Growth Mindset: Teaching Kids to Embrace Challenges

Helping children develop a growth mindset may be one of the most valuable lessons parents and educators can offer. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, effort, and learning from mistakes. Unlike a fixed mindset—which assumes that talents are innate and unchangeable—a growth mindset teaches children to see challenges as opportunities, not threats.

Here’s how this mindset works and how to help kids embrace it from an early age.

What Is a Growth Mindset?

The term “growth mindset” was coined by psychologist Carol Dweck after decades of research into motivation and success. In simple terms:

• Fixed Mindset: Believes intelligence and abilities are static. “I’m just not good at math.”
• Growth Mindset: Believes skills improve with effort and feedback. “I can get better at math with practice.”

When children adopt a growth mindset, they are more resilient, motivated, and confident—especially when things get tough.

Why It Matters

In school and life, kids will face setbacks. Whether it’s a tough test, a lost game, or a challenging friendship, how they respond shapes their future success. A growth mindset helps kids:

• Take on difficult tasks without giving up
• View failure as a learning opportunity
• Accept feedback without feeling attacked
• Put in effort, even when results don’t come easily

Research shows that students with a growth mindset perform better academically, especially in subjects where they once struggled.

How to Teach a Growth Mindset at Home and in the Classroom

1. Praise Effort, Not Just Results

Instead of saying, “You’re so smart,” try:

• “I can see how hard you worked on this.”
• “You stuck with that even when it got tough—great job!”

This encourages kids to value perseverance and learning over perfection.

2. Model Mistake-Making

Show kids that everyone makes mistakes—and learns from them. Share your own setbacks and how you overcame them.

Try saying:

• “I made a mistake, but now I know what to do differently next time.”
• “It didn’t work out yet, but I’m not giving up.”

3. Use the Power of “Yet”

A small word with a big impact. “I can’t do this” becomes “I can’t do this… yet.”

Teaching kids that growth takes time helps them stay hopeful and engaged.

4. Encourage Risk-Taking and Curiosity

Let kids try new things, even if they might fail. Whether it’s a new sport, a harder book, or a science experiment, stepping out of their comfort zone is how they grow.

5. Celebrate Growth Over Grades

Instead of focusing only on As and 100s, highlight progress. Did they improve from last time? Did they ask for help or try a new strategy? That’s growth worth recognizing.

Growth Mindset Language: What to Say Instead

Fixed Mindset Statement	Growth Mindset Version
“I’m not good at this.”	“What am I missing?”
“This is too hard.”	“This will take time.”
“I give up.”	“I’ll try a different way.”
“I made a mistake.”	“Mistakes help me learn.”
“I can’t do this.”	“I can’t do this… yet.”

In the Classroom: Real-World Examples

Teachers across the UK are implementing growth mindset strategies to change the culture of learning:

• Reflection Journals: Students write about challenges they faced and how they handled them.
• Mistake of the Day: A student shares a mistake and what they learned from it—turning embarrassment into empowerment.
• Growth Mindset Displays: Bulletin boards with quotes, progress charts, or “yet” phrases encourage a positive outlook.

Raising a child with a growth mindset doesn’t mean shielding them from challenges—it means equipping them to face challenges with confidence. Whether at home or in school, your language, attitude, and encouragement make a lasting difference. Every child has the potential to grow, and with the right mindset, the sky’s the limit.

FAQs