4 Ways To Develop A Growth Mindset In Your Child
There’s something your child needs to believe with every fibre of their being. Once they do, they will flourish in every area of their life. They need to believe that they can grow their abilities with effort and practice.
Here are four simple ways to instil this belief by developing a growth mindset.
1. Model a growth mindset
The simplest way to increase your child’s confidence is by demonstrating a growth mindset in the home. Your kids are always watching you, so they’ll learn their behaviour and attitudes by watching your reaction to challenges.
You can encourage a positive attitude by simply speaking positively when you encounter difficulty. Rather than saying: “I can’t do this; it’s too hard”, say, “This is hard, but if I keep practising, I’m sure I’ll get it right.”
2. Encourage positive self-talk
Teaching your child about their inner voice is very important. However, it’s also important to let them know it can sometimes tell them things that aren’t true.
Show them how to counter negative inner statements with positive ones. You can do this by replacing statements like: “I’m not good at this,” with: “What am I missing?” And, instead of: “I’m amazing at this”, say: “I’m on the right track”.
3. Praise effort, not results
Rather than praising your child for a successful result, acknowledge the effort they’ve put in to get there. This praise shows your child that success comes from effort, rather than some innate talent.
And, you’re showing them that everything from earning good grades to mastering a new skill takes effort and practice.
4. Teach the power of “yet”
Have you heard your child say something like: “I can’t read” or “I can’t ride a bike”? These words are heartbreaking because your child feels frustrated and hopeless.
Encourage a growth mindset by adding the word “yet” to each of these statements (i.e. “I can’t ride a bike yet”).
After saying “yet” a few times, your child will learn that skills are developed, not set from birth.
