Growth Mindset - Helping Your Child Reach Their Full Potential
By Kate Wilson-Woolley Provisional Psychologist, BArts/BSci (Psychology)(Hons)
March 2022
By Kate Wilson-Woolley Provisional Psychologist, BArts/BSci (Psychology)(Hons)
March 2022
How can I help my child reach their potential, academically and beyond?
Most children will know thousands of words by the time they reach primary school, but there’s one word that can make a big difference to their experience of learning throughout school and their adult lives. They might not be using it…
YET.
I don’t know how to do read that… yet.
I can’t do multiplication… yet.
I’m not good at writing stories… yet.
Children (and all of us!) benefit hugely from a Growth Mindset.
Most children will know thousands of words by the time they reach primary school, but there’s one word that can make a big difference to their experience of learning throughout school and their adult lives. They might not be using it…
YET.
I don’t know how to do read that… yet.
I can’t do multiplication… yet.
I’m not good at writing stories… yet.
Children (and all of us!) benefit hugely from a Growth Mindset.
What is a Growth Mindset?
A Growth Mindset says: abilities grow through hard work.
A Fixed Mindset says: you either have a talent or skill, or you don’t.
Let’s imagine Freddie, a 7 year old child finding maths very tricky at school. In which scenario will Freddie’s maths skills improve most?
“I was born bad at maths”. This can lead to anxiety or not paying attention in maths class, both of which impede learning, and can result in avoiding maths as much as possible.
“If I keep practising I will get better at maths”. This is likely to lead to being interested in learning in maths class, asking for help, and practising at home.
A Growth Mindset will support your child to reach their potential.
A Fixed Mindset says: you either have a talent or skill, or you don’t.
Let’s imagine Freddie, a 7 year old child finding maths very tricky at school. In which scenario will Freddie’s maths skills improve most?
“I was born bad at maths”. This can lead to anxiety or not paying attention in maths class, both of which impede learning, and can result in avoiding maths as much as possible.
“If I keep practising I will get better at maths”. This is likely to lead to being interested in learning in maths class, asking for help, and practising at home.
A Growth Mindset will support your child to reach their potential.
Simple and effective ways to support your child to develop a Growth Mindset:
- Encourage your child to look at a challenge as something they can’t do yet.
Keep it playful, and try and use a Growth Mindset when talking about your own challenges and frustrations. You might not be great at it… YET, but it’s a skill that will develop with time and effort. - Praise and reward sustained effort, trying different strategies, and incremental progress.
This can be harder than you think, and it might not come naturally… yet! It’s easy to celebrate good results, and might take some practice to acknowledge effort.
“Wow, I’m so impressed at how you’re persevering with that maths homework!”
“Fantastic effort, you’re getting so good at trying different strategies when something doesn’t work!”
“I can see that brain of yours growing with all your determination and effort!” - Learn a tricky activity together.
Children learn by copying you. Learn a new skill neither of you know how to do like juggling, a tricky puzzle, and demonstrate persisting, and celebrating effort and incremental progress.
If your child loves video games go for the extra challenge, if your child loves video games start a new one together, and demonstrate a Growth Mindset (I can learn new things) and discuss how they are so good at it because of their time and effort practicing and persisting. - Discuss how brains get smarter and better at activities the more we practice and persist.
Here are some great very short videos you can watch together with your child:
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Episode 1: Your Brain Is Like A Muscle
https://youtu.be/lz49YsEVcb4 Episode 2: The Magic Of Mistakes https://youtu.be/EoWLgWCcpWo Episode 3: The Incredible Power of Yet https://youtu.be/OFKVoCuwl2s Episode 4: The Mysterious World of Neurons https://youtu.be/HWr2gE5IlPc Episode 5: Mojo Puts It All Together https://youtu.be/BXyN0XSTaMg Here is a short video from Carol Dweck herself, who coined the term, a great watch for you and teenagers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiiEeMN7vbQ |
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Conclusion
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While a Growth Mindset will benefit most children wherever they are at, there may be other supports and accommodations that will help a child reach their potential. Speaking to a Psychologist or Paediatrician can help assess how each child can be best supported.
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References
Growth Mindset
Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/growth-mindset
Carol Dweck on How Growth Mindsets Can Bear Fruit in the Classroom
Kim Armstrong
October 29, 2019
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/dweck-growth-mindsets
Growth Mindset
Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/growth-mindset
Carol Dweck on How Growth Mindsets Can Bear Fruit in the Classroom
Kim Armstrong
October 29, 2019
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/dweck-growth-mindsets