Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
We all want our children to be resilient…to have the drive to get back up and tackle the problem a different way after being knocked down, right? Even if it seems “impossible”?
Let’s talk about how we, as parents, can help cultivate a growth mindset in our children and how to honor their growth on a daily basis.
5 Ways to Build a Growth Mindset in Children
Teach your children it is okay to be wrong.
Mistakes help us to learn what doesn’t work. Upon creating the light bulb that would drive the concept of “electricity” over the next century, Thomas Edison spoke of his many failures in his attempt to discover the successful combination of circuits, famously saying “I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that did not work.”
Teach your child to try out new ideas on their own.
By nature, your child will come to you with problems they want you to solve. Don’t! Instead, empower your child by encouraging them to come up with and try out their own ideas.
Make it a point to model that nothing is “too hard”
Whether it’s learning to tie their shoes or figuring out a math problem – kids need to learn that sometimes it just takes a bit of practice and creativity to solve problems. So instead of viewing “hard” situations as impossible or as a nuisance, try to encourage your child to see these situations as a challenge that they can conquer.
Talk about your mistakes and how they make you grow.
For example, going through difficult times in my life led me to discover new passions, which ultimately led me to a new, very fulfilling career. If I had not been open to growth and leaning in to the challenges, that would not have happened. By speaking with your children about your own story, they will see firsthand the importance of growth and resilience.
Celebrate improvements, no matter how small!
Part of a growth mindset is honoring the steps in between reaching goals. Perhaps your child hasn’t mastered something “yet,” but that doesn’t mean progress cannot be celebrated. Celebrate that test that is a whole letter grade higher than the last one, the morning without a meltdown, making a healthy choice for dinner, etc. Progress is progress, no matter how small!