What are growth mindsets?

A growth mindset is when you believe you can get better at things by trying and practicing, just like how a plant grows taller when it gets enough water and sunlight.

Imagine you’re playing with your favorite toy, and you find something tricky to do. If you have a growth mindset, you’ll say, “I haven’t figured this out yet, but I can keep trying!” You might try different ways to make the toy work, like stacking blocks or pushing buttons until it does what you want.

Think of your brain like a seed. When you learn something new, like riding a bike or reading a book, it’s like giving that seed water and sunlight. The more you practice, the bigger and stronger your brain becomes, just like a tree growing taller and sturdier.

If you have a growth mindset, you see mistakes as part of learning, not as failures. It's like when you spill juice on the floor: instead of crying, you say, “Oops! Now I know how to hold my cup better next time!”