Nurturing a Growth Mindset: Challenges are a chance to grow
Think back to when you were a child.
What did your inner voice sound like when something felt difficult?
Was it encouraging, “I’ll keep trying,” or critical and doubtful, saying, “I’m just not good at this”?
As humans, we naturally notice what might go wrong. This instinct helped keep us safe in situations where survival depended on assessing risk and spotting danger quickly. But in modern life, that same instinct can lead to unhelpful self-criticism.
This is where a growth mindset comes in.
What is a growth mindset?
A growth mindset recognises that learning takes effort, mistakes are part of the process, and abilities develop over time. It isn’t about avoiding struggle or pretending things are easy.
A growth mindset sounds like:
“This is hard, but I will keep trying.”
Instead of seeing difficulty as failure, it's about viewing struggles as part of learning.
Why does this matter for children?
Psychologist Professor Carol Dweck’s research has shown that children who believe their abilities can be developed are more likely to persevere when tasks become challenging.
In classroom studies, children were given a task they could easily complete, followed by one that grew harder. Children who were encouraged to value effort and learning were more willing to continue, problem-solve, and persist when the task became difficult. Children who hadn’t faced challenges, or who believed their abilities were fixed, were more likely to give up.
Learning to cope with mistakes and setbacks is important for emotional well-being. Children who can face challenges without harsh self-judgment are better equipped to handle frustration, worry, and self-doubt as they grow.
What this can look like at home
Your child sits at the table with their homework, pencil down, looking fed up.
“I can’t do this,” they say. “I’m just bad at it.”
In that moment, a lot of thoughts might cross your mind. You may want to jump in and fix things, rush the process, or feel your own patience wearing thin, especially at the end of a long day.
You pause:
“It does look tricky. Let’s take it one bit at a time.”
They try again. It’s still not quite right. There’s a sigh, maybe a bit of frustration, and that’s okay.
“That didn’t work. What else could we try?”
Or
“You have worked really hard; well done.”
A growth mindset builds gradually through many small, everyday moments like this. Over time, those moments add up. Instead of thinking, “I can’t do this,” your child begins to think, “I can do hard things.”
A growth mindset helps children view challenges as chances to grow, while positive self-talk helps them feel strong and capable.
How to get started?:
Small, everyday changes make the biggest difference.
Lead by example
Focus on effort, not outcomes
Use the power of ‘yet’
Normalise mistakes
How Brave Beginnings can help
A growth mindset empowers children to see challenges as chances to grow, while positive self-talk helps them feel strong and capable.
Our Little Moments, Big Feelings Journal includes a section on growth mindset. It helps children explore:
Positive self-talk
Recognising personal qualities
Learning from mistakes
Reframing unhelpful thoughts
Understanding how thoughts shape feelings
You can explore our journal and support resources on our website.
