Cultivating a Growth Mindset

What is a growth mindset? According to Carol Dweck’s research, people who have a growth mindset think that our most basic abilities are developed through diligence and perseverance. When you have a growth mindset about something, you believe your skills and creativity can increase with effort, asking for help, and a willingness to make mistakes. We are able to accomplish goals while learning to accept setbacks and challenges and persevering through them.  

In contrast to a growth mindset, another term in her research is defined as “fixed mindset.” This mindset holds the belief that one’s skills, intelligence, and abilities are fixed and cannot be changed, even with hard work and practice. 

Parents/Caregivers play a key role in shaping their children’s mindset and approach to handling challenges and learning from mistakes. 

Here are 10 phrases you can use with your child to help model a growth mindset way of thinking: 

1. Mistakes are opportunities for learning and growing. 

2. I learn by trying new things. 

3. I can do hard things. 

4. I haven’t figured it out “YET.” Use the power of the word “Yet.”

5. When I fail, I can say, “I can’t do it…YET” and try again. 

6. I ask for help when I need it. 

7. Learning is my superpower. 

8. I grow my brain by learning hard things. 

9. I am brave and can try something new. 

10. I can learn anything! 

Questions that you can ask instead of, “How was your day?” 

• What did you do today that made you think hard? 

• What new strategies did you try? 

• What mistakes did you make that taught you something? 

Recommended Reading for families/caregivers:

• Grit The Power of Passion & Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

• Allow Your Children to FAIL if You Want Them to SUCCEED by Dr. Avril P. Beckford