by Samidha Raj | Samidha works as part of the content marketing team at PlanetSpark, a platform that provides online classes to K8 learners on “New Age Skills” like English Communication, Public Speaking, Grammar, Creative Writing, Debating, etc. She is passionate about empowering the youth by educating parents about the importance of 21st-century skills. In her free time, you can find her watching documentaries or animated movies and organizing game nights (board games are her thing)!
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What is Growth Mindset?
In 2015, Carol Dweck, an American Psychologist, said, “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point.” Today, this view has become common parlance to create a love for learning in kids and a spirit that is essential for great accomplishments.
For example, if a group of young learners is given a tough problem to solve, some of them may say, “This is such a challenging problem, I’m having fun solving it” or “I can work hard and solve this problem correctly next time.” The rest of them may exclaim with disappointment, “I’m not that intelligent to solve such difficult problems!” It’s because the former set of learners believe that their abilities can grow through hard work. They have a passion for stretching themselves, especially when it is not going well. This is the hallmark of a growth mindset. The other learners that have a fixed mindset hinders their growth.
Why is It Important to Encourage in Kids?
Teaching a growth mindset to children early on, helps in their holistic development. It is a powerful thought process. It allows a child to understand that talents and abilities can be improved through persistence. Developing a growth mindset in children promotes:
- A Relaxed State of Mind
A growth mindset for kids is great at alleviating stress. With numerous assignments, exams, and extra-curricular activities comes stress. But a growth mindset helps them manage their stress levels by being more resilient and calm.
- A Love for Learning
Kids with a growth mindset are not afraid to try new things because they see failure as a chance to improve themselves. This positive perception towards challenges gives rise to curiosity in children. This, in turn, fuels their love for learning and solving any problem while having fun.
- Better Grades in School
Many studies show that kids with a growth mindset strive to learn and are self-motivated to study while having fun. They train their brain to work hard enough to perform their best during exams. This results in an improvement in their grades in school.
- Lifelong Learning
A growth mindset can help your child understand that learning is a lifelong journey and that failure is a part of this journey. It helps them accept their failures, uncover their potential, break records and discover their true strengths and weaknesses.
- Higher Self-Esteem and Morale
Teaching a growth mindset to your kids helps them build confidence in their own abilities and develops self-respect. It prevents underestimating themselves and enjoying their victorious moments with humility, at the same time. With this, your child will know that there is always room for learning something new.
- Seamless Change Management
In case of a change in their school, home, or living situation; a growth mindset can help kids cope better. If a kid is not open to change, it can hamper their productivity and will to learn. Whereas, a growth mindset guides a child towards the belief that they can develop themselves with the change and continue to perform well.
- Self-awareness and Regulation
Being aware of one’s own thoughts, feelings, behaviors and having the ability to manage those well, is called self-regulation. The mindset that a kid carries is crucial in regulating their emotional state. This promotes personal growth to achieve the goals that they set for themselves.
The Takeaway
The advantages of a growth mindset for kids are fascinating. Their thoughts can shape their world and carve their path towards success. If your child believes that they have the potential, then it will become easier for them to accomplish great things in life. It is all about the magic of realizing that everything is possible!
