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Nurturing a Growth Mindset

Updated: 2 days ago


Nurturing a growth mindset in the early years sets the stage for lifelong learning and achievement, by helping children understand that their abilities can grow and improve. By developing skills of resilience and perseverance, young learners can embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

 

What is a Growth Mindset?


The EYLF V2.0 explains a growth mindset “is where individuals believe their intelligence and abilities can be improved by effort and actions. This is a necessary part of becoming an effective learner and can create a love of learning and understanding that persistence with increased motivation and effort leads to improvement”.


Benefits of a Growth Mindset


Research shows that children with a growth mindset are more motivated, achieve at a higher level, have better social-emotional skills, are more adaptable, and may have better wellbeing.1




Ways to develop a Growth Mindset


As early childhood educators, we can help cultivate a growth mindset in young minds and set the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. We can promote EYLF V2.0 Learning Outcome 4.1 “Children develop a growth mindset and learning dispositions such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity” by:


·        Role modelling how to embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and learn from feedback.2

We can also share our own experiences of trying, learning something new, and growing.

·        Providing encouraging feedback to children that is focused on effort and process over outcome or

product.For example, “I can see you worked really hard on this.”

·        Fostering a safe and supportive environment where children can take risks and learn from mistakes

without fear of judgment.

·        Incorporating growth mindset language into everyday interactions by modelling positive self-talk to

help children to manage struggles. Phrases like “You're getting better at this" and "Mistakes can

help us learn" support children to reframe their thinking.2

 


Using the power of stories


Sharing stories with characters who meet different challenges and overcome obstacles is a valuable teaching tool to help children understand ways they can become more confident, resilient, and perseverant. Check out our top 3 recommended reads:


·        Giraffes Can’t Dance (2025), By Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees

·        Bear and Duck are Friends (2024), By Sue deGennaro

·        Beautiful Oops! (2010), By Barney Saltzberg

 


Find out more


Listen to our Building Little Leaders: Nurturing Growth Mindsets in Early Childhood podcast. In this episode the co-founders of Little Leaders Australia share ways educators can instil confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset in young children.


References

1.      Tao, W., Zhao, D., Yue, H., Horton, I., Tian, X., Xu, Z., & Sun, H. J. (2022). The Influence of Growth Mindset on the Mental Health and Life Events of College Students. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 821206. 

2.      Boylan, F. (2024). Fostering a growth mindset in the early years. Essential Resources.

3.      Australian Government Department of Education. (2022). Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia V2.0. Canberra, Australia: Australian Government Department of Education for the Ministerial Council.


Authored by Linda T Harrison

 


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