Building a Growth Mindset & the Power of “Yet”!
There are often buzz words that circulate in the education world and ones that have really stuck with both of us is the concept of supporting our little one’s “Growth Mindset” and the idea of the power of “Yet!” Those parents who have elementary aged kiddos may have heard this term from their children or their teachers.
What is Growth Mindset?
Growth Mindset is a term coined by Stanford psychologist, Carol Dweck, whose research team found that it's not intelligence, talent or education that sets successful people apart but rather their mindset, or the way that they approach life's challenges. Basically there are two main types of mindsets- a Growth Mindset or a Fixed Mindset. I remember wanting to be on my local swim team in middle school (mainly to get a cool looking trophy). I’ve always enjoyed swimming and am pretty sure I was a water creature in a past life. However, I remember the day we were learning flip turns, I got nervous, some irrational fear about hitting my head, and claimed I couldn’t do it. I basically told myself that I couldn’t do it, never tried, and ended up quitting the swim team after one year because I refused to learn how to flip turn. I reflect now on how it was just a great example of my having a fixed mindset about that skill - I refused to try, take any feedback, and worried about failing.
A Fixed Mindset is the mindset that you are born with a set amount of intelligence and ability, and that there is little to no room for growth. When we only praise kids' intelligence by telling them '“Oh, you’re so smart” or “That was so easy for you”, we’re unknowingly feeding into a fixed mindset.
What does a Fixed Mindset sound and look like?
“I can’t do this”
“This is too hard”
“I’m just giving up. There’s no way I can do this. I’m not the best at this.”
“Why should I try?”
Easily frustrated with tasks they believe should come easy to them
Reluctant to try new challenges
Fear of failure
A Growth Mindset is the idea that you can improve your intelligence and ability through effort and hard work.
What does a Growth Mindset sound and look like?
“I can always improve”
“That was hard but I kept going”
“I can always ask for help”
“Mistakes help me learn”
“I’ll keep trying”
“I can’t do it…yet!”
See failures or challenges as ways to grow & improve
Likes to tries new things
This mindset isn't afraid of failure
The Power of Yet!
We can help support our little one’s Growth Mindset through our feedback when they are working on something difficult, trying something new, or simply any opportunity to learn! One easy way to start is with the word - YET!
If your child is having a hard time with an activity, task, or skill and says “I can’t do this”, a simple Growth Mindset response is “You can’t do this yet!” By adding in the word “yet”, you are telling your child that one day they will be successful and to keep trying! I remember when my daughter was learning how to zipper-up her coat independently and kept saying “I can’t do this” followed by a lovely outburst :) As I kept using the word “yet”, eventually her self-talk became “I can’t zipper my coat yet” which then turned into “I used to not be able to zipper my coat but now I can”.
Growth Mindset Phrases to Try at Home
Fun Videos for Adults & Kids
Books & Resources
The Power of Yet by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
I Can’t Do That, YET: Growth Mindset by Esther Pia Cordova
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
Y Is for Yet: A Growth Mindset Alphabet by Shannon Anderson
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
We hope you can think about fun, new ways to train your brain and you child’s brain! Build those Growth Mindsets and remember the power of “Yet!”
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