Teach Kids & Teens a Growth Mindset using Coding & STEM Challenges

Professor Carol Dweck coined the term 'growth mindset'. Her research showed that children who strive harder to tackle challenges are confident in their ability to improve. On the other hand, those who were hesitating in facing challenges believed that their abilities couldn't be improved. 
Dweck believes that it's a misconception that either you have it in you or you don't. Developing a growth mindset isn't merely embracing feedback and being open-minded. It includes reviewing feedback positively, learning from your experience, and creating strategies that can help with improvements. If you are looking to teach your child a growth mindset, then here is what you can do:

Teach Humility
 
Train your children that there is nothing wrong about making mistakes. By doing so, they will feel more motivated to try more. Over time, they will learn what works and what doesn't. 
Teach Problem-Solving
Different tasks and problems need different methods and strategies. If your child struggles with a task, ask them to think outside the box. Your child may persuade you to solve their problem, but it's better if you don't. Only if they are badly stuck, assist them with brainstorming about ways to complete their task or solve the problem. Show them resources they can use for checking more information, like online websites, textbook, or asking friends for help.

Teach Persistence
Certain problems are more complex than others and may take more steps for completion. The latest educational standards are rigorous, exposing children to problems that go through proper analysis; the days of rote memorization are numbered. Modern lessons encourage children to develop problem-solving from the start. Therefore, instead of letting your child give up on homework, encourage them to be persistent and keep trying. After some time, they will begin to learn a step at a time. 

Teach Attention to Detail
Ask them how they approach tasks -- why did they decide to use a certain method for solving their problem. Did they work through their problem holistically and drew a picture for better understanding? How closely did they think about the question asked in the assignment?
Expose them to a diverse range of problem-solving strategies, which they can utilize in a wide range of situations. 

Final Thoughts
Want to learn about the best possible way to teach growth mindset to your children? Try coding. Coding can teach all the above values to your children in a short period of time. If you are interested, send a message our way. Our online courses will help your kids develop a growth mindset. 

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