8 picture books to encourage a growth mindset

Lauren Wenn Photo

I’ve been learning about a growth versus a fixed mindset, and it’s revolutionizing the way I think about myself and my children.

In a nutshell, a growth mindset means you believe you can change and improve.

A fixed mindset means you believe you are either good at something or you’re not—that your inabilities hold you back from being able to do or be something.

When it comes to parenting, I think it’s important to teach our children to believe their success doesn’t come from innate intelligence or talent, but effort. That will help them bounce back from failures and criticism in a positive way. It’ll help them be less afraid to try new things. It’ll help them overcome the comparison and inferiority traps. It will help them be more confident, resilient individuals.

Of course, one of the best ways we can teach our children to have a growth mindset is to learn to have one ourselves. Since learning about this way of thinking, I’ve tried to adjust my thoughts and reactions to make more room for growth and picking myself back up after messing up. That includes when I mess up on the motherhood arena, which is every day.

This article is a good resource for parenting and teaching with a growth mindset.

I asked my friend, Amber, a second-grade teacher, to share her favorite books that encourage a growth mindset in children. I read them all and love the messages of big dreaming and persistence. On to the books: