Rethinking Success: How a Growth Mindset Transforms Your Child’s Learning Journey

Children tend to have a very binary view of their abilities and skill sets. They’re either “good” at something, or they’re not. They feel they either get something, or they never will, but small mindset shifts can have a massive impact on how a child handles challenges as well as how they will develop into adulthood. A growth mindset allows your children to see learning as an opportunity rather than a roadblock.

What is a Growth Mindset?

Dr. Carol Dweck, a leading psychologist, coined the terms “growth mindset” and “fixed mindset” to describe how an individual’s mindset affects how they approach and handle challenges or learning situations. Here are the differences between the two:

• Fixed Mindset: Leads children to believe that intelligence and ability are set in stone and can never be honed or improved over time. If they struggle with something, they assume they’ll never be good at it, so they don’t even bother trying. 
• Growth Mindset: Helps them see effort as the key to success. They understand that abilities can be developed through hard work, persistence, and learning from mistakes. This mindset helps them understand that obstacles are a necessary part of improvement. 

Studies have shown that learners who embrace a growth mindset are more motivated, resilient, and likely to achieve academic success. They don’t fear challenges—they embrace them.

A Tale of Two Minds: Meet Jake and Oliver

Jake has always found writing difficult. When given a challenging essay assignment, he immediately says, “I’m just not good at writing,” and rushes through his work. Feedback from his teachers feels discouraging instead of helpful, and instead of using it as an opportunity to understand and improve, he assumes he just doesn’t have “it.”

Oliver also finds writing challenging, but his approach is totally different. He views feedback as a tool for growth and sees each draft as a chance to get better. Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” he asks, “How can I do it differently?” Over time, he becomes a stronger writer—not because he is naturally gifted but because he refuses to give up.

The difference? Mindset.

But here’s the interesting part: Most children already have a growth mindset in some areas of their lives. Take video games for example. Children don’t start a new game knowing exactly how to win or even how to play in some cases. They fail constantly, losing levels, having to restart, and getting frustrated. However, they keep practicing because their desire to overcome the challenge by getting better is greater than their belief that they simply can’t play the game well enough. 

The question isn’t whether kids have to be taught to have a growth mindset—because they already do. The real key is helping them recognize that learning a new math concept, starting a new project, or tackling any challenge follows the same process. By helping children understand the practical application of what they’re learning in the real world, you can help them unlock a growth mindset. That real-world context is important because it allows them to draw parallels between school learning and real-world application. With practice, feedback, and determination, progress isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.

How Can You Help Your Children Develop a Growth Mindset?

1. Praise the Process, Not Just the Outcome: Instead of saying, “You’re so smart!” try, “I love how you kept trying until you figured it out!” This shifts the focus to effort and persistence rather than talent. It signals to your child that it’s their persistence and resilience that really matters. The journey is the destination.
2. Reframe Struggles as Opportunities: The ability to change “I can’t do this” into an “I did it!” happens with the help of one simple word: “Yet.” Instead of allowing them to say, “I can’t do this,” encourage them to say, “I can’t do this, yet.” Help them see failure as temporary, not permanent. “You can’t do it yet, but with practice, you will.” This shows that it’s not a matter of skill but determination.
3. Model a Growth Mindset Yourself: If you struggle with something, talk about it. When they see you embrace challenges, they are more likely to do the same. “I used to be bad at baking, but I kept practicing, and now I make great cookies.” Children absorb so much from their parents’ verbal and non-verbal cues, so when they see their parents talking about being persistent, about overcoming obstacles, and not seeing challenges as brick walls but as ladders that can be climbed, they start to emulate that.
4. Create a Home Environment that Encourages Effort Over Perfection: Normalize struggle by making it part of daily conversations. Avoid rescuing them from frustration—let them work through challenges while providing support. “What was something hard you did today? How did you push through?”

The Growth Mindset in Action at Virstone Preparatory Academy

Imagine if this way of thinking was embedded into a learner’s daily school experience. What if, instead of worrying about grades or feeling like they had to get everything right the first time, learners were in an environment where mistakes are seen as part of the process, challenges are embraced, and learning is truly personalized?

That’s exactly what happens at Virstone Preparatory Academy:

• Mastery-based grading allows learners to focus on true understanding and progress, not just final grades, ensuring they can build skills and confidence before advancing.
• Constructive feedback helps learners shift from a performance mindset to a progress mindset—where improvement is celebrated, not just results.
• Flexible learning paths allow learners to work at their own pace, gaining confidence as they master new skills.
• A supportive school culture reinforces that growth is ongoing, helping learners develop resilience, curiosity, and confidence in their abilities.

Learn More About the Possibilities!

By fostering a growth mindset, you empower your child to embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and ultimately succeed, not only in their educational journey but throughout the rest of their lives. At Virstone Preparatory Academy, we are committed to nurturing a growth mindset in every child, ensuring we create learners who are capable and resilient, with endless potential for growth.

Curious how Virstone's approach could help your child thrive? Explore our flexible learning model and discover how we put growth mindset into action, helping learners build confidence, embrace challenges, and grow at their own pace. Learn More

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