening Ben recounts the story to his parents, proclaiming he has the “worst, most unfair coach ever.” Upon hearing this emotional plea, Ben’s dad calls the coach and implores him to let his son play catcher during the next game.

Clearly Molly’s, Josh’s, and Ben’s parents didn’t set out to negate prime resilience-building opportunities. They were only trying to help their kids. But the reality remains that if our children are going to grow into the next generation of comeback kids, they’re going to need a few practice rounds.

Rather than attempting to eliminate our kids’ problems altogether, therefore, we serve them much better by helping them understand that occasional hurt, frustration, and disappointment are all part of growing up. And that while we’re happy to provide them with hugs and moral support, we have full confidence in their abilities to handle their difficulties competently and independently. (Of course, if our parental gut is telling us our child’s problem is more than a passing concern — or if red flags such as extreme stress, chronic depression, or anxiety are present — a call to a pediatrician, school counselor, or other professional is likely in order.)

So, in the name of ensuring the next generation of comeback kids, here are some hints for turning the stock knocks of childhood into meaningful resilience-building opportunities:

• “When I was your age…”: If your child is faced with a challenging situation in the schoolyard, for example, share memories of your own playground plights. Ask grandparents and other relatives to do the same. In doing so, you’ll help him understand that childhood hardship is both universal and highly survivable.
  
  
• Get two for the price of one: If your kid is the type to offer up daily rundowns of her woes and worries, strike a deal that for every problem she reports she should share two positive events. This will help keep the problems in perspective for both parent and child.
  
  
• Change the subject: Rather than attempting to “talk out” every one of your child’s difficulties, try changing the subject to a happier topic. If the issue comes up again, you’ll know it likely deserves more attention.
  
  
• Have confidence in our forebears: As our ancestors knew, fostering resilience in our children is among our most important responsibilities as parents. Despite societal belief to the contrary, we should feel confident in letting our kids have a go at life’s everyday hurdles. Only in doing so will we prepare them to jump life’s inevitable big ones with the grace of Mordechai and Esther.