Having a growth mindset is more than just a fad.
When you teach about a growth mindset, you set your preschooler up for success.
This article may contain affiliate links to products that may help you when homeschooling preschool.
What is a Growth Mindset?
Growth mindset is the idea that failure doesn’t define a person.
Failure shows an opportunity to find a way that doesn’t work and a chance to try again.
It is also trusting that your brain is capable of learning new things.
Why is it Important?
Kids with a growth mindset aren’t as quick to give up or view themselves as a failure.
It can lead to a passion for learning, and new challenges are met with open arms.
Kids are more likely to continue with a project or problem until it is solved if they have a growth mindset.
Challenges are embraced, and mistakes are learned from.
Childhood self esteem is so important and so often overlooked.
This article may contain affiliate links to products that may help you when homeschooling preschool.
How to Foster a Growth Mindset in Preschoolers
Praise Effort, Not Results
When a preschooler’s effort is praised, he is more likely to continue working on the project.
When the result is praised, it leads to little ones seeing that the result is the most essential part, not the effort and hard work they put in.
Teach about the Brain Being Like a Muscle
Brains are amazing.
Show little ones the power of their brains and compare it to a muscle.
You need to practice and work your arm muscles if you want strong arms.
To run fast, you must practice running and get strong leg muscles.
The brain is the same way.
Learning to have a growth mindset doesn’t happen overnight.
Work on it daily, and it will be easier to have a growth mindset.
Encourage Persistence
If you see your little one continuing to work on a challenging problem, encourage him!
It’s hard work to continue on a challenging task.
Your encouragement might be just what he needs to continue persisting on his task.
The words you repeatedly say to him will become his inner voice.
Set a Goal
Goal setting is a beautiful thing to start with, littles.
Have him devise a goal, like building a tower 20 blocks high.
Ask him how he is planning on achieving this goal.
Help keep him motivated even if he continues to fail — this is all part of teaching him to have a growth mindset.
Be a Growth Mindset Role Model
Kids mimic you (for better or for worse).
Show him how you have a growth mindset.
Be sure to explicitly tell him that you are continuing to try or tell him your goal.
This shows him that the growth mindset isn’t only a preschool thing but a whole life tool.
Encourage Curiosity
Did you catch him being curious?
Encourage him to continue!
Curiosity is how new ways of doing things are made and how new things are invented.
Being curious will lead to him trying (and inevitably failing) at things.
He will have a chance to use his growth mindset.
Celebrate Mistakes
Mistakes are proof you are trying something new.
It should be celebrated that your little one found a way that didn’t work.
Most people view mistakes as a bad thing.
They are actually the opposite.
Mistakes are lovely and help your brain grow.
Provide Open Ended Challenges
Open-ended challenges are inviting and a perfect way to promote a growth mindset.
Because there is no one set way to do it or no set goal, open-ended challenges allow little ones to decide what they want to do.
This helps build confidence in themselves, broadens their thought processes, and allows them to make decisions.
Little ones need to gain confidence in their abilities before they can start having a growth mindset.
Preschool Growth Mindset
Having a growth mindset doesn’t happen overnight.
Help your little one day by day to become more confident in himself and his abilities by fostering a growth mindset.