Inclusion and Wellbeing

Inclusion Update

Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Empowering Young Minds

A growth mindset is believing that your brain can grow and you can learn many new things. You are not born smart; you become smart.

A fixed mindset is quite the opposite. It is believing that you cannot learn new things. You are born with your knowledge and skills and cannot get smarter.

Students with a fixed mindset believe their ability and intelligence are just fixed traits that can't be changed, no matter how hard they work. Students with a growth mindset believe that their ability and intelligence can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence.

Research has shown that individuals with a growth mindset tend to be more resilient, persistent, and motivated. This perspective fosters a love for learning and resilience essential for great accomplishments. In contrast, a fixed mindset assumes that intelligence is static, leading to a desire to appear smart rather than to learn and grow.

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck is renowned for her work on the concept of these mindsets. Her research explores how people's beliefs about their abilities influence their motivation, learning and achievement. The following Big Life Journal article introduces a 4 week guide to incorporate key elements in your child’s life and offers free printables, podcasts and access to the second edition of the Big Life Journal.

https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/teach-growth-mindset-kids-activities

If this is something your child is struggling with or you’d like to find out more, contact our wellbeing team for further information, sharon.portelli@education.vic.gov.au.