My 18-month-old struggled to buckle the straps on her high chair. “Almost,” she muttered as she tried again and again. “Almost,” I agreed, trying not to hover. When she got it, I exclaimed, “You did it! It was hard, but you kept trying, and you did it.”
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The way I praised her took a little effort on my part. If I hadn’t known better, I might have just said, “Clever girl!” Or even “Here, let me help you with that.”
What’s so bad about that?
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindsets and fixed mindsets is a fascinating look into the importance of encouraging our kids to take on challenges and make mistakes.
I’ve put together a video course where you can get the lowdown — and ask questions about your own kids.
Take my course: How to raise a confident kid with a growth mindset
Written by
Tracy Cutchlow
Tracy is the author of the international bestseller Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science, a public speaker, and a creator of places to speak and be heard. Sign up for her newsletter here.
The more I read, the more I learn. Thank you so much for your enlighten information. I wish I’ve known your work when my children were littler! Best Regards from Southern México!
Eva, thank you for the kind words. You’re so welcome. And I love knowing my readers come from all over the world! Best regards to you and your children, too.