Tips for Encouraging Your Child to Adopt a Growth Mindset

Self-belief is the key to reaching your goals. While it’s not as simple as that, mindset has a huge role in how productive we are and thus our chances of success. A growth mindset is one that you will want to work on with your child. It’s the belief that with persistence, time and effort, great things can be achieved, which instils a strong work ethic. We’ve teamed up with an independent school in Surrey to share tips on how you can encourage your child to adopt a growth mindset.

1. Start with Your Own

Children takeaway a lot from parents as they are their first role models. They look to them for answers and guidance, so it is natural that they copy them. The way that you see life and handle the challenges that come your way can influence the way that they see things, so you must be mindful of verbalising annoyance and pessimism.

2. Let Them See You Struggle

That’s not to say that you can’t let them see you struggle. In fact, it shows children how normal it is and that challenges are a part of life. Seeing your optimism and willingness to face up to your problems can help them in tackling theirs.

3. Look for The Positive

While situations may seem bleak, look for the silver linings. Tough situations teach children how to be strong, which is a silver lining in its own right. Similarly, they can develop new skills and learn how to handle things better in future.

4. Praise Their Efforts

Praise goes a long way. It can help children to recognise how far they’ve come and feel valued. This can help them to continue making progress and work towards their goals.

5. Set Goals

Another piece of advice for parents is to set goals with children. Having clear goals that are written down are more likely to be achieved than those that aren’t. They can also act as a source of motivation and provide children encouragement to work hard. 

6. Explore Famous Success Stories

There are many inspirational stories that explain why hard work and determination are important. Look for those that relate most to them, that might be from an athlete, novelist, or entrepreneur.

These are just a few ways that you can help your child to develop a growth mindset. Past experiences are also key as they teach children what they are capable of and resilience to keep going. Be sure to provide your child plenty of opportunities to explore the world around them and try new things.