Helping Children Develop a Growth Mindset and Build Resilience

Hui Ling How
5 days ago
2 min read

In a world that’s constantly changing, one of the greatest gifts we can offer children is the ability to bounce back from challenges and believe in their capacity to grow. A growth mindset and resilience go hand in hand—and both play a crucial role in a child’s emotional, social, and academic development.

What Is a Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. Children with a growth mindset are more willing to try new things, embrace challenges, and understand that mistakes are part of learning.

In contrast, a fixed mindset leads children to believe their abilities are set in stone. They may avoid challenges, give up easily, or feel discouraged when things don’t come naturally.

What Is Resilience?

Resilience is the ability to cope with setbacks, stress, and difficulties. It doesn’t mean children won’t face problems—rather, it means they have the tools to navigate them with confidence and adaptability.

Resilient children:

Feel capable of handling challenges.
View setbacks as temporary.
Can regulate their emotions more effectively.
Are more motivated to keep trying.

Why These Skills Matter

Research consistently shows that children who develop a growth mindset and resilience:

Perform better academically.
Experience improved emotional wellbeing.
Are less afraid of failure.
Show stronger problem-solving and coping skills.
Navigate social conflicts more effectively.

These qualities also prepare children for life beyond school—helping them build independence, perseverance, and self-belief.

Practical Ways to Help Children Build a Growth Mindset and Resilience

1. Praise Effort, Not Just Talent

Instead of saying “You’re so smart!”, try:

“I love how hard you worked on this.”
“You kept trying even when it was tricky—great job!”

This shifts the focus from innate ability to perseverance.

2. Teach Them That Mistakes Are Part of Learning

Normalize mistakes by talking openly about your own. Ask:

“What did you learn from this?”
“What could you try differently next time?”

This helps children view setbacks as opportunities rather than failures.

3. Encourage Problem-Solving

Instead of jumping in to fix everything, guide children to think through challenges:

“What do you think we could try?”
“Let’s brainstorm some ideas together.”

This builds independence and confidence.

4. Model a Growth Mindset Yourself

Children learn through observation. Let them see you:

Take on challenges.
Try new things.
Persist even when tasks are difficult.

Saying things like “I can’t do this yet, but I’m learning” shows that growth is a lifelong process.

5. Create an Environment Where Challenges Are Welcomed

Introduce age-appropriate challenges—puzzles, new activities, creative tasks—and celebrate the process, not just the outcome.

6. Help Them Build Emotional Awareness

Resilience is closely tied to emotional regulation. Teach children to:

Name their feelings.
Use coping strategies like deep breathing, drawing, or talking to someone.
Understand that all emotions are valid.

7. Promote Positive Self-Talk

Help children replace unhelpful thoughts with more empowering ones:

“I’ll never get this” → “I just need more practice.”
“This is too hard” → “I can try it step by step.”

You can even create a “positive self-talk jar” with encouraging phrases they can pick when needed.

8. Encourage Supportive Relationships

Feeling connected to caring adults and peers builds a strong foundation for resilience. Encourage children to ask for help and express their needs.