Developing a Growth Mindset
Childhood is all about trying and learning new things as well as making mistakes. It can be an exciting time but it can also come with some level of frustration. Kids might be quick to say that they can’t do something or may easily give up when a task is too difficult.
As adults it’s imperative that we help our kids recognize that making mistakes is an important part of learning and growing. Sometimes mistakes lead to an unexpected favorable outcome.
When we encourage children to take time and reflect by completing simple “I Can” and “I Can’t… YET” statements, we reframe a child’s story about themselves and remind them to keep trying and never give up.
This activity also develops self-regulation because they are able to accept that not everything can be mastered or achieved right away. If they focus on their small successes rather than their missteps they will be more likely to accomplish larger goals.