Growth Mind-Set

02/05/2015

I think there's a little child in all of us and we all too often forget to let the child out to play.
Donna A. Favors

In her article, "The Secrets of Raising Smart Kids," in Scientific American (Winter 2015), Carol Dweck makes these points:

"Many people assume that superior intelligence or ability is a key to success. But more than three decades of research shows that an overemphasis on intellect or talent — and the implication that such traits are innate or fixed — leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges, and unmotivated to learn.

"Teaching people to have a 'growth mind-set,' which encourages a focus on 'process' rather than on intelligence or talent, produces high achievers in school and life.

"Parents and teachers can engender a growth mind-set in children by praising them for their persistence or strategies (rather than for their intelligence), by telling success stories that emphasize hard work and love of learning, and by teaching them about the brain as a learning machine."

Kaplan, Tips for Setting Up Preschool Centers.

Children Learning With Nature Training Institute - JULY 2015

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