Developing a growth mindset is a crucial foundation for a child’s lifelong learning journey. It empowers children to embrace challenges, persist through difficulties and ultimately reach their full potential.
As parents and caregivers, you can play a pivotal role in nurturing this mindset. In this article, we will explore six practical parenting tips designed to guide your child towards embracing a growth mindset, setting them up for success in school and life!
What is a growth mindset?
Let us begin by defining what a growth mindset is. A growth mindset is characterised by a belief in the ability to develop and improve skills and intelligence through dedicated effort, continuous learning and unwavering perseverance.
Embracing a growth mindset fosters a willingness to take on challenges. It is about being willing to learn from mistakes, and continually seeking personal and professional growth.
Simply put, a growth mindset is rooted in the belief that you and your mind have the potential to grow. It is an attitude that underscores the notion that intelligence is not fixed at birth; rather, it is something that can evolve with time.
It is the attitude that says you are not born smart; rather, you become smart.
Having a growth mindset can help your child develop the qualities of resilience, determination and a genuine love for learning. When faced with a challenging math problem, for example, a child with a growth mindset will view it as an opportunity for growth rather than a reason to give up.
In essence, a growth mindset encourages children to see obstacles as stepping stones to overcome and fosters an enduring love of learning, with all of its trials and rewards, right from the onset of their educational journey.
Tips to Instill a Growth Mindset in Your Child
How can you ensure the development of a growth mindset in your little one? Let us go through some important tips below.
1. Embrace challenges
This is key in a growth mindset because it is all about overcoming hurdles. Encourage your child to take on challenges and not be afraid of making mistakes.
In the same vein, teach your child not to shy away from exploring new ways to tackle problems. It is often in uncharted territories where innovation solutions can be found.
With a ‘bring it on’ attitude, children will perceive difficulties as exciting opportunities for growth and personal improvement. They will not shy away from the idea of a hurdle and tend to see difficulties in less off-putting ways.
2. Value effort, not talent
Encourage your child to understand that effort and hard work are more important than innate talent. Instead of simply saying “You’re so smart”, compliment their efforts instead with, “I’m proud of how you worked hard to solve that problem.”
This shift in focus underscores the idea that it is your child’s hard work and perseverance that matter most. It is a powerful reminder that sustained effort is the driving force behind personal growth and improvement.
3. Learn from and be willing to talk about failure
Failure is not the enemy. Think of it as a wise mentor guiding the way to achievement. Encourage your little ones to see mistakes as valuable lessons. Share with them that it is perfectly fine to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them.
Keep the lines of communication open and try talking about the factors that led to these setbacks. Children who embrace this not only learn from their mistakes but also shed the fear of criticism. Over time, they become skilled at dissecting the roots of their mistakes and view failure as a dynamic tool for learning.
We all know that trying something new can be daunting, especially when the fear of failure looms large. Teaching your child that making mistakes is not just acceptable but also a natural part of learning removes a significant barrier to embarking on fresh endeavours. When children take on the problem again, they learn from past mistakes, knowing what works and what does not.
As a valuable tip for encouraging your child to express themselves verbally, remember to shower them with praise whenever they do. Showing them that you value their self-expression fosters their confidence, making them more likely to share their innermost thoughts and experiences, even when they involve making mistakes.
3. Learn from and be willing to talk about failure
Failure is not the enemy. Think of it as a wise mentor guiding the way to achievement. Encourage your little ones to see mistakes as valuable lessons. Share with them that it is perfectly fine to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them.
Keep the lines of communication open and try talking about the factors that led to these setbacks. Children who embrace this not only learn from their mistakes but also shed the fear of criticism. Over time, they become skilled at dissecting the roots of their mistakes and view failure as a dynamic tool for learning.
We all know that trying something new can be daunting, especially when the fear of failure looms large. Teaching your child that making mistakes is not just acceptable but also a natural part of learning removes a significant barrier to embarking on fresh endeavours. When children take on the problem again, they learn from past mistakes, knowing what works and what does not.
As a valuable tip for encouraging your child to express themselves verbally, remember to shower them with praise whenever they do. Showing them that you value their self-expression fosters their confidence, making them more likely to share their innermost thoughts and experiences, even when they involve making mistakes.
4. Cultivate a love of learning
Transform your home into a vibrant hub of curiosity and discovery to make learning enjoyable and a natural part of everyday life! You can do this in a variety of fun ways.
For example, start by reading or exploring topics your child is interested in and engage them in conversations about it. You can also visit libraries, museums and engage in hands-on activities to spark their curiosity and foster a love for learning.
At Star Learners, we harness the power of our literature-based approach to connect stories with your child’s interests. We believe that stories are more than just narratives — they are vessels for learning through analysis, evaluation, elaboration, prediction and more!
By nurturing this love for learning, your child will approach challenges like the ones he or she may encounter in school with a positive, fearless mindset.
5. Explore the power of “Yet”
Introducing the magic of ‘yet’! This is about helping children understand that while they may not have mastered a skill or achieved a goal today, with time, effort and continued learning, they can conquer it in the future.
When “I can’t do it” becomes “I can’t do it yet“, the simple addition of the word ‘yet’ unleashes the potential for growth and improvement.
This simple word can shift their perspective from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. They acknowledge that change, improvement and growth will be their constant companions.
6. Use encouraging language
Foster a culture of positive self-talk from an early age to empower your child to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations.
This approach supports the growth mindset by helping them take on a ‘can-do’ attitude instead of a defeatist one. Encourage them to use phrases like:
- “I may not be able to do it yet but I may be able to in the future.”
- “I can do this.”
- “This is hard, but I will try.”
- “I can learn how to do this!”
- “What can I learn from this situation?”
- “It’s okay if I fail, because at least I learned something.”
- “Effort makes me stronger.”
- “I’m going to try a new approach.”
- “I will not give up.”
At Star Learners, our educators not only encourage children to use these expressions, but also use them around the little ones. This way, they become role models of positive thinking who also possess a can-do spirit, setting the stage for your child’s growth mindset to flourish!
Let us help your child develop a growth mindset
As you can see, parents and caregivers can do a lot to help children take on a growth mindset. From teaching them to embrace failure, to showing them the power of communication, we can help lay a strong foundation for their journey ahead.
If you are eager to witness the tranformative impact of a growth mindset, consider enroling them in our preschools. At Star Learners, we aim to ensure that your child embarks on their learning journey with the right mindset.
Take the first step for your child in his or her early years by registering your interest for a virtual tour at any of our 43 Star Learners centres located island-wide!
