How to Encourage a Growth Mindset at Home
- Brittany Probst
- Sep 25
- 3 min read
As parents, we want our children to succeed academically—but success isn’t just about grades or test scores. It’s also about how students think about learning, challenges, and their own abilities. That’s where a growth mindset comes in.
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence, skills, and abilities can improve through effort, practice, and smart strategies. Students who adopt this mindset are more resilient, more motivated, and better able to develop critical skills like organization, planning, and time management—all of which fall under executive function.
The good news? Parents play a huge role in shaping growth mindset at home. Here’s how.
1. Praise Effort, Strategy, and Progress—not Just Results
It’s natural to celebrate good grades, but focusing solely on outcomes can unintentionally create a fixed mindset:
Fixed mindset thinking: “I’m not smart at math.”
Growth mindset thinking: “I can improve at math if I keep practicing and try different strategies.”
Tips for Parents:
Say things like:
“I love how hard you worked on that project!”
“You tried three different strategies—that’s persistence!”
Highlight improvement:
“Look at how much your reading has grown this month.”
Celebrating effort and strategy helps children understand that learning is a process, not just a performance.
2. Model a Growth Mindset Yourself
Children learn a lot by watching their parents. When they see you embrace challenges, make mistakes, and keep trying, they learn to do the same.
Tips for Parents:
Share your own learning experiences:
“I didn’t understand that at first, but I tried a few methods until it made sense.”
Talk about challenges openly:
“I forgot an important step in my work today. I’m going to plan better next time.”
Use “yet” language yourself:
“I haven’t learned this skill yet, but I will with practice.”
By modeling growth mindset, you teach children that effort, reflection, and persistence are part of learning for everyone.
3. Encourage Reflection and Problem-Solving
Growth mindset thrives when students reflect on what works, what doesn’t, and what they can try next. This is also closely tied to executive function skills like self-monitoring and planning.
Tips for Parents:
Ask reflection questions after homework or projects:
“What part of today’s assignment was the hardest?”
“What strategy helped you the most?”
“What will you do differently next time?”
Help children identify patterns:
“I notice you focus best in the morning. How can we plan your homework to use that time?”
Reflection encourages self-awareness and teaches students how to adjust strategies independently.
4. Normalize Mistakes and Failures
Many students fear mistakes, but they are essential for growth. Children with learning differences may face mistakes more frequently, so how parents respond can make a big difference in whether or not a child will learn from them.
Tips for Parents:
Reframe errors as learning opportunities:
“That answer wasn’t correct, but let’s figure out what went wrong and try a different approach.”
Encourage a “try again” mindset:
Praise persistence, not perfection.
Share stories of famous mistakes and eventual success to show that setbacks are normal and solvable. Use your own stories too!
5. Partner With Coaches or Mentors
Sometimes children need extra support to develop both executive function skills and a growth mindset. Working with trained coaches—like those at Aspireon—can help students:
Build personalized systems for planning, organization, and time management
Reframe challenges as opportunities for growth
Gain confidence in their ability to tackle difficult tasks
Receive consistent feedback and encouragement
Why This Matters
Children with a growth mindset are more likely to:
Embrace challenges rather than avoid them
Persist through frustration or setbacks
Take initiative in planning, organizing, and completing tasks
Build confidence, independence, and resilience
Growth mindset isn’t just a mindset—it’s a practical tool for learning success, especially for students with learning differences or executive function challenges.
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