It’s no secret that a growth mindset is one of the biggest predictors of success. Kids who develop this mindset approach challenges with confidence, embrace learning, and understand that effort leads to progress. But what exactly is a growth mindset, and how can you nurture it in your child?

What is a Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence aren’t fixed—they can grow with effort, practice, and persistence. When kids have a growth mindset, they see mistakes as learning opportunities, embrace challenges, and keep trying even when things feel tough.

On the flip side, a fixed mindset leads kids to believe that their skills and intelligence are set in stone—they either “have it” or they don’t. This often results in frustration, fear of failure, and giving up easily when things get hard.

So how do you encourage your child to develop a growth mindset? Here are four powerful ways to start:

1. Praise Effort Over Results

Picture this: Your child proudly holds up a drawing and says, “Look what I made!” Without thinking, you respond, “Wow, that’s amazing! You’re such a great artist!”

While it might seem encouraging, this type of praise actually reinforces a fixed mindset. It suggests that their artistic ability is something they just have, rather than something they develop through practice.

Instead, shift your focus to their effort. Try saying:

• “I love how much detail you put into that tree! You worked so hard on it.”
• “I noticed you kept trying even when the fingers were tricky to draw. That’s amazing that you didn't give up!”

Praising effort helps kids understand that progress comes from trying—a key lesson for a growth mindset.

2. Reframe Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

How often have you sighed (or let’s be honest, yelled) when your child spills milk while trying to pour it themselves? It’s frustrating, but here’s the thing—mistakes are part of learning.

Instead of reacting with frustration, try saying:

• “Oops! Learning how to pour is tricky. It’s okay. Let’s clean it up together.”
• “Spills happen when we’re practicing something new. Want me to show you a trick for next time?”

When kids see mistakes as just another step in the learning process, they’re more likely to keep trying instead of shutting down when things don’t go perfectly.

3. Model a Growth Mindset Yourself

Our kids are always watching us, and mimicking what they see us do. That includes how we handle mistakes and challenges. If we want them to embrace a growth mindset, we need to show them what it looks like in action.

Try learning something new in front of your child. Maybe you’re trying a new recipe, assembling furniture, or figuring out a tricky DIY project. Let them see you struggle a little, problem-solve, and keep going. Say things like:

• “Oops, I messed that up! But that’s okay. I’ll try again.”
• “This is harder than I thought, but I’ll keep practicing.”

When kids see that even adults make mistakes and keep learning, they’re more likely to adopt that mindset themselves.

4. Use the Power of “Yet”

The word yet might be small, but it’s powerful. Adding “yet” to a sentence shifts the focus from what a child can’t do right now to what they will be able to do with more practice.

Compare these two statements:

• “I can’t do this.”
• “I can’t do this yet.”

That one simple word encourages kids to keep going instead of giving up. Try using it when your child is struggling with a new skill:

• “You can’t ride your bike without training wheels yet, but you’re getting better every time you practice!”
• “That puzzle is really tricky, huh? You haven’t figured it out yet, but I know you will!”

This tiny shift in language can make a huge difference in your child’s mindset.

Final Thoughts

Helping your child develop a growth mindset takes time, but every small shift makes a difference. Praise effort, embrace mistakes, model persistence, and encourage curiosity—before you know it, you’ll see them tackling challenges with confidence and resilience.

Just remember: it’s not about getting it perfect, it’s about making small changes that help your child see that growth is always possible.