The New World of Learning – Part III: The Growth Mindset

Question: When is the brain most open to suggestions?

Answer: The ten minutes before you fall asleep.

This is why rich and empowering bedtime stories are so crucial for children. One of the most brilliant, self-development books for children is The Little Engine That Could. This is a classic story of developing growth mindset and resilience.

Children with growth mindsets are willing to risk making a mistake to learn. They learn from failure and use it as feedback. They embrace the challenge and keep going. On the other hand, children with fixed mindsets tend to give up easily, avoid difficulties, and ignore feedback.

Fuelling your children with stories that encourage a growth mindset at bedtime is a no brainer. So, what are some stories you can use? Besides, The Little Engine That Could and making up your own stories based on old family examples of triumph over adversity, here are some of my favourites:

• Salt in His Shoes, Michael Jordan
• The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
• What Do You Do With A Problem?  Kobi Yamada
• What Do You Do with an Idea? Kobi Yamada
• Jabari Jumps, Gaia Cornwall
• Nadia, The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still, Karlin Gray
• Rosie Revere, Engineer, Andrea Beaty
• When Sophie Thinks She Can’t…: . . . Really, Really Smart,  Molly Bang
• Thanks for the Feedback, I Think (Best Me I Can Be!), Julia Cook
• Big Life Journal – 1st Edition (ages 7-10)

At the time of this blog post writing, we are in the thick of the COVID – 19 lockdowns. It is now, more than ever, that our children need our positivity and resilience.

Let’s have a conversation about your child today! lani@engagededucators.com

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