Understanding Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset theory is gaining popularity at St Ann’s, and it’s essential to understand what it is, its benefits, and how you can encourage your child to adopt this mindset.

What is Mindset?

Mindset refers to the mental attitude that shapes how we interpret and respond to various situations.

Fixed Mindset

• Definition: Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that intelligence and abilities are static traits that cannot be changed.                                                                                                                                                  Characteristics: 
• They often give up easily on challenging tasks or avoid them altogether. 
• Their focus is primarily on outcomes rather than the effort put into achieving them.
• They view talent and giftedness as permanent attributes that dictate future success                                                                                                                                              

Growth Mindset

• Definition: In contrast, those with a growth mindset believe that intelligence and abilities can be developed through persistence, effort, and learning from mistakes.                                                                    Characteristics:
• They recover quickly from failures and setbacks.
• They embrace challenges and view effort as a pathway to improvement.
• They understand that consistent hard work and learning can strengthen their cognitive abilities, likening the brain to a muscle that grows stronger with exercise.

Why Develop a Growth Mindset?

Cultivating a growth mindset can enhance emotional well-being. Children with a fixed mindset often feel inadequate when facing challenges, leading to feelings of helplessness and low self-esteem.

Research indicates that children who recognise that their brains can grow tend to perform better academically. They view effort as a means to enhance their abilities and see failure as a natural part of the learning journey.

Growth Mindset at St Ann’s

At St Ann’s, our staff actively integrate growth mindset principles into daily interactions with children. We encourage pupils to use setbacks as motivation, celebrate effort over results, and embrace challenges with pride in their attempts. This approach has proven to increase motivation and engagement in learning, fostering a culture of improvement.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset in Your Child

1. Set High Expectations
   Encourage your child to tackle challenging tasks, demonstrating your belief in their potential to succeed.

2. Encourage Resilience
   Help them understand that struggling with a task signifies their brain making new connections. Frame challenges as opportunities for learning rather than failures.

3. Celebrate Mistakes
   Teach your child that mistakes are valuable learning experiences. Share stories of famous individuals who faced setbacks before achieving success.

4. Criticise Supportively
   Guide your child to view constructive criticism as helpful feedback for improvement rather than a personal attack.

5. Use Growth Mindset Language
   When praising or questioning your child, incorporate language that emphasises effort, perseverance, and the value of learning from experiences. Encourage your child to also use Growth Mindset language.