A mindset is an attitude, an inclination, or a disposition. You’ve probably heard the term “mindset” used in the context of having a good attitude or as an encouragement to players to get in a winning frame of mind.
Renowned Stanford University psychologist and author, Carol Dweck, thinks that mindsets are more important than a good attitude or winning a game. In her book “Mindset: The Psychology of Success,” Dweck explains how crucial the right mindset is for success—for children as well as adults.
Dweck researched her theory for decades. What she discovered is that there are two basic mindsets: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
Fixed Mindset
In a fixed mindset, the world is black and white. For a fixed mindset person, you have whatever intelligence or talent you’re born with, and that doesn’t change. Fixed mindset people believe either you’re smart or talented enough to be able to do something, or you’re not. And why risk stretching yourself if you might fail? If you failed, then you’d be a failure. In this mindset, you can only grow so far, achieve so much, or learn a certain amount.
Fixed mindset people equate failing at something with being a failure.
“They believe they are either a winner or loser, and if they don’t do well at something, then they didn’t just fail; they believe they are a failure,” says Dallan Hunt, Centre Director of Maple Ridge Sylvan Learning Centre, “which couldn’t be further from the truth.”
How does this type of thinking impact children?
“It makes them think that they are limited in their success, and it keeps them from even making an effort,” says Hunt. “Fixed mindsets can limit our children’s achievements, making an effort seem disagreeable and lead to using inferior learning strategies. Fortunately, there is another mindset.”
Growth Mindset
In a growth mindset, the focus is on process more than on outcome. People with a growth mindset believe that their intelligence and skills can grow anytime they want them to. They just must be willing to work at it.
“It is important for students to recognize the importance of pushing the boundary of their learning, and hence their potential,” says Hunt. “It enables students to take risks with their learning and allows them to grow.”
Most people are familiar with the popular quote by Mahatma Gandhi, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever.” This is at the core of a growth mindset.
At Sylvan Learning, fostering a growth mindset in children is at the centre of learning success.
Sylvan encourages this growth mindset and encourages children to learn, make mistakes and imagine the possibilities.
For more educational resources for children in grades pre-K through 12, visit https://www.sylvanlearning.com/
