Mindset is a characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations. Each individual has their own unique mindset, as do children. Parents can help their children develop their way of thinking and how they think about themselves by encouraging them to have a growth mindset. It will be the result of being successful, resilient and motivated about their life or when they face a difficult situation. Therefore, raising children with a growth mindset is vital. 

Growth mindset concept was developed by professor Carol Dweck. She had compiled decades of research to form the idea of mindset. Her findings have been groundbreaking for people around the world. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, furthermore talent is just the starting point. Children create admiration for learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Kids who develop a growth mindset will become more resilient when they face challenges. As a result, they will leave their comfort zone to solve problems, try new approaches and grow as a person. 

Nonetheless, a fixed mindset is a belief that children are born with certain talents and it can’t be changed. Children who have a fixed mindset tend to compare themselves to others and believe that their intelligence and talent are innate and immutable. Kids tend to avoid challenges which test their abilities and refuse to take any opportunities. Moreover, it may be associated with parenting style and how parents praise their effort. Therefore, it is important for parents to encourage and assist their children to have a growth mindset. 

Recommendations for parents to assist children to strengthen their growth mindset: 

Praising: How parents praise children seems not so important. They might think that just say “oh, great job” or “You are so smart doing it this way” is enough but it is important than people think. Actually, when parents praise children, they should consider praising on their behavior and process than praising on their character. It is able to put the emphasis on each step that kids took in order to get to the end result. By focusing on the process, children will be keen on asking for help and trying new strategies. For example, if the kids are drawing something, parents could praise on the way that their children drew and on their process. 

Pay attention to their effort over the result: when children learn something new, it is important for parents to pay attention on their effort and keep reminding them that how far they have come, rewarding them on their effort and not on the outcome 

Tell them “...yet”: “Mommy, I can’t count the number till 100, but all of my friends can do it already” said the boy. The mom may tell him “Well, darling...you just can’t do it yet but you will be able to do it one day eventually. I can help you, okay? Let’s try to learn and count it together today”. By telling children “...yet”, they will slowly develop a growth mindset because they do not know it yet doesn’t mean that they will not know it forever or would not be able to know/do it. There will always be a space for them to learn and grow. In the future, children tend to self-talk to themselves when they face difficult situations. 

It is okay to fail: parents can give the permission for children to get it wrong and tell them that it is okay to fail. Parents are able to encourage them to try again and do not give up easily. It may broaden their capability and take risk to experiment an alternative way. They will not feel ashamed to fail in front of their parents and do not need to worry whether their parents will scold them on not being successful on something. By raising kids this way, they will be able to expand their creativity, problem solving capabilities and readiness to embrace challenge. 

Last but not least, growth mindset is not something that children can have instantly. It will take years of procedures and encouragement before kids can fully start practicing growth mindset strategies on their own. It is nonacademic skills which are necessary base for life-long learning and benefit them throughout their lifetime. 

P. Ratnajarn M.A.

Reference 

Dweck, C. (2015). Caro Dweck Revisits the ‘Growth Mindset’. Retrieved from 

https://portal.cornerstonesd.ca/group/yyd5jtk/Documents/Carol%20Dweck%20Growth% 20Mindsets.pdf 

Morin, A. Growth Mindset: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from 

https://www.understood.org/en/friends-feelings/empowering-your-child/building-on- strengths/growth-mindset 

Young, K. 11 powerful ways to build a growth mindset in your kids. Retrieved from 

https://www.mother.ly/child/how-to-build-a-growth-mindset-in-kids/nurturing-a-growth- mindset