The Fathering Project

Modelling a growth mindset

Teaching and modelling a growth mindset to your children will help them see life as a glass half full rather than a glass half empty. It teaches them to persevere and with time and commitment many things they want in life are achievable and possible.

Understanding Mindsets 

We all have beliefs about our own abilities and potential. These beliefs are part of our mindset which is a powerful tool that shapes our everyday lives.  

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through effort and practice. Children with a growth mindset believe that they if they work hard, they can get improve results. They have a more positive attitude towards learning, are more willing to face challenges and see failure as part of the process of learning. 

A fixed mindset is the belief that intelligence or abilities can’t be changed. When children have a fixed mindset, they tend to give up easily when they meet challenges, because they believe that they don’t have what it takes to learn hard things. As a result, mistakes are often seen as failures rather than opportunities to grow and learn. 

Research shows that praising the process—children’s effort or strategies—creates an eagerness for challenges, persistence in the face of difficulty, and enhanced performance. 

Top Tips for developing a growth mindset

• Help children understand that the brain works like a muscle. You have to put it to work and give it lots and lots of practice. 
• Explain that when you practice, this helps your brain to remember, so the next time you try, the task becomes a bit easier.
• Listen to what your kids say. Think about the messages you are sending about mindsets. For example: If they said “I can’t do this” you could encourage a change in mindset by saying “you can’t do this yet, you are learning to do this”.  
• Instead of praising children’s intelligence or talent, focus on the processes they used. For example, “That homework was so long and difficult. You did such a good job of concentrating and finishing it.” 
• Let your children know that we are all learning all the time. Our brains are always learning (even as adults). Tell them about something that you have learnt or are learning now.

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