A bear flies through space. A hamster suffers a breakdown. Elsewhere, a garden snake is arrested by animal control and jailed for home invasion, while a child marvels at the wonder of nature as worms emerge from the ground and begin looking for vodka (as they always have). These are common occurrences in the world of Reza Farazmand's wildly popular Web comic, Poorly Drawn Lines. Traveling from deep space to alternate realities to the bottom of the...

Resilience, or "grit," is the ability to keep going through difficult situations, such as a playground fall, an uncomfortable feeling, or traumatic life event. For each, the ability to recover using inner strength and family support is a strong predictor of healthy development and success in school and life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Psychological Association (APA) recommend ways to help children become more "gritty."