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Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is believing in the power within yourself and your brain. It is the belief that your abilities can improve with effort and practice. Children with a growth mindset will keep going when a challenge presents and understand that their effort and work can change their abilities and intelligence.
Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset Growth Mindset
A person with a fixed mindset may A person with a growth mindset
do these things: may do these things:
- Avoid challenges - Embraces challenges
- Do not try - Gives their best effort
- Ignores feedback - Learns from feedback
- Believes mistakes are bad - Learns from failure and mistake
- Gives up easily - Keeps going
How can you help your child build a growth mindset?
The Brain Can Grow
Talk to your child about how the brain is like muscles, which need to be worked hard in order to get stronger. Remind them that when things are difficult, their brain grows if they persist through each challenge. The more children hear and believe this, the more empowered they will be to keep doing what they need to do to strengthen/grow their abilities and brain.
Talk About It
Talk with your child about their day and guide the discussion by asking questions like:
- Did you make a mistake today?
- What did you learn?
- What did you do that was difficult today?
Encourage Failure
Your child needs to know that failure can happen and it is okay! Remind them that each time they fail and try again, their brain is growing stronger. Do not step in to prevent your child’s failure- this is how they learn to persevere in the face of challenges.
Praise the Process
Studies show that praising for effort and process has a more positive and long term impact. Try to avoid praising your child for their intelligence or natural ability. For example, instead of saying “ You’re so smart.” praise effort, goal setting, persisting through challenges, or being creative. You can say something like:
“Wow! You must have worked really hard on this!”
Help Them Change Their Dialogue
The way children talk to themselves makes a huge impact on their mindset. If they say “ This is too hard!” help them change that to “ This is hard, but I will keep trying.” Give them the words to say when they are feeling defeated by modeling it yourself.
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