“Talent isn’t passed down in genes; it’s passed down in the mindset.”
— Dr. Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology, Stanford University, USA
Do you have a child who is frustrated easily? A child that gives up whenever the work is challenging? A child that just doesn’t believe in herself? It is time for your child to switch to growth mindset activities for children. Help her become more confident, have better self-esteem, learn to persevere, and improve her problem-solving skills.
As a busy working mom, you are constantly juggling between work deadlines, school runs, shopping, taking care of the family, and trying to squeeze in a moment of “me time.” It feels like you are pulled in countless directions at once! Amid all this chaos, there’s one thing you never want to compromise: raise a happy, confident, and successful child.
The good news is that you don’t need hours of extra time or a parenting degree to help your child thrive. The secret lies in encouraging growth mindset activities for children. This simple mindset shift can transform your child’s life, and the best part? It’s easy to incorporate these activities into your daily routine, even when you’re pressed for time.
So let’s dive into understanding what a growth mindset is all about, why it’s so important, and how you can start fostering this powerful way of thinking in your little one.
What are growth mindset activities for children?
We all have beliefs about our abilities and potential. These beliefs are part of our growth mindset, which helps determine the actions we take—or don’t take—as we go through life.
Growth mindset activities allow us to grow our intelligence and thinking capabilities through practice and applying the right strategies. A fixed mindset is a belief that our intelligence and abilities are more or less locked in, remain static, and are unchangeable.
You can imagine the impact these two mindsets can have on children and adults. The ramifications it can have on motivation and success. Growth mindset activities for children are game-changing for your child. But how?
A child with a growth mindset does not back down when things get tough. She is the one who sees a challenge and thinks, “I can figure this out.” She learns to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process, bounces back from setbacks, and keeps going, no matter what. And let’s be real—in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, being able to adapt, learn, and grow is like having access to a superpower.
When your child realizes that she is not stuck with the abilities she was born with but can build upon and improve upon them. She starts to see effort as the path to mastery, not something to avoid. She becomes more resilient, more curious, and more confident in her ability to face whatever life throws
her way.
Now that we’ve unpacked what fixed mindset and growth mindset for children are to some extent, let’s explore why they become such a big factor for your child — not just in school, but in life as well!
Is a pure fixed mindset and growth mindset possible?
Don’t confuse a growth mindset with being flexible or having a positive outlook. It is also wrong to think that a growth mindset is about praising and rewarding effort. One cannot possibly have a pure growth mindset either. Everyone is a mixture of fixed mindsets and growth mindsets, and this mix continually evolves with experience.
Bear in mind, that praising a child’s intelligence harms motivation and it harms performance. Intelligence-based praise orients the child towards the fixed mindset — it suggests that intelligence is of primary importance rather than the effort through which intelligence can be transformed.
Instead praise effort, never talent. Encourage positive learning attitudes in your child. Teach her to see all challenges as learning opportunities rather than threats. Experiments from around the world have shown that when parents adopt this approach and stick to it, the results are remarkable.
Turn your child into a lifelong learner.
Imagine this: Your child is sitting at the kitchen table, struggling with a math problem that she just can’t seem to solve. For a child with a fixed mindset, this is where the frustration starts to build. She might even begin to say, “I’m just not good at math,” and shut down. But for a child with a “can-do” mindset, this is when the magic begins.
The child who embraces fixed mindsets and growth mindset activities for children starts to see tough tasks as opportunities rather than roadblocks. It’s like giving the child a treasure map and telling her there’s gold to be found, so start digging! Developing resilience in children.
A growth mindset transforms challenges from something to dread into something to get excited about. Suddenly, those tricky math problems don’t remain struggles — they become puzzles that need to be solved. The exercise turns into an adventure that will fuel her curiosity and creativity.
The best part? The benefits of growth mindset activities for children don’t stop at math or school. It spills over into everything they do. Whether it’s mastering a new skill, picking up a hobby, or even tackling real-world problems, children learn to approach life with an open, curious mind, ready to engage fully with whatever comes their way.
It’s like planting a seed of lifelong learning that will grow and blossom in ways you can’t even imagine yet.
Benefits of a growth mindset transform your child’s learning to excel.
At the end of the day, you want your child to do well in school and life. Here’s where things get interesting. Research by Dr. Carol Dweck, the leading mind behind the concept of growth mindset activities, has shown that children who adopt this way of thinking perform better academically.
This might trigger the thought, “How can a mindset possibly affect grades?” Simply put, a child with a growth mindset isn’t just focused on getting the right answer; she is focused on learning. She understands that making mistakes and asking questions — even if they seem “dumb” to others — are all part of the learning process. The benefits of growth mindset activities for children become evident as it’ll seem like she has unlocked a secret that most people don’t know: every wrong answer is just a stepping stone to the right one.
When your child isn’t afraid of looking “dumb,” she will become more willing to take risks. Dive deeper into subjects that challenge her, and begin to ask the questions that lead to real understanding. Over time, this approach leads to better comprehension, more effective study habits, and yes — higher grades. So, while other children might be stressing about the big test, your child will be busy mastering the material, confident that her effort will pay off.
Setting your child up for life
Fostering growth mindset activities in your child is one of the best gifts you can give your child. Life isn’t just about passing tests with flying colors; it’s about navigating the ups and downs, learning from every experience, and becoming the best version of oneself. A growth mindset and developing resilience in children is the key to unlocking that potential.
Apart from this, once your child understands that learning something new means making mistakes along the way, she will stop seeing mistakes as failures. Instead, she will start to see them as part of a process. This mindset will free her from the fear of failure and will allow her to focus on what matters—growing, improving, and chasing her dreams without being held back by self-doubt.
The benefits of growth mindset activities will set your child on a path where success isn’t just about what she can achieve, but about who she can become in the process. Stepping into adulthood with the confidence to tackle any challenge, the resilience to bounce back from any setback; and the wisdom to keep learning and growing no matter where life takes her.
Children learn much of their behavior and attitudes from observing the adults in their lives. So try not to brush your mistakes under the carpet. Showing your struggles and sharing the challenges you overcame will be a lifelong gift to your child. Because when your child sees how you went about facing your life crises, she will be better equipped to use such events in her own life as springboards to solve her problems.
Be careful how you praise your child.
Picture this: It’s a rainy Saturday, and your child has just spent an hour building the tallest Lego tower you’ve ever seen. Naturally, it will fill your heart with pride. But here’s the thing: while praising your child to the sky will feel good in the moment, it might not be doing your child any long-term good.
Instead, try focusing on and talking about her effort and problem-solving skills. Reinforce the idea that hard work and persistence are what lead to success—not just innate talent. Studies show that children who are praised for their effort rather than their intelligence are more likely to take on challenges and less likely to shy away from things that don’t come easily.
Build growth mindset activities on past successes.
Your child is just about ready to burst into tears because she is struggling with doing something for the first time, whether it’s diving into the pool from a high board or learning to tie her shoelaces. In these moments, it’s easy to feel fear or experience helplessness. But here’s a trick: remind her of a time when she overcame a challenge.
Say something like, “Remember when we took the trainer wheels off your bike? It was tough at first, but after practicing, you really learned to ride well!” Or, “You didn’t know how to button up your shirt, but with a little practice, you really nailed it!”
By drawing on your child’s own past experiences, you’re showing her that a little more effort leads to progress. This is a powerful way to boost confidence and remind a child that she has tackled difficult stuff before—and that she can do it again.
Explaining what a growth mindset is to a child
Here’s a fun way to explain what a positive growth mindset is to a child: tell her that the brain is like a muscle. Just like lifting weights and making her arms strong, tackling tricky problems will help make her brain work smarter and grow stronger. This idea will make an abstract concept of growth feel tangible and easy to achieve.
The next time you notice that your child is struggling with something, say, “Remember, practice is what makes problems easy to solve. It is also the best way to make the brain grow stronger!” This is how challenges become a fun workout for her mind. A difficult task turns into a game, where the prize is a stronger, smarter brain. Encourage positive mindset learning activities for your child.
Who wouldn’t like to have that?!
Learning from our mistakes
Let’s face it—we all make mistakes, but what if you could change the way your child sees them? Instead of viewing mistakes as failures, teach her to see mistakes as stepping stones to success. After all, everyone stumbles a couple of times before getting it right.
Inspire your child to ask questions and persist with what she is doing. “What did I do wrong? Why didn’t it work? What if I try doing it differently?” Help your child develop a sense of curiosity and resilience.
By teaching her that life’s little setbacks are just part of the journey. And that there’s always something valuable to learn, even when things don’t go as planned. Always encourage positive learning attitudes in your child.
Set the bar high: Encourage positive learning attitudes for children.
Don’t lower your expectations. The most effective way of helping children succeed and boost their self-esteem is to do the opposite. Setting high expectations shows your child that you believe in her ability to rise to the occasion. This show of confidence in her abilities will be incredibly important and encourage a positive learning attitude, empowering your child.
This doesn’t mean you are setting your child up for failure by giving tasks that are way above her abilities. Far from it. It is about finding that sweet spot—a challenge that’s tricky but achievable with effort.
Encourage positive learning attitudes for children. When your child sees that you believe she can handle tough challenges, she will start to believe it too. It’s a powerful way to build her self-confidence and inspire her to have a growth mindset.
A growth mindset activity won’t let you give up
Encouraging growth mindset activities is like instilling in your child the belief that challenges are fun and exciting. This can be very motivating, especially when a child feels frustrated or is ready to throw in the towel.
Whenever your child says, “I can’t do it,” the right response to this will be to drop whatever you are doing and chip in by saying, “Let’s figure it out together.” This little intervention might help shift her focus. Move from what she can’t do on her own to what she may be able to achieve together. Shift the focus to help your child overcome obstacles and keep going, even when things get tough.
But is it worth the effort? Absolutely! Promoting growth mindset activities for children isn’t just about helping your child succeeds in school or sports. It’s about teaching your child essential life skills — becoming resilient and tenacious. Bouncing back despite setbacks.
Remember, we’re all work in progress! So embrace the outlined principles and set a powerful example for your child, showing her that a growth mindset is not only good for today but will be great for the future. A lifelong journey of learning and growth.
How My Gym can be of help
We know balancing work and home life can be challenging, but we’re here to help! At My Gym, we understand the importance of keeping your little one engaged and learning, even while you’re at work.
One great way we support your child’s development is through fun and interactive physical activities, both solo and in groups. This not only gives young children a chance to play and exercise but also fosters valuable social skills as they interact with their peers. They learn to actively carry out mindful communication naturally, and learn how to nurture and build a relationship in the moment.
Our age-appropriate growth mindset activities for children and enrichment programs are designed to build resilience and help children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills from an early age. Setting them up for success in all areas of life, both now and in the future.
Interested in learning more? Swing by any of our My Gym centers at your convenience, with your little one in tow. Whether she is as young as 6 months or a bustling preschooler, there’s something here for every child. Let her learn and grow through observation and imitation—it’s never too early to start!
We can’t wait to welcome you and your child to the My Gym family. See you soon!
Please note: My Gym classrooms are thoroughly sanitized every day — the tables, the chairs, the children’s activity stations and everything else the child might touch is made safe and clean. Whenever required, children are encouraged to wear a mask, wash their hands frequently, and practice social distancing as well.
