The article reviews the literature on childhood resilience and vulnerability, focusing on the constructs of stress and competence. It discusses methodological issues, theoretical models, and empirical findings from longitudinal studies. The paper highlights the importance of defining stress and competence clearly, addressing methodological limitations, and exploring protective mechanisms. It also emphasizes the need for multifaceted definitions of stress and competence, considering both behavioral and internal psychological factors. The article concludes by outlining directions for future research, including the development of psychometrically sound measures and the exploration of the continuity of resilience over time.The article reviews the literature on childhood resilience and vulnerability, focusing on the constructs of stress and competence. It discusses methodological issues, theoretical models, and empirical findings from longitudinal studies. The paper highlights the importance of defining stress and competence clearly, addressing methodological limitations, and exploring protective mechanisms. It also emphasizes the need for multifaceted definitions of stress and competence, considering both behavioral and internal psychological factors. The article concludes by outlining directions for future research, including the development of psychometrically sound measures and the exploration of the continuity of resilience over time.