{"id":12367,"date":"2023-11-21T20:16:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T20:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/?p=12367"},"modified":"2023-11-21T20:16:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T20:16:22","slug":"how-to-encourage-a-growth-mindset-in-your-teen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mytutor.co.uk\/blog\/parents\/how-to-encourage-a-growth-mindset-in-your-teen\/","title":{"rendered":"How to encourage a growth mindset in your teen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every child has creativity and curiosity in them. But some experiences in their past \u2013 like getting a low grade on a test, or being told they were wrong in class \u2013 might\u2019ve knocked their confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They might be afraid of getting things wrong, so they avoid trying altogether. The good news is that there\u2019s lots you can do at home to help change the relationship they have with learning and encourage a growth mindset.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, we also ask education researcher Professor Guy Claxton<\/a> for his top advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a growth mindset?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might\u2019ve heard of it before from your own teachers or even at work. Having a growth mindset means believing that you can grow from any experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this kind of mindset, setbacks and challenges are seen as a good thing because they help you grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of teens are worried about making mistakes, failing, and looking stupid in front of their classmates and teachers. So it can be especially tricky for them at this stage in their lives to welcome challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are ways you can encourage them to see problems as a good thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to encourage a growth mindset and love of learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Make a habit of asking questions<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Reframe mistakes<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Build out from their strengths<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Don\u2019t put them in a box<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Find support<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1. Make a habit of asking questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Questions \u2013 especially open-ended ones \u2013 encourage curiosity. And when your teen is curious, they\u2019re more likely to experiment and take risks. A curious mindset is fuel for creative thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To start building this kind of mindset in your teen, try leading by example. Professor Guy Claxton recommends \u2018collecting questions<\/a>\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can write out questions or problems that need solving, and post them on the fridge where they\u2019re nice and visible. These can be questions about solving a problem at home (\u201cHow do we train the dog to roll over?\u201d), or an issue facing the wider world (\u201cHow can we get more people to recycle?\u201d). At the end of the week, tackle those questions with your teen.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why this strategy works<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This simple activity shows your teen that they don\u2019t have to know the answers straight away \u2013 that it\u2019s okay to take time to work through a question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Prof Claxton calls this slower, more playful kind of thinking, the \u2018Tortoise Mind\u2019. When there\u2019s less of a rush and less at stake, your teen can take the time to think everything through and work out creative solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Reframe mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n
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