What Is a Growth Mindset?

A Helpful Guide for Parents and Carers

Understanding the Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can develop through effort, good strategies, and learning from mistakes. Children with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to grow rather than signs of failure.

This idea was popularised by psychologist Dr Carol Dweck, whose research showed that the way we think about learning can shape how successful we become.

Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset

Children (and adults!) can have different attitudes toward learning. Here’s a simple comparison:

• Growth Mindset:
  “I can’t do this… yet!”
  “Mistakes help me learn.”
  “If I try a different way, I might get it!”
• Fixed Mindset:
  “I’m just not good at this.”
  “I give up.”
  “If I fail, it means I’m not smart.”

Helping children shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset makes a big difference in how they approach school and life.

Why It Matters for Your Child

Children with a growth mindset are more likely to:

• Try harder when faced with challenges
• Bounce back from mistakes
• Be curious and eager to learn new things
• Feel proud of effort, not just outcomes

This mindset builds resilience, confidence, and a love of learning—all key ingredients for success in school and beyond.

How You Can Help at Home

Here are some simple ways to encourage a growth mindset:

• Praise effort, not talent:
  Say things like “I’m proud of how hard you worked,” instead of “You’re so clever!”
• Talk about the power of “yet”:
  Remind your child they may not be able to do something yet—but they can learn!
• Celebrate mistakes:
  Share your own mistakes and what you learned. Let your child know it’s okay to get things wrong.
• Encourage problem-solving:
  Ask questions like “What could you try next?” or “What have you learned?”

Helpful Phrases to Use

Try swapping these common phrases:

Instead of…	Try saying…
“You’re so smart!”	“You worked really hard on that!”
“That’s too hard.”	“This might take some time and effort.”
“You failed.”	“What did you learn from this experience?”
“You can’t do this.”	“You can’t do this yet.”

In a Nutshell

A growth mindset helps children believe in themselves, keep going when things get tricky, and enjoy the process of learning. With a little encouragement and the right words, parents and carers can help children build a strong, resilient mindset that lasts a lifetime.