ways to Build AGrowth Mindset at Home

Smart Stacker. Afunandsimpleactivitytointroducegrowthmindset.Challengeyourkiddotoopenapackofsmarties.Theirgoalistostackallthesmartiesinatower.ThisisCHALLENGINGbutpossible.Monitortheirlanguageandchallengethemtostaypositivethroughoutthechallenge.

Flip That Flop. Mistakescanhelpusgrowandlearn.Butinthemoment,theymayfeellikefailures.TakethetimetodiscusswithyourchildhowtheycanFliptheirmistake(Flop)intosomethingpositive.Totakeitastepfurthergoonlineandlookupsomefamousfailuresthatresultedingreatthings.

If I couldn’t fail... Whatwouldyoudoityoucouldn’tfail?That’snotsomethingwethinkaboutoftenbutbyimaginingthosebigdreamsweopenourselvesuptoopportunitiesandpossibilities.Workwithyourchildtomakealistordrawapictureofsomethingtheywoulddoiftheyknewtheycouldn’tfail.Makesureyoucreateoneaswell,modelingagrowthmindsetiskeytoteachingit.

Cup Stacker. Thisactivityencouragesgrowthmindsetandteamworkinagroup.Thechallenge:unstackapyramidof6solocupsusingnothingbutrubberbandsandstring.BodypartsMAYNOTtouchthecups.Ifyouhavealargegroup,writedownsomeofthepositiveandnegativelanguageyouhearthroughoutthisprocess.Discussthislanguageandwhatitaddedtotheprocessafterwards.

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©Carol Miller 2020Clip Art Credit to: Kelly Benefield Font Credit to: KG Fonts, BMD Fonts, and AG Fonts

Let them lose. Parentswanttoseetheirkidsbesuccessful,butbylettingthemloseweareteachingthemperseveranceandtenacity. Playaboardgamethatischallenginganddon’tgoeasyonthem.Comfortthemthroughalossandchallengethemtocomebackandtryagainlater.Eventual,theywillbeatyouandtheprideforbothofyouwillbeworthit.

We Persisted. Teachingtheconceptofperseverancecanbedifficult.Thinkofatimeinyourlifewhereyoupersistedasafamilyandsharewhatthatexperiencewaslike.Ifnothingcomestomind,createafictionalstoryaboutapersonorgroupwhofacedachallengeandhowtheyovercame.Havefunwiththis!IfyourchildwantstotalkabouthowGodzillaovercamehisfearofswimming–GREAT! Forabitmoreimagination,use6-8randompicturesforanextracreativestoryonperseverance.

S.M.A.R.T goals. Sowhat’sthepointofagrowthmindsetanyway?Positivethinkingandperseverancehelpschildrenbesuccessfulandreachtheirgoals.So,it’simportanttomakesuretheyknowwhatthosegoalsare.ThesecouldbeshortorlongtermjustmakesuretheyareSpecific,Measurable,Attainable,RelevantandTimely.

I like me. Havingpositivecharacteristicstofocusonmakeschallengingsituationsalittlemoremanageable.Setasidesometimetocreateavisualwithyourchildaboutallthethingstheylikeaboutthemself.Thiscouldbeaposter,video,comicstriporbook.Referencetheircreationwhentheyarefeelingdefeatedorfrustrated.

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Clip Art Credit to: Kelly Benefield Font Credit to: KG Fonts, BMD Fonts, and AG Fonts ©Carol Miller 2020

Growth Mindset continued

Letthemlose.themloseweareteachingthemperseveranceandtenacity.Playaboardgamethatischallenginganddon’tgoeasyonthem.Comfortthemthroughalossandchallengethemtocomebackandtryagainlater.Eventual,theywillbeatyouandtheprideforbothofyouwillbeworthit.

WeThinkofatimeinyourlifewhereyoupersistedasafamilyandsharewhatthatexperiencewaslike.Ifnothingcomestomind,createafictionalstoryaboutapersonorgroupwhofacedachallengeandhowtheyovercame.Havefunwiththis!IfyourchildwantstotalkabouthowGodzillaovercamehisfearofswimming

S.M.A.R.TPositivethinkingandperseverancehelpschildrenbesuccessfulandreachtheirgoals.So,it’simportanttomakesuretheyknowwhatthosegoalsare.ThesecouldbeshortorlongtermjustmakesuretheyareSpecific,Measurable,Attainable,RelevantandTimely.

Isituationsalittlemoremanageable.Setasidesometimetocreateavisualwithyourchildaboutallthethingstheylikeaboutthemself.Thiscouldbeaposter,video,comicstriporbook.Referencetheircreationwhentheyarefeelingdefeatedorfrustrated.

We Persisted Story Starters

Clip Art Credit to: Kelly Benefield Font Credit to: KG Fonts, BMD Fonts, and AG Fonts ©Carol Miller 2020