A growth mindset is all about welcoming new experiences and viewing mistakes as learning opportunities. A person with a growth mindset understands that they’re not stuck with the knowledge or skills that they currently have, but that they can cultivate them to improve themselves in the future. Someone with a fixed mindset, on the other hand, believes that they were born with a specific set of skills and abilities that they will never be able to improve. For this reason, they often shy away from challenges and view mistakes as solely negative experiences.
For children, having a growth mindset is essential to healthy growth and development. It helps them understand that they’re resilient and can overcome mistakes and challenges. Here’s what you can do to help your child develop a growth mindset:
Focus On the Process of Learning
Learning and growing are never-ending processes. Instead of striving for perfection, encourage your child to strive for progress. Help them reflect throughout the process by asking meaningful questions like “How do you think you’ve improved since the last time you tried this?” or “What have you learned so far?” This helps your child understand that the effort they’re putting in means they’re making progress, growing and learning.
Embrace Challenges
For many children, challenges can be scary. Someone with a fixed mindset often avoids challenges, while a person with a growth mindset welcomes them. This is because they view challenges as opportunities to grow and improve, not obstacles that can’t be overcome.
Help your child welcome challenges, even if they’re a little nervous at first. Explain that being nervous or even frustrated when faced with challenges is normal, but that they have the strength and perseverance to overcome them. Help them understand that when they overcome challenges, they’re prepared to face similar ones in the future. You can even tie this to an example of a challenge they faced in the past, how they overcame it and what they learned from it.
Reframe Negative Thoughts
In the process of learning and growing, whether in an academic subject or another area of life, negative thought patterns can become an obstacle for children. If they don’t succeed in something or if something doesn’t turn out the way they intended, it’s easy for children to become down on themselves, replaying every mistake.
Instead of feeling negatively about themselves when mistakes happen, help them reframe their thoughts to be more positive and growth-focused. Instead of thinking, “I lost the spelling bee because I’m no good,” help them reframe it into, “I lost the spelling bee this time, even though I studied very hard. I’m proud of myself for my hard work. I can spend extra time on practicing words that are harder for me so I can get better for next time.” This helps them realize that they’re not stuck where they are; there are always opportunities for growth.
Praise Their Effort
It’s easy for children to become hyper-focused on outcomes, like grades, instead of giving attention to the process of learning. As a parent, this makes it important for you to praise your child’s effort. If they worked hard on a school project or to improve their skills in a certain activity, praise their effort, even if things didn’t turn out the way they wanted. This helps them recognize that their dedication to growing and improving is what matters, not the result. While they may be focused on winning at sports, for example, the outcome of the game isn’t about whether they won; it’s about how they can implement what they learned to improve in the future.
Lead by Example
The best way to foster a growth mindset in your child is by modeling it yourself. Children learn by imitating the adults around them, especially their parents. If they see you embracing challenges, reframing negative thoughts and focusing on the process rather than the outcome, they will likely be inspired to practice the same behaviors.
St. Charles Borromeo is an Orlando private school, located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, that encourages our students to ask questions, develop a growth mindset and seek God’s wisdom in all that they do. We are committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us online.