5 Ways to Foster a Growth Mindset in Your Child: Practical Strategies for Busy Parents

As parents, you have a crucial role in helping your child develop a growth mindset—the belief that abilities can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. A growth mindset contrasts with a fixed mindset, where one believes their abilities are static and unchangeable. When children adopt a growth mindset, they are more resilient, more likely to embrace challenges, and less afraid of failure.

Here are 5 simple, science-informed strategies you can integrate into your daily life to promote a growth mindset in your child:

1. Praise the Effort, Not the Outcome

It’s tempting to tell your child, “You’re so smart!” when they succeed. Research shows that praising effort, rather than intelligence, encourages a growth mindset. When you acknowledge effort, you’re teaching your child that success comes from persistence, not just natural ability¹. This helps them learn that when things are difficult, their effort can lead to improvement².

Try this: Instead of praising results with statements like “You’re smart,” or an encouraging “Well done,” try, “Well done, you must have worked hard on that!” 

This small change teaches your child to value effort, which will help them persevere in the face of challenges.

2. Teach That Mistakes Are Essential for Learning

Children naturally get frustrated when they make mistakes, but it’s important to help them see these moments as opportunities to grow. Let your child know that everyone makes mistakes and that it’s a key part of learning³.

Try this: Help your child see mistakes as normal and valuable. Reassure them with, “Everyone makes mistakes. It’s how we learn and grow!”

This reinforces the idea that mistakes aren’t failures but important steps on the road to improvement.

Better yet, acknowledge their mistakes (or failed attempts) even when they succeed without getting frustrated. Next time they complete a task successfully, after acknowledging the output and their effort say “I bet you had to try a few times to get it right/looking just like that,” or ask “did you have to get a few bad ideas out first to get to this one that you are happy with?”

3. Encourage Problem-Solving and Curiosity

Rather than solving problems for your child, encourage them to think through solutions on their own. This approach promotes independence and helps your child develop the belief that they can tackle difficult tasks with persistence and creativity⁴. 

Try this: Next time your child faces a tough problem, ask them, “What do you think we should try next?”

This simple prompt helps build problem-solving skills and confidence and reinforces the idea that challenges are not roadblocks but puzzles to solve with effort.

Build on the momentum you’ve created by normalising bad ideas and decisions. Acknowledge the challenge then say, “Have you worked through all possible ways to solve this yet?

4. Model a Growth Mindset in Your Own Life

Children are incredibly observant, and they often mirror the behaviours they see. When you encounter challenges, let your child see how you approach them. For instance, if you’re learning something new, talk about your process—the effort it takes, the challenges you face, and the small successes along the way. By showing them that adults also encounter and overcome difficulties with persistence, you reinforce the idea that learning and growth never stop⁵.

Try this: Talk about your own challenges in a way that highlights effort and persistence. For example, “I’m learning something new at work—it’s hard, but I’m improving with practice and patience.”

5. The Power of “Yet”

When your child says, “I can’t do this,” try adding the word “yet.” Saying “You can’t do it yet” reminds them that their current struggles are temporary and that with practice, they can improve¹.

Try this: Add “yet” when your child expresses frustration: “You can’t do it yet, but with time, effort and patience, you’ll get there!”

This small but powerful word shifts the focus from what they can’t do to what they will be able to do with effort.

Final Thoughts

Life as a parent is busy, and it can be impractical to break from routine to try new things. The good news is that promoting a growth mindset doesn’t require extra time or special activities—it can be seamlessly woven into your daily conversations with your child. By encouraging effort, normalising mistakes, and modelling persistence, you’re helping your child develop a mindset that will equip them to embrace challenges and continue learning throughout life.

References:

¹ Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
² Mueller, C. M., & Dweck, C. S. (1998). Praise for intelligence can undermine children's motivation and performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(1), 33.
³ Haimovitz, K., & Dweck, C. S. (2016). What predicts children's fixed and growth intelligence mindsets? Not their parents' views of intelligence but their parents' views of failure. Psychological Science, 27(6), 859-869.
⁴ Dweck, C. S. (2017). The Journey to Children's Mindsets—and Beyond. Child Development Perspectives, 11(2), 139-144.
⁵ Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Mindsets that promote resilience: When students believe that personal characteristics can be developed. Educational Psychologist, 47(4), 302-314.