5 Creative Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset in Your Kids

What is a growth mindset, and why is it important for your kids to learn?

A growth mindset is the notion that skills and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication, and learning from mistakes. It’s the opposite of a fixed mindset, where people believe they’re born with a certain level of talent or intelligence that can’t change. When kids have a growth mindset, they approach challenges with enthusiasm, knowing that even if something is difficult at first, it’s a chance to improve.

It sounds simple, right? But helping kids develop a growth mindset is not always an easy shift, but with the right guidance, you can help them develop this empowering way of thinking.

So, how can you help your child build a growth mindset?

It’s not about praising them for everything or pretending they’re perfect—it’s about helping them bounce back, learn from mistakes, and value the effort they put in.

How do we make that happen? Here are five creative ways to help your kids develop a growth mindset.

1. Celebrate effort, not just results.

Kids are natural performers. They love to show off their achievements, whether it’s acing a test or scoring a goal in soccer. But if all the attention goes to the end result, they might start to believe that effort doesn’t matter—only the outcome does. So, instead of focusing only on the success, celebrate the effort it took to get there as well. This reinforces that effort is a big part of success, and it builds resilience for the next challenge.

2. Turn “failures” into learning moments.

Mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also opportunities in disguise. When your child experiences a setback, whether it’s a bad grade or a fall on the soccer field, don’t rush to fix it or make excuses. Instead, ask them what they learned from the situation or what they could do differently next time.

Turning mistakes into learning opportunities helps kids understand that failure isn’t the end—just a step on the way to improvement.

3. Encourage problem-solving.

Kids love to ask for answers when they’re stuck, but instead of giving them the solution right away, try guiding them toward discovering it themselves. If they’re struggling with a puzzle or a tricky math problem, ask questions like, “What’s another way you could think about this?” or “What do you think would happen if you tried it this way?”

4. Surround them with growth-minded role models.

You might think your child only looks up to celebrities or athletes, but the truth is, they’re watching you closely. Kids learn a lot by observing the way adults around them handle challenges and setbacks. If you model a growth mindset in your own life, it will rub off on them.

For example, when you encounter a challenge at work or at home, talk about it openly with your kids. “I’m struggling with this project, but I’m going to keep working at it. It might take some time, but I’ll get there,” you might say. By sharing your own mindset with them, you show that even adults face difficulties—and that with effort and persistence, they can overcome them too.

5. Praise their perseverance, not perfection.

It’s tempting to praise your child when they get something perfect, but it’s even more valuable to praise them when they show perseverance, especially in the face of challenges. Even when things aren’t perfect.

You might say, “I can see how hard you worked to get better at this. That’s what’s important. You didn’t give up!” This helps them understand that success doesn’t have to be flawless. They just need to grow and improve over time, which is inevitable as they grow.

Be patient and stay consistent.

Developing a growth mindset doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s totally okay. It’s about small, consistent efforts to show kids that mistakes are opportunities and that effort leads to growth. By creating an environment where sticking with things, learning from mistakes, and facing challenges head-on are just part of everyday life, you’ll help your child build a mindset that will benefit them forever.

As they grow, they’ll tackle setbacks with confidence, seeing every challenge to learn and get better.

Isn’t it rewarding when you start to see them tackle the world with an “I can do this” attitude?

A mindset as strong as your building blocks!