Let’s face it: parenting can be a rollercoaster ride, and nurturing the right mindset in our children can make all the difference in the journey to raise confident children.
First off, let’s talk about what these mindsets actually mean – without making it sound like we’re trying to crack a crazy complicated code. Picture this: your little one comes to you, slumps onto the couch, and says, “I’m just not good at math.” That right there? That’s a classic example of a fixed mindset. It’s the belief that our abilities, intelligence, and talents are just fixed traits. Having a fixed mindset is like being stuck in quicksand. It’s that voice saying, “I can’t do this,” or “I’m just not smart enough.”
Now, imagine a slightly different scenario. Your child comes in, plops down next to you, and says, “Math was tough today, but I think I just need to find a different way to tackle it.” Voilà! That’s the growth mindset speaking – the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Children are like sponges—they absorb everything we feed them. By fostering a growth mindset, we’re helping them to bounce back from setbacks and thrive in the face of adversity. It’s like planting seeds of positivity and watching them bloom.
Why does this matter, you ask? Well, fostering a growth mindset can empower your children to take on challenges with a can-do attitude, even when the going gets tough. It’s like teaching them to ride a bike. Initially, there might be a lot of wobbling, maybe a scraped knee or two, but with encouragement and the belief that they can improve, they’ll be zooming around in no time. And just like that, with a growth mindset, they learn to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see effort as the path to mastery.
It’s about celebrating progress, no matter how small, and emphasizing the journey over the destination.
This sounds great but what does this actually mean? How do I do this with my children?
Have you ever encountered the magical, yet often overlooked, power of the word “YET“? It’s a small word, but boy, does it pack a punch, especially when it comes to raising resilient and optimistic children. This is such a powerful concept that you can teach your younger and older children to adapt. Hey, you never know, sometimes we adults need this reminder as well.
Younger Children:
For the little ones, introducing “yet” can be both fun and impactful. If your five-year-old is struggling to tie their shoelaces, they’re getting frustrated and they’re on the verge of giving up. I know you know this feeling all too well. Here’s where “yet” comes in like a superhero. By simply saying, “You haven’t learned to tie your shoelaces yet,” you’re opening a door to a world where not being able to do something is only temporary. They’ll know that it’s not a bad thing, it’s just something that they need to learn.
Suddenly, their little faces light up with determination. I’ve seen it happen with my daughter. And when they finally do master those tricky loops and knots, they’ll feel so proud because they overcame the challenge that they once had.
Tweens and Teens:
Now, let’s talk about our tween and teens. You know, when they think that they already know it all and just telling them yet isn’t going to work. So let’s say your child looks defeated because they didn’t score any of the goals that they attempted at their last soccer game. They’re upset with themselves but wouldn’t dare tell you that they’re not good at soccer.
This is where you’ll have to do a little digging and ask how they’re feeling. What did they think about the game? About their performance. They’re older so they should be able to articulate their feelings a lot better than your four-year-old.
Once you’ve drilled down, you can now pull out your secret weapon “yet”. You can turn “I didn’t score a goal” to “You didn’t score a goal yet”. What can we do to help you score a goal? What are the steps that are needed to score more?
You’re not dismissing their feelings and the facts but you’re giving them hope. While setting up the game plan for extra practices or doing drills to get their kick perfected, you’re giving your children the opportunity to get better. It’s showing them that with a growth mindset, some strategy and effort, they can accomplish a lot more in life. Setbacks are simply a bump in the road that they can get over.
Introducing “yet” into our parenting vocabulary is more than just about being positive. It’s about nurturing a growth mindset in our children and showing them that learning and growing is a lifelong journey. It will encourage them to ask questions, be curious, don’t just go with the flow and never shy away from challenges.
Also, by praising their efforts and not just the outcomes, you are encouraging them to see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow from. Remember, mistakes are ok. It’s an opportunity to learn.
And hey, let’s be real mama, it’s a pretty good reminder for us too. It’s perfectly okay to admit that we’re figuring things out alongside our little ones. Researching, asking questions, deciding to not just follow what our parents did, and engaging with content like this (props to you!) are fantastic ways to model that learning never ends.
Resources
There are a lot of books on the market that will allow you to go further on the topic of having a growth mindset. “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers is a great book that you can read to your child. As well as “The Magical Yet” by Angela DiTerlizzi. This is a great book that you can read with your children and have a great discussion afterwards.
As for TV shows, you can find curiosity at every corner when it comes to children’s shows. Our favourites are Curious George and Bluey (to name a few). The amazing thing about these shows is that the children explore their world with no restrictions. They use their imagination and stay curious. These are skills and habits that we want our children to practice well into adulthood.
Lastly, if you’d like to have a FREE PDF that has prompts that will help you transform your child’s fixed mindset statements into growth mindset statements, you can get it here. This will be a visual reminder for you and your child that they can get through any challenge that they face.
And if you ever find yourself doubting or struggling, just remember: you’re not alone. If you’ve got questions or thoughts, or just need a virtual high five, drop them in the comments below. Let’s make this journey a shared adventure. After all, it’s in exchanging our stories and solutions that we find strength and support. Let’s keep the conversation going and support each other through this wild ride called parenting.
Together, let’s water the seeds of a growth mindset and watch our children bloom into confident, resilient individuals. Here’s to raising the next generation of innovators, dreamers, doers, and believers.
You’ve got this mama! 🌟
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Check out the entire video to help your children become confident adults.
The topics covered in this video are:
- Two types of mindset?
- A new way to think about goal-setting
- How you can help your children have a mindset shift
- The importance of curiosity in our children
- How you can benefit from this mindset hack as well
- Resources to help you go further in this topic
Don’t forget to download your free resource.
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Links mentioned in this video:
- Mindset Statement FREE Download
- Simple Habit For Your Children Blog
- I am Enough
- The Magical Yet
- Curious George
- Bluey
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