What Does it Mean to Have a Growth Mindset?
The term “growth mindset” has gained more attention and popularity in recent years, especially when it comes to education. It is a way to help students nurture and explore their potential and keep an open mind. Everyone possesses characteristics of a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, but they present in different ways depending on the situation.
A fixed mindset is the belief that things are the way they are and there is little we can do to change it. For instance, that each person is born with a certain level of intelligence or with specific talents, and that is who they are.
A growth mindset, on the other hand, is the belief that there is always more to learn, and we can improve our abilities with practice. We learn from our mistakes and can overcome perceived limitations. It is not that you cannot do something, it is that you don’t know how to do it yet.
Helping kids to keep a more positive and optimistic outlook can nurture a growth mindset and boost their self-confidence. Here are a few ways to get started:
Focus on the process. Kids often become frustrated when they cannot do something correctly on the first try. Break down more difficult tasks into smaller steps. Help them work through the process of how to get to the desired end result, whether that is correctly solving a math problem, playing a song on piano, or shooting a basketball into the net.
What did they do well? What didn’t work? What changes can they make to do better next time? Encourage them to learn from their mistakes and use that new knowledge moving forward.
Celebrate their efforts. It’s not always about the outcome. Sometimes it’s about praising the work it took to get there. Instead of telling your child that you are proud of them for getting the right answer, praise them for not giving up, for trying different approaches, for continuing to practice, or for getting further than they did last time. Maybe they got 5 answers right the first time, but this time they got 6. It shows that they are learning, growing, and improving.
Be a positive role model. Consider how you approach your own thinking. Do you give yourself the flexibility and grace to have a growth mindset? Try not to be overly hard on yourself when something doesn’t go as planned and instead show your child how you learn from your mistakes and work to overcome challenges too. They are constantly watching and learning from you whether you realize it or not.
Encourage resilience. Have your child reflect on things that they can do now that they couldn’t do before. When they say that they don’t know how to do something or don’t understand, follow that up with “yet.” They don’t know how to use the FOIL method yet. They don’t understand the laws of motion yet. There will always be more to learn, and they know more today than they did yesterday, and they will know even more tomorrow.
Remind them that it is okay to ask for help. Everyone has different strengths and abilities, and we learn from one another. The learning specialists at Crafting Scholars assess your child’s needs, abilities, and learning style in order to craft a customized curriculum just for them. By learning different strategies and reinforcing key skills, they can feel more confident in themselves and their ability to overcome challenges.
From content area tutoring to study skills to SAT/ACT prep, learn more about the wide range of programs available at Crafting Scholars. Contact us today to reserve your child’s spot and help them continue nurturing a growth mindset.
