As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children isn’t a talent, a subject they master quickly, or even a perfect test score. It’s the belief that they can grow, improve, and overcome challenges with effort. This belief is known as a growth mindset.
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck coined the term growth mindset, which has reshaped how educators and parents think about intelligence and ability. While a fixed mindset suggests that talents are innate and unchangeable (“you’re either good at math or you’re not”), a growth mindset emphasizes that skills can be developed through practise, persistence, and learning from mistakes.
And here’s the exciting part: research shows that children who adopt a growth mindset don’t just believe in improvement, they actually improve more than their peers with a fixed mindset.
So how can parents help nurture this powerful outlook at home? Keep reading to find out.
Five Practical Growth Mindset Tips for Parents
1. Praise Effort, Not Labels
Instead of calling your child smart, gifted, or brilliant, focus your praise on qualities like effort, persistence, and resilience. For example:
- I love how hard you worked on that.
- It’s great that you didn’t give up even after making mistakes.
Real life example: Your two children recorded a song together, but it took 10 tries to get it right. Make sure to highlight their persistence, not just the final product. That reinforcement builds confidence in the process, not just the outcome.
2. Be a Growth Mindset Role Model
Kids are always listening, even when we don’t realize it. If you often say things like, “I can’t cook” or “I’m terrible at math,” you may unintentionally send the message that abilities are fixed.
Instead, reframe your language and theirs by adding the word “yet.”
- “I can’t solve this problem… yet.”
- “You’re not able to play that chord… yet.”
This small shift signals that growth is always possible.
3. Encourage Challenges, Not Shortcuts
It’s tempting to let kids stick with what they already know because it feels easy and rewarding. But real growth happens when they stretch themselves.
For example, working through a tough math problem, even if the answer isn’t perfect, helps build problem-solving skills more than breezing through worksheets full of questions they already understand.
Help your child see challenges not as threats, but as opportunities to strengthen their brain.
4. Apply Growth Mindset Beyond School
A growth mindset isn’t limited to academics; it applies to sports, music, friendships, and even everyday life.
- Missed a basketball shot? Keep practicing.
- Struggling with a guitar chord? Try again tomorrow.
- Felt nervous speaking up in class? Discuss small steps to build confidence.
When kids see mistakes as a normal part of learning in all areas, they carry that resilience with them everywhere.
5. Teach Them to Learn from Others, Not Envy Them
It’s natural for kids to compare themselves to peers, but envy can hold them back. Instead, help them reframe comparison into curiosity: “What can I learn from that person’s success?”
Often, what looks like natural talent is really hidden practice, persistence, and effort. By highlighting this, you’re teaching your child that achievement is built, not bestowed.
Growth Mindset for Parents and Kids
Fostering a growth mindset in children doesn’t mean shielding them from frustration or failure. It means reframing those experiences as stepping stones to progress. When kids learn that their abilities grow through effort and perseverance, they develop the confidence to face challenges in school, sports, friendships, and life.
And here’s a bonus: the more you model growth mindset thinking for your child, the more likely you are to embrace it in your own life, too.
Need help supporting your child’s growth mindset? Oxford Learning can help. Our programs are designed to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong learning skills.
