Helping Kids Adopt a Growth Mindset

As members of this incredible learning community, one of the most powerful components of Social and Emotional Learning is the concept of the Growth Mindset. This idea, coined by Stanford Researcher Carol Dweck, believes in the human capacity to change. The opposite idea, or "fixed mindset," is the belief that people are born smart or not, are bullies or victims, kind or cruel, and people just don't change. 

 

This research suggests that believing in the capacity of human change and growth is linked to greater success, better health, and more happiness. What we're really talking about is the underlying belief that we do indeed have more control to make new choices, to change behavior and habits and learn from our mistakes. It's crucial in understanding that we are not helpless. This can reduce stress, depression, and poor health by thinking more about life creating challenges as opposed to threats. 

 

As a parent, there are a number of ways to help our children understand how a growth mindset can be applied in their lives and their relationships:

 

 

1. Approved Peer Relationships - Just the idea that relationships can improve empowers us to work through conflict and can reduce aggressive behavior and increase communication skills.

 

2. Empathy - Trying to empathize, or put ourselves in another's shoes, can be particularly helpful during a challenge. If a child is trying to understand the mean kid and they are considering that maybe this person is having a rough time in their lives, it opens the door to not only a new level of caring, but also believing that positive behavior change can occur (in ourselves and others!).

3. Cooperation - If we hold the belief that individuals can change, it expands our concept that cultures and nations can work out their differences and find meaning and peace among diverse peoples. It empowers us to work on solutions together. 

 

Carol Dweck also cautioned us to consider these ideas related to growth mindset:

 

1. You cannot have a growth mindset all the time. Keep in mind that we are not talking about a personality trait or a way of being. It's a frame of mind - a coping strategy for addressing life's challenges and frustrations. 

 

2. We all experience both fixed and growth mindset. To truly benefit from a growth mindset we need to consider those moments in life when feelings of anxiety, failure, or conflict create the perfect opportunities for reflecting on the approach our mind is choosing and reset if need be. How do we want to approach this problem? What are my choices? How can I improve this situation? 

 

3. Beware of your personal triggers. You know what I am talking about: that moment when old thought patterns of shame, feeling threatened, or feeling judged by ourselves or others can loop our psyches into those old fixed mindset patterns. Negative self talk can create stress, poor health, and depression. Know your triggers and be mindful enough to stop those thoughts. You can teach your children to recognize theirs as well. 

 

Growth Mindset helps us adapt - to change, flex, and grow. It is the key component of resilience. When we encourage and act upon the concept that people can indeed change, we provide the space for others and ourselves to do just that. 

Learn more by reading this article from The Greater Good Berkeley.