Potential and Power of Growth Mindset
As an Early Childhood Professional I have realized that my key role is to be a mirror image and maintain a growth mindset. In the eyes of a child, they embrace the legacy of the people in their lives. Maintaining a growth mindset is the key to building the next generation one child at a time.
Carol S. Dweck, PH.D a world’s leading researcher in the field of personality, social psychology, and developmental psychology. Carol wrote a book, Mindset, The New Psychology of Success. In the book she shared specific strategies of building a growth mindset in children to help them fulfill their full potential.
Every word and action from parent to child sends a message. Tomorrow, listen to what you say to your kids and tune in to the message you’re sending. Are the messages that say: You have permanent traits and I’m judging them? Or are they messages that say: You’re developing person and I’m interested in your development?
How do you use praise? Remember that praising children’s intelligence or talent, tempting as it is, sends a fixed-mindset message. It makes their confidence and motivation more fragile. Instead, try to focus on the process they used – their strategies, efforts, or choices. Practice working the process praise into your interactions with children.
Watch and listen to yourself carefully when your child messes up. Remember that constructive criticism is feedback that helps the child understand how to fix something. It’s not feedback that labels or simply excuses the child. At the end of each day, write down the constructive criticism and the process praise you’ve given your kids.
Parents often set goals their children can work toward. Remember that having innate talent is not a goal. Expanding skills and knowledge is. Pay careful attention to the goals you set for your children.
If you’re a teacher, remember that lowering standards doesn’t raise students’ self-esteem. But neither does raising standards without giving you a way
to set high standards and have student reach the. Try presenting topics in a growth mindset gives you a way to get high standards and have students achieve them. Try presenting topics in a growth framework and giving students process feedback. I think you will like what happens.
Our mind is a powerful tool and constantly is monitoring and interpreting. Mindset is a current dialogue inside your head. To maintain a growth mindset it is vital embrace the idea that your brain is like a muscle which changes and gets stronger when it is used. As the most precious resource to your child be your best and build your growth mindset and mirror to your child. The time invested is priceless!
- Jackie
