Effective communication with children plays a pivotal role in shaping their mindset. Children are prone to internalizing both positive compliments and negative feedback. To pave the way for their success, it’s essential to use compliments that promote a growth mindset.
A Bit on Growth Mindset
If you’ve witnessed a child’s journey in learning to walk, you’ve likely observed their resilience—they fall but quickly rise again without a hint of worry or self-doubt. What’s fascinating is the brain’s incredible capacity for growth and strength, thanks to a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change. The understanding that the brain can change and abilities can get better with dedication and hard work is called a growth mindset. According to the American Psychological Association, a growth mindset is important for motivation and even academic success. Growth mindset can also help someone become adaptable and optimistic about challenges and setbacks.
Growth mindset is knowing that you cannot do it yet, but with hard work, practice, and effort you can become better at something. A child who is learning to walk has that growth mindset, they keep trying and even learning from their mistakes. As children get older and are influenced by the world around them, some tend to struggle with having a growth mindset. This is called having a fixed mindset. This is when a child shares that they will never be good at math, they are not smart, or they will never be able to score a goal.
It is important for children (and adults) to have a growth mindset. A growth mindset sets someone up for success, it teaches someone how to handle setbacks, and it grows the brain. When the brain sees challenges and frustration as areas to learn, the brain and its connections become stronger. Children (and adults) can “rewire” their brain to have a growth mindset. One way to “rewire” a child’s brain is to give compliments that focus on a growth mindset.
The Compliments
Compliments should focus on growth mindset which also means a child’s effort! Children benefit from learning that frustration and challenges grow their brain. Always remember the more effort they put in, the better they will do. Here are the 5 best compliments you can give your child to help them develop a growth mindset, and strengthen their brain:
- I love how hard you are working!
- You really persevered; you are growing your brain.
- I can tell you practiced a lot, I can see improvement.
- You tried different strategies. What do you think worked well this time?
- I noticed you stuck with it!
Try out some of these compliments and let me know how it goes in the comments below!
PS: If you are working on having an independent child (see my previous blog post here), these compliments would be a great addition!