How to Teach a Growth Mindset to Kids- 9 Best Activities
A growth mindset is a belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed with hard work and practice.
It's the opposite of a fixed mindset, which is the belief that intelligence and abilities are fixed traits that can't be changed.
If you're like most moms, you want your kids to have a growth mindset. After all, a growth mindset leads to success in life.
But how do you actually teach your kids a growth mindset?
It's not as difficult as you might think!
In fact, there are plenty of activities that you can do with your kids to help them develop a growth mindset.
Keep reading for 9 of the best activities to help teach your kids about growth mindsets!
What is a Growth Mindset for Kids?
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Children with a growth mindset view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, while those with fixed mindsets see them as roadblocks to avoid.
Research has shown that children with a growth mindset are more likely to persist in the face of difficulties, embrace learning opportunities, and bounce back from setbacks.
They are also more likely to achieve success in school and life. Helping kids develop a growth mindset is one of the best things parents can do to prepare kids for the future.
Why is It Important to Start Developing a Growth Mindset in Early Childhood?
A child's mindset is particularly important in early childhood because it's a time of rapid brain development.
During these years, kids' brains are like sponges soaking up new information and experiences. What they learn during this time will shape how they see the world and themselves.
That's why it's so important to start teaching kids about a growth mindset early on because what children believe about their abilities has a big impact on how they approach learning and life.
The sooner they learn how to embrace challenges, build resilience and persevere through setbacks, the better off they'll be in life.
So the next time your child is whining, "I can't do it" or "I don't know how to do it", instead of just doing it for them, teach your child how to do it for themselves.
Learning how to do things for themselves builds confidence in their abilities to problem-solve and try challenges independently.
Here is a helpful article 17 Tips on How to Help Your Child Become More Resilient
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Is Your Child's Mindset Impacting Their Learning- Signs of Fixed and Growth Mindsets
If you're not sure whether your child has a growth mindset or a fixed mindset, here are some signs to look for:
Signs of a Fixed Mindset in Kids:
1. Your child gives up easily when they encounter a challenge.
2. Your child is afraid of making mistakes and often undermines their own abilities by saying things like "I can't do it" or "I'm not good at this."
3. Your child has a hard time taking on new challenges and prefers to stick to what they know.
4. Your child gets easily frustrated when things don't go their way.
5. Your child avoids trying new things for fear of failing.
6. Your child compares themselves to others and gets upset when they don't measure up.
Signs of a Growth Mindset in Kids:
1. Your child is not afraid of challenging tasks or hard work and is willing to try new things.
2. Your child understands that mistakes are part of learning and views them as opportunities to grow.
3. Your child is persistent in the face of difficulties and doesn't give up easily.
4. Your child has a can-do attitude and is confident in their problem-solving skills.
5. Your child embraces learning opportunities and enjoys trying new things.
6. Your child likes to celebrate their successes and praise the success of others.
7. Your child sees mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Can Parents Change Their Child's Mindsets?
Yes! Parents play a vital role in shaping their child's mindsets.
The first step is to be aware of your mindset.
If you have a fixed mindset, it's important to work on changing that because your child will likely learn from your example.
How Can Parents Help Kids Social Skills With a Growth Mindset?
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In addition to academic success, social success is strongly linked to a growth mindset as well!
Children with the right mindset are more likely to have fulfilling and long-lasting relationships because they're not afraid of taking risks or making mistakes.
They're also more likely to be resilient in the face of rejection and criticism.
So, how can parents help kids navigate the social world with a growth mindset?
By modeling a growth mindset for kids, parents can help kids learn how to handle social challenges.
When you have a growth mindset, you encourage your kids to take risks, persist through difficulties, learn from their mistakes and have a positive self-belief.
You can also help them see how taking risks and making mistakes is an important part of learning and growing. It all helps kids develop a stronger self esteem.
Here is an article on How To Help Your Child Build Better Self Esteem-7 Best Preschool Activities
What are some specific things parents can do to help their kids develop a growth mindset?
Here are 9 specific things parents can do to help their kids develop a growth mindset:
1. Help your child understand what a growth mindset is and why it's important.
Brainstorm different strategies for solving a problem. This will help children understand that failing once is not the end of the road. For example, “Okay, we tried to get the ball out of the tree by jumping as high as we could. That didn’t work. Maybe we can try using a long stick to get the ball out this time.”
2. Encourage your child to take on new challenges and persist through difficulties.
Participating in competitions is a good way of viewing challenges as self growth opportunities.
3. Help your child see how effort leads to success.
Praise your child's effort instead of their intelligence. For example, You have practiced everyday with your scissors to cut straight all the way. You finally did it today!
This will help children understand that they can control how hard they work and that their effort leads to success.
4. Help your child see that everyone makes mistakes and that it's okay to fail.
Share your own stories about times when you've made mistakes and what you learned from them.
5. Help your child learn from their mistakes.
When they make a mistake, ask them what they could do differently next time. This will help children understand that mistakes are part of continuous learning and that they can learn from them.
Here is an article on- How To Teach Kids to Embrace Failure and Learn From Mistakes- 12 Ways
6. Encourage your child to keep trying.
When they're struggling with a task, encourage them to keep trying until they figure it out. This will help children understand that persistence leads to success.
7. Help your child develop a positive self-belief.
Praise children for their effort and accomplishments, no matter how small.
This will help children understand that they are capable of amazing things. Positive self-talk is also a great way of developing a positive self-belief.
8. Help your child to see the importance of taking risks.
Encourage them to try new opportunities, even if they're scared of failing.
This will help children understand that taking risks is an important process of learning and growing.
9. Help your child understand that intelligence is not fixed.
Explain how you or someone you know got better at something with practice.
What Skills Do Children Need to Develop a Growth Mindset?
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There are a few key skills that children need to develop a growth mindset:
Grit:
Grit is the ability to stick with something even when it's difficult. Children with grit can persist through setbacks and continue working towards their goals.
Resilience:
Resilience is the ability to 'bounce back' from setbacks. Resilient children can pick themselves up after a fall and keep going.
Here is a helpful article on 17 Tips on How to Help Your Child Become More Resilient
Creativity:
Creativity is the ability to come up with new ideas and think outside the box. Creative children see problems as opportunities to be solved, not as roadblocks.
Critical Thinking:
Critical thinking is the ability to question information and think independently. Children who are critical thinkers can analyze arguments and make their own informed decisions.
‘Resilience Kit for Kids’- Printable to help parents teach their kid skills for resilience.
A Parent's Guide - 9 Fun Activities for Kids to Practice a Growth Mindset
There are a few great games that can help Young Children learn about a growth mindset:
1.The Marshmallow Challenge:
The Marshmallow Challenge is a great game for teaching kids how to break tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps. It's also a fun way to teach the importance of teamwork!
To play, you'll need a bag of marshmallows and a set of straws
The object of the game is to build the tallest structure possible using only marshmallows and straws. The timer starts as soon as the kids start building! This game is a great way to encourage children to work together and think creatively and come up with different ideas when the structure collapses.
2.Bounce that Ball
This game is a great way to teach kids the importance of grit and perseverance. The object of the game is to see the different strategies children are willing to use to keep the ball bouncing.
For example, are they moving to a flat surface to bounce to increase their chances of a better score?
3.Solve this Problem
'Solve this problem' is a great way to teach kids the importance of creativity and thinking outside the box. In the game, the leader presents a problem and the team has come up with as many ideas or solutions as possible in a given amount of time.
This learning process teaches the young learners that a problem can have many solutions.
4.The Puzzle Game:
The Puzzle Piece Game is a great way for teaching the importance of using self-efficacy.
The object of the game is to complete a new puzzle (one they have never done before) by using their persistence and problem solving skills to find clues to solve the puzzle.
For example, use the picture on the packet to get an idea about what the completed puzzle will look like or observe the patterns on the puzzle pieces to determine the best way to connect them.
5. The Block Tower Game:
The Block Tower Game is a great way of learning about the importance of planning and perseverance. The object of the game is to build the tallest tower possible using only blocks. In this game, the children will have to figure out a way of building a strong foundation so the building doesn't keep falling.
6. The Balloon Drop:
The Balloon Drop game is a great way to teach kids about the power of resilience. The object of the game is to see how many times you can keep the balloon from touching the ground.
This game is a great way to teach kids that even if they make a mistake, they can try again and succeed.
7. The Hula Hoop Challenge:
The Hula Hoop Challenge is a great way to teach kids about focus and determination. The object of the game is to see how long you can keep the hula hoop going.
This game is a great way to teach kids that if they stay focused, they can achieve their goals.
8. The Balloon Toss:
The Balloon Toss game is a great way to teach kids about cooperation and working together. The object of the game is to see how many times you can keep the balloon in the air by tossing it back and forth between two people.
This game is a great way to teach kids that they can accomplish more when they work together.
9. The Scavenger Hunt:
The Scavenger Hunt is a great way to teach kids about the power of observation and concentration. The object of the game is to see how many items on the list you can find in a given amount of time.
This game is a great way to teach kids that if they pay attention, they can achieve their goals.
These are just a few games that can help children develop a growth mindset. The most important thing is to make sure that you are teaching the right skills and providing plenty of opportunities for them to practice.
Conclusion
When children understand and embrace the concept of a growth mindset, they will be more likely to take on new challenges, persevere through setbacks, and achieve their goals.
These games are a great way to teach kids the skills they need to succeed. So don't hesitate to give them a try!
What other games do you know that can help children develop a growth mindset? Share your thoughts in the comments.
FAQ
1. What is a growth mindset?
A growth mindset is a belief that intelligence can be developed and improved. This contrasts with a fixed mindset, which is the belief that intelligence is static and cannot be changed.
2. Why is it important to teach kids a growth mindset?
It's important to teach kids a growth mindset because it can help them embrace new challenges, persist through setbacks, and achieve their goals.
3. How can I teach my child more about a growth mindset?
There are many ways you can teach your child more about a growth mindset. You can read books together, play games that focus on developing growth mindset skills or have conversations about how intelligence can be improved.
