“You are not born smart, you become smart.”
Growth mindset activities for kids are innovative & crucial techniques to teach students the power of their minds and their ability to learn new skills every day! Growth mindset activities ensure your kids aren’t stuck with a fixed mindset.
- Growth Mindset Vs Fixed Mindset
- Why is Growth Mindset Important For Students?
- How to Encourage Growth Mindset in Kids?
- Growth Mindset Activities For Kids
- Free Growth Mindset Worksheets
A fixed mindset often believes “talent is something innate and new skills cannot be acquired.” It plays a negative role in your child’s growing years because it causes them to internalise that mentality.
This affects your child’s brain development, motivation, confidence, and a positive outlook towards life skills. It mostly demotivates them to not take the first step in order to achieve something and rather rely on their innate abilities or luck.
Introducing students to growth mindset activities early on will ensure they don’t develop a growth-resisting mindset. People of all ages can acquire new skills and improve themselves if they possess a growth mindset.
What is a Growth Mindset? Understanding Fixed Mindset Vs. Growth Mindset
A Fixed mindset is resistance, a growth mindset is a stream full of possibilities. It’s the belief that you can acquire any new skill or milestone if you continuously work hard to achieve it. It can be anything— dancing, singing, acting, physics, math, science, etc.
Dr. Carol Dweck, the famous psychologist was the first to coin this concept. Her findings stated that “a fixed mindset only focuses on the outcomes without perceiving the importance of the journey.” This mindset makes them believe that every effort is futile and useless if you don’t succeed.
Growth Mindset
Individuals who embrace a growth mindset believe that their abilities and skills can be developed through work, dedication, and learning from mistakes. They view effort as the path to mastery and setbacks as opportunities for growth.
A growth mindset understands challenges are inevitable, learns from mistakes, upgrades from setbacks, and does not get demotivated for long.
The important point is to understand that a growth mindset uses failure to learn and grow. While they may lose heart and feel defeated, which is a natural emotion of setback, they always manage to bounce back and take positives from their experience, irrespective of the outcomes.
Fixed Mindset
On the contrary, kids with a fixed mindset are forced to believe that skills are not developed but something you are born with. This limits their brain to evolve and acquire new milestones.
They perceive themselves as being born with a limited level of talent or intelligence, leaving little room for developing new talents and abilities. This mindset often leads to a fear of failure, insecurities, lack of confidence, or motivation.
By understanding the difference between fixed and growth mindsets for students, parents and educators can identify children with fixed mindsets and encourage them to embrace a more positive and constructive outlook.
Why is Growth Mindset Important For Students?
Educational research has long advocated the positive impacts of growth mindset for students. Teaching growth mindset to students can significantly affect their life choices and lead to better mental health.
Teaching students growth mindset approach is essential in today’s day and age. Here are a few reasons why teaching growth mindset is of utmost importance:
1. Resilience
Students with a growth mindset are more resilient in the face of failure. Instead of fearing failure and being ashamed of it, they see it as just another roadblock. They focus on learning from failure without getting demotivated.
2. Motivation
Students are more motivated to work hard and attain their goals when they believe that their efforts will result in improvement. Compare that to a fixed mindset approach where students perceive talent to be the main driver of success and having little control over it.
3. Continuous Learning
A growth mindset fosters a desire to learn. Students who have this perspective are more inclined to seek out new opportunities to learn to reach their goals.
4. Higher Achievement
Students with a growth mindset tend to achieve more over time since they are not afraid to take risks and put in the necessary effort for success.
How to Encourage Growth Mindset in Kids?
Now that we have acknowledged the significance of having a growth mindset, let’s delve deeper into easy and practical strategies to teach growth mindset to students.
1. Teach Kids About Brain’s Flexibility.
Begin with this simple affirmation “Brains are not fixed entities; they have the potential to develop and transform.” They are flexible and forever expanding if you give your brain that fertile and knowledgeable space.
Kids are intelligent beings and would grasp the concept faster if you showed them real-life examples or share personal examples. If they are older, back your statement with neuroplasticity and scientific facts.
Neuroplasticity is the nervous system’s ability to change/transform/interconnect its pattern/structure/function when supplied with intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli.
2. Acknowledge Effort Rather Than Accomplishment
Avoid praising intelligence, instead compliment and focus on highlighting the efforts students put into their work.
Instead of using a fixed mindset statement, “Wow! You’re smart,” replace it with growth mindset phrases like, “I can see how much effort you’ve dedicated into this “, “You can always improve with practise” or “It is ok to make mistakes. They are proof that you tried”.
This approach encourages them to value the learning process and hard work more than innate abilities. Also, it shifts the focus from result to the process. This is not to say results do not matter, but rather it focuses on putting in the right effort to achieve the desired results.
3. Embrace Challenges
Create an environment where challenges are welcomed with a sporty spirit. Encourage students to take on tasks that may lie slightly outside their comfort zones.
Let them understand that encountering difficulties is normal as it facilitates learning and personal growth. Offer support and guidance when necessary but refrain from rescuing them from every obstacle.
4. Encourage Growth-Oriented Language
Encourage students to shift their language from a fixed mindset to a growth-oriented one.
- Instead of saying “I can’t do this!” Ask them to say, “I can’t do this, yet” or “ There is nothing I cannot achieve with hard work!”
- Switch “It’s too difficult!” to “I like challenges!”
Words are powerful and when they are backed by actions, nothing can ever be impossible! So, let your words have a warm space in their minds, but never forget to back your words with equal efforts and actions!
It is manifestation when you back your goals/dreams with actual action.
5. Share Inspiring Stories
Share stories of famous people who faced setbacks and failures but never backed down because they had/have a growth mindset. Discuss how figures like Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and J.K. Rowling overcame challenges on their paths to success. These stories can serve as powerful examples for students.
6. Set Realistic Goals
Encourage students to set specific and achievable goals. Break down larger objectives into smaller (manageable) steps. This approach helps them see that progress is possible through consistent effort and incremental improvements.
Growth Mindset Activities For Kids
Now that we’ve covered ways to encourage a growth mindset, let’s explore a wide range of engaging growth mindset activities for students to help them develop a positive attitude toward learning.
1. Yet to Achieve Wall
Imagine having a wall where you can place notes with your dreams and goals. Here’s a better twist— you make your students add the word “yet” to ensure they signify their belief in their potential.
Here’s how it works: Let kidss write down goals that they aspire to achieve such as learning a language or mastering a skill. Instead of making them write “I want to learn dancing!” let them write, “I cannot dance yet, but I can with consistent practice.”
“I want to learn dancing!” is a statement of desire, but it isn’t backed with action-induced vision. When we say, “I cannot dance yet.” We are inferring it won’t be the case in the future. When we add, “But I can with consistent practice” we are pushing ourselves to move and take the first step!
Encourage regular updates, recognize efforts and victories, and use them as a visible reminder that hard work leads to success.
The “Yet to Achieve” Wall is a simple and yet one of the most powerful growth mindset activities for kids that you can include in your home or classroom.
2. Mistake Mastery Journal
Now picture having a journal solely dedicated to documenting your mistakes and the valuable lessons learned from them.
- Let all your students have a journal.
- Ask them to write one recent mistake (what and how they felt).
- Shift mindset: Let them know “Accepting and understanding mistakes helps us grow.”
- Ask them to write lessons learned from those mistakes and how to improve.
- Share with friends (optional).
- Use a journal regularly.
- Embrace mistakes for growth.
Consider the following example:
Mistake: “I couldn’t dance in the rally.”
Reason: It’s because I didn’t practice much. I didn’t ask my teacher for help.
How to improve: Dedicated practice and asking my teacher’s assistance when I get confused.”
Such growth mindset activities for kids help in self-reflection and encourage kids to improve on their mistakes without external motivation from adults.
3. Famous Failures Showcase
This activity can help students to explore stories of renowned people who overcame adversity and never gave up. Read about people like Thomas Edison, who didn’t give up prior to developing the light bulb.
“I have not failed, I’ve just discovered 10,000 ways that will not work.”
When things get tough, use these examples to remind your students that all great people fail before they finally succeed. Even after success, failure is a consonant and will continue to knock on your doors.
However, failure isn’t a bad outcome of your work, it’s a medium to improve yourself. Encourage them to think of failure as a feedback loop and learn from it.
4. 3-2-1 Exercise
Ask kids to sit down with a piece of paper or a journal at the end of the day or week.
Ask three provocative questions:
- What are the three most important lessons I’ve learned?
- What are the two things I’d like to learn?
- What is the one question I still have?
This will encourage metacognition and allow kids to think for themselves, take ownership of their actions and chart out a plan to get better.
5. Growth Superhero Challenge
Every superhero has a mission. All those missions are challenging! If they are not challenging enough, the movie would be boring, right?
Ask your students to consider these tough times to be the fun and interesting missions of their life. Now, let them know that they are the superheroes of their own stories.
“You will encounter challenges that may initially appear difficult, such as learning an instrument, mastering a language, or stepping far outside your comfort zone.
However, you transform into a “Growth Superhero” when you work on these challenges with an optimistic mindset.”
Set example: Picture yourself attempting to ride a bike for the first time. Even if you stumble. you persist until you can ride like a pro!
6. Affirmation Mix up
Affirmations work wonders in bolstering self-belief and grown mindset. Create simple cards with affirmations like:
- “I can train my brain”
- “I have the ability to learn anything”
- “I will persevere!”
Each day, mix these cards and randomly choose one to recite to your students. It’s pretty similar to giving them a pep talk.
Related: Learn Simple Affirmations for Kids that can boost your child’s self-belief!
7. Role Model Presentation
Students can create short presentations about their chosen role models. They can explore how these role models dedicated themselves and believed in their abilities to achieve greatness.
Reading about their role models’ early life would be a great source of motivation. The people we see successful today always have a great story to tell and it is usually one filled with struggles and hard work!
- J.K Rowling had a poor background and was mostly supported by government aid. She didn’t have the money to own/rent a computer to type her book. Her novel was rejected by dozens of publishers and yet victory prevailed. It’s because she believed in herself, never lost hope, and gave her best!
- Jim Carrey used to work at the age of 10 to support his family financially. Look at where he is now!
8. MindFlex Posse
Let kids create a dream team with their friends and call it the “Dreamers.” Ask them to support and help each other through thick and thin! When one falls, don’t laugh. Instead, help them get back on their feet and let them know it’s alright to fall!
Kind words and support from your friends and family are some of the most powerful tools in life! They can make you, transform you, and bring the best out of you! Ask your students to make an official group with like-minded people where they can freely share their thoughts without fear. Ask the parents to join, and have fun collaborative meetings every Sunday to talk heart-to-heart.
9. Efforts & Improvement Parade
Host a victory parade to honour all of your students’ efforts! Let them participate in the parade to show off their accomplishments, efforts, and development in different areas of life.
Let them design or wear their parade costume to march at the event. Make banners and march in the parade carrying some of your artwork or a current project.
It’s a pleasant way to recognise and celebrate improvement with peers and boosts self-esteem.
10. Mindset Showdown Debate
Encourage kids to participate in friendly debates and utilise their intellect to discuss new strategies and innovative thinking. Ensure each student has the space to speak their heart out!
Encourage students to keep a debate journal to jot down the best arguments. As a teacher or parent, understand their arguments and give constructive feedback.
11. Mindset Artistry Challenge
Let kids turn challenges into a work of art.
How to Set-up Mindset Artistry Challenge:
- Write down a challenge or growth mindset phrase like “When faced with a difficult task, perceive it as an opportunity.”
- Let kids gather art supplies, including brushes, paint colors, sketch pens, pencils, etc. whatever they fancy.
- Students use their selected tools to express their thoughts— it could be a sketch, painting, poem, or even storytelling.
Art has a way to open up our mind and show us the path. All we need to do is trust that process.
Lastly, make sure to display your student’s artwork somewhere they can see it every day. It will remind them of their progress and help them acknowledge their ability to transform problems into beautiful masterpieces.
12. Melodies of Growth
Increase your child’s self-esteem with wonderful songs that promote a growth attitude. Here’s a brief reference:
- Dance & Jam: Play a fun tune and dance together to get the party started!
- Listen to inspiring songs: Listen to a few songs and ask your kids what they mean and how they make them feel. Some inspiring songs to sing with your kids: Roar by Katty Perry, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, It’s my Life by Bon Jovi, etc.
- Mini Performance: Allow them to demonstrate their talent.
Growth mindset activities for kids, like this one, are an instant hit with kids and give them the necessary motivational punch when needed.
13. Book Club
Start a book club with your students. Try to include biographies, inspiring stories or even fictional stuff. For every book, try to identify the challenges the protagonist faced and how they were overcome.
The more kids read, the more their minds will expand to grasp the idea that all challenges can be overcome with the right attitude and positive mindset.
Quick Tip: Read inspiring stories of Kid Innovators who are changing the world!
14. Tech Innovation Quest
Introduce your kids to inventions and cutting-edge technologies that make the future simply awe-inspiring! You can do this by taking them on a trip to the nearest science center.
Discover gadgets and breakthroughs that showcase humanity’s pursuit of knowledge and creation to improve the world. Encourage children to explore innovations in an entertaining way and with a fresh perspective.
Divide them to work in groups to think of their own technological solutions to modern-day problems. Each group must come up with not only the solution but also possible challenges that they must overcome to reach their solution.
Such growth mindset activities for kids will not only help students understand that problems & failures are an integral part of every process but also encourage design thinking.
Related: Learn how Design Thinking for Kids is shaping the future.
15. Kindness Week Challenge
Dedicate one day per week to do something kind. You and your students can help a neighbour, clean up a local area, give compliments, make kindness cards, bake goodies, or donate clothes.
Ask everyone to maintain a journal to help recall what they did, why they did it, and what they learned. This kindness activity will encourage students to recognise challenges in their immediate environment and look for creative solutions, helping them grow their growth mindset muscle.
Related: Community Helper Activities For Kids
16. Grow and Glow
Build your own personal hall of fame. Ask your students to draw a “Grow and Glow” T-chart, project, or digital portfolio.
Encourage them to think beyond academics and commonly accepted standards of success to list what they feel they have achieved under the glow section and things they want to learn or get better at under grow section.
For instance, under grow a student can list learning a new song on piano or learning the music notes. Similarly, under grow they can write ‘Getting better at singing’. The idea is to list their achievements and aspirations without comparison to others.
17. Challenge Me
Ask your students to write one thing they find the most challenging. Now, ask them to dedicate 20-30 minutes to perform that difficult task. Don’t forget to encourage and help them throughout the process.
- “Exercise is very difficult for me.” Add dance, music, and Zumba to make this activity fun for your students.
- “Running is gruesome.” Add rewards at every interval to motivate your kids.
- “I find it difficult to step on the stage.” Take them to the auditorium and encourage them at every step until they reach the podium and finish their little speech.
Not only does this activity push your kids to get out of their comfort zone, but it also shows how taking the first step is all it takes for them to achieve those unimaginable and impossible milestones.
18. Character Improvise Challenges
This is a growth mindset activity for kids that will inspire students to improvise to overcome challenges through comedy. Improvisation is a spontaneous activity that demands quick and witty responses.
Instructions:
- Improv Scenes: Assign scenes to the various groups in the class (for example, a spaceship or a rainforest).
- Students should develop their own characters with names and personalities. They should improvise their dialogue delivery spontaneously.
- Encourage positive feedback that emphasizes inventiveness and adaptation.
The learning strategy will help kids to uncertainty and perform better when thrown into an unknown situation. Besides, it will train their mind for uncertainty tolerance and using a growth mindset approach to get comfortable with uncomfortable situations.
19. Learn Growth Mindset Words
Encourage your class to think of growth mindset phrases and words. Next, ask them to write those words or phrases on a paper and describe what they mean to them.
Simple growth mindset words like ‘Perseverance’, ‘tenacity’, ‘mistake’ can mean a lot more when looked from a positive, growth mindset centred perspective. Like a mistake could mean trying or one way that does not lead to desired result.
This is one of the simplest growth mindset activities for kids that can be done with the young students – toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners.
20. Negative to Positive
Another learning strategy to imbibe growth mindset is negative to positive. This mindful activity will help students recognise their inner limiting beliefs and change them into positive affirmation.
Ask your students to identify their inner critic and turn whatever it says from negative to positive. Here are a few examples of fixed mindset phrases:
“I am no good at this”
“I am bad with numbers”
“I cannot do this”
With little thought, all these statements can be rephrased into positive mindset phrases. Like:
“I am not good at this, yet”
“I can get better at numbers with practise”
“I can do it if I keep trying”
Recognising your limiting self-talk and changing it into positive statements is a highly effective strategy to inculcate growth mindset.
21. Build Growth Mindset With Yoga
One of the few learning strategies that focuses on bringing mental and physical aspects together is Yoga with grown mindset phrases. This simple technique clubs yoga poses with positive affirmations that reiterate growth mindset principles.
Free Growth Mindset Worksheets
Free Growth Mindset Worksheets
1. Yet to Achieve Wall
2. Growth Superhero Challenge
3. Mindset Artistry Challenge
4. Share inspiring stories
5. Learn growth mindset words
