20 Awesome Growth Mindset Activities for Kids
As a parent, you want your child to be successful in life. And you are willing to do whatever it takes to help them achieve their dreams. But what if there was a way to help your child become successful without all the stress and pressure? According to the University of Global Massachusetts, resilience and learning are some of the essential qualities your child needs for success.
You may have heard of the concept of a growth mindset and how it can help children achieve more than they thought possible. A growth mindset is all about embracing challenges and learning from failures. It’s about being open to new ideas and constantly evolving and growing as a person. This blog post will discuss 20 awesome growth mindset activities for kids.
20. Negative to Positive
One great way to encourage a growth mindset in kids is to help them reframe their thinking from negative to positive. When your child encounters a problem or setback, try encouraging them to see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. This activity will help kids see that challenges are not something to be avoided but something to be embraced.
For example, you and your little one can write limiting or negative statements on a piece of paper. Then, show them how to change the statement into a more positive and empowering one. The objective is to help kids see that they have the power to control their thoughts and how they react to setbacks.
19. Ask Kids to Draw or Write What they Like About Themselves
When kids appreciate and love themselves, they also believe in their abilities more. Kids need to understand that they are special and unique, and no one else is quite like them in the world. Ask your child to draw or write a list of things they like about themselves. It could be anything from their favorite color to their favorite food. Help them to see that there are many things to love about themselves, and they should appreciate all of their qualities.
18. Encourage Kids to Set Goals
Setting goals is a great way to help kids develop a growth mindset. When kids set goals, they are focused on what they want to achieve and not on the possibility of failure. Help your child to set realistic and achievable goals. Encouraging them to break their goals down into small, manageable steps.
And most importantly, ensure they celebrate their small victories because it is an appreciation of progress. While at it, make the goal-setting process fun and entertaining. For example, you could help them create a chat using pencils and colours. Let them hang this chart somewhere where they will see it every day.
17. Help Kids Develop a Can-Do Attitude
A can-do attitude is a vital part of a growth mindset. When kids believe they can achieve their goals, they are more likely to put in the effort and persevere when faced with challenges. Help your child to develop a can-do attitude by encouraging them to take on new challenges and praising them for their actions.
For instance, if your kid is afraid to ride a bike because they had tried and failed, convince them to get back on the bike and try again. Help them see that their ability to overcome challenges makes them special and unique. According to The RMA, a Can-Do attitude can help your kids overcome various mental obstacles. And it is, without a doubt, what your kids need to develop a growth mindset.
16. Famous Fails
To cultivate a growth mindset in kids, you must show them that everyone experiences failure. No one is exempt from making mistakes or encountering setbacks. Help your child understand that failure is a part of life and that making mistakes is okay. Share stories of famous people who had failed before they became successful.
The ultimate objective is to help kids see that failure is not the end but rather the beginning of something great. Read for them stories of Thomas Edison, J.K. Rowling, and Michael Jordan, who all failed many times before achieving success.
15. Plan of Action
A plan of action is another great activity to help kids develop a growth mindset. This activity will help kids understand that they can achieve anything they set their minds to if they have a plan of action. Help your child to choose something they would like to accomplish, and then assist them in developing a step-by-step plan of how they can achieve it.
For example, if your child wants to learn how to ride a bike, help them to create a plan of action that includes things like getting a bike, practicing in the backyard, and then taking it out on the street.
14. Create Role Playing Scenario
A great way to help kids understand the power of a growth mindset is to create role-playing scenarios. In these scenarios, kids pretend to be someone who has achieved something great despite facing challenges and setbacks. For example, you can have your child pretend to be a famous athlete who overcame an injury to win a big game.
Or you can have them pretend to be a scientist who made a significant discovery after years of research. Role-playing scenarios are a great way to help kids see that anything is possible if you never give up and always keep learning.
13. Praise the Process, Not the Outcome
Another brilliant to help kids develop a growth mindset is to praise the process, not the outcome. In other words, praise your child for their effort and determination, not just their results. For example, if your child gets a good grade on a test, don’t just say, “Great job! You got an A!” Instead, say something like, “Great job! You studied so hard for that test, and it really paid off.” And this approach will help your child understand that the effort they put in, not the results, really matter.
12. Implement the Hard Thing Rule
The hard thing rule is a simple concept that can profoundly impact kids. The rule is simple: every day, everyone in the family must do one hard thing. It could be something like learning a new skill, trying a new dish, or doing something outside their comfort zone. This activity aims to help kids understand that they can do anything they set their minds to, no matter how difficult it may seem. It also fosters perseverance, grit, and a can-do attitude.
10. Goal Setting and Celebrating Small Wins
A growth mindset is about achieving milestones, trusting the process, and being disciplined. There is no better way to cultivate this quality in children than by setting goals and celebrating small wins with them. Please help your child to set a goal, big or small, and then celebrate with them when they reach it. It could be like reading one extra book per week or practicing the piano for 20 minutes daily. Whatever the goal, praise your child for their efforts and encourage them to keep going.
9. Model Behavior
Did you know that kids learn more through observation and emulation? According to Verywell Mind, a massive percentage of learning in kids is observational. Therefore, one of the best things you can do to help your child develop a growth mindset is to model this behavior yourself. Whenever you face a challenge, take some time to talk about it with your child and let them know how you will overcome it.
Model your behavior to show your child that challenges are meant to be conquered, not avoided. And it will be much easier to help them nurture a growth mindset. Be practical, and use exercises to teach your child how to change their perspective from a fixed one to a growth one.
8. Read Entertaining Growth Mindset Books
Kids love stories. And there are many books out there that teach valuable lessons about having a growth mindset. Some of the best books include The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton, and Failure is Not an Option by Gene Kranz. These books are entertaining and help kids understand that mistakes are part of learning. And that anyone can achieve their goals if they never give up.
7. Growth Mindset Questions Challenges
If you want your kids to learn anything, it is paramount to make the process fun. Therefore, instead of lecturing your kids about a growth mindset, try using fun challenges and questions to get them thinking. For example, you could ask them what they would do if they failed a test or didn’t make the soccer team.
The idea is to help them to start thinking about how they would react in these situations and hopefully instill a growth mindset. You can also form a habit of asking them about the difficulties they encounter each day. These questions will encourage them to share their challenges with you and see them as opportunities to learn and grow.
6. Introduce an Accomplishment Jar
Most people, including kids, can keep thinking about their past failures. As a result, they might feel like they are not good enough. Such a loss of confidence might hinder their future success. You can introduce an accomplishment jar to help your kids develop a growth mindset.
Every time they accomplish something, no matter how big or small, they can write it down on paper and put it in the jar. Whenever they see all their accomplishments and feel proud of themselves. Doing this regularly will help your kids to focus on their successes rather than their failures.
5. Reciting Affirmations
Kids love to repeat catchy statements. Unfortunately, if they hear negative information regularly, it registers in their mind. In the long run, this could be detrimental to their growth mindset. To avoid this, periodically recite positive affirmations with your kids.
Some examples of these affirmations include “I am smart, and I can do anything I put my mind to,” “I am a fast learner, and I never give up”, and “I can achieve anything I want if I work hard enough.” Repeating these affirmations to your kids will help them to start believing in themselves and their abilities. Consequently, they will be more likely to develop a growth mindset.
4. Grow-Ga
Grow-Ga is a unique approach to developing a growth mindset in kids. It is a combination of yoga and mindfulness that helps kids focus on the present moment and accept themselves. The main goal of Grow-Ga is to help kids understand that their current situation is not permanent and that they have the power to change it.
If your child is struggling with a fixed mindset, this is an excellent activity to help them develop a growth mindset. According to Kids Yoga Stories, this type of yoga employs different poses and affirmations to nurture a growth mindset.
3. Define Growth Mindset Together
Children are eager to understand the world around them. So, take advantage of this by discussing with your child what a growth mindset is. Explain to them that people with a growth mindset believe they can improve their abilities and talents through hard work and dedication.
On the other hand, people with a fixed mindset believe that their skills and talents are predetermined and cannot be changed. Assist your child in understanding that having a growth mindset is beneficial as it allows them to continue learning and growing. And once you clearly define this discipline together, it will stick with them for a lifetime.
2. Help them Learn About the Brain
Kids are keen on learning how different things work. Hence, helping your kids learn about the brain will be fascinating and enlightening. You can explain to them that the brain is like a muscle that needs to be worked out to grow. When kids learn about the brain, they will start to understand that they have the power to change and improve their abilities. According to The Rooted School, it can unlock “limitless possibilities for their future.”
As a parent, you may feel like sharing your struggles with your kids would be a bad idea. However, this is one of the best things you can do to help them develop a growth mindset. When they see you face difficulties and setbacks, they will perceive these hardships as usual. What’s important is how you respond to these challenges.
And your child to understand that it’s okay to make mistakes and that the most important thing is to learn from them. Showing your kids that you’re not perfect will help them to understand that nobody is perfect and that we all have room for improvement.
Conclusion
As a parent, teacher, or guardian, you want to mentor kids in a way that will benefit them in the long run. Fostering a growth mindset in kids is one of the best things you can do for them, as it will allow them to continue learning and growing throughout their lives. The activities mentioned above are just a few of the many ways you can help kids develop a growth mindset. So, don’t hesitate to try them out and see how they work for your kids. Who knows, you might just be surprised at the results.
You can also read:
- 20 Awesome Mindfulness Activities for Kids
- 20 Awesome Self-Esteem Activities for Kids
- 20 Awesome Gratitude Activities for Kids
- 20 Awesome Problem-Solving Activities for Kids
- 20 Awesome Drawing Activities for Kids
