Whitmore Bolles School Social Worker

Dearborn Public Schools

Fostering a Growth Mindset

on October 31, 2018

Our students learn at different speeds and in different ways.  Because of that, sometimes its easy for a child to get discouraged when they see their peers developing certain skills faster than they are.  Students may feel more inclined to give up on learning a skill when they have learned to believe that our intelligence and talents are predisposed — either we were born to be skilled in certain areas, or we weren’t.

Having a growth mindset means believing that with work, practice, and perseverance you can improve in any skill.  Research has shown that when kids believe there is a chance for improvement, they are more likely to grow and develop in skills they find challenging.

Some ways you can help your child develop a growth mindset:

  1. Pay attention and praise your kids for their hard work as well as their ability to rise to a challenge, be persistent, and learn from their mistakes
  2. Be a growth mindset role model: When possible, show your kids that you work hard and persevere at tasks that are challenging for you
  3. Balance giving praise with discussing ways in which your kids can continue to grow and improve

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