A Growth Mindset in Pre-K

A growth mindset is the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort, learning, and persistence, rather than being fixed traits. It’s the idea that we can improve through hard work, trying new strategies, and learning from mistakes, which is super important for young learners.

In my pre-K classroom, the key components of a growth mindset are encouraging effort, embracing challenges, and seeing mistakes as learning opportunities. With my 4-year-olds, I’d introduce these ideas by focusing on praising the process, like saying, “I love how hard you worked on that puzzle!” instead of just saying, “You’re so smart.” It’s about shifting the focus to effort rather than the end result.

To make a growth mindset relatable, I’d start with a simple story like “The Little Engine That Could,” or "The Magical Yet" which emphasizes trying even when things are tough. I’d explain that our brains are like muscles that get stronger the more we use them, just like when we practice jumping or running. I’d also use everyday examples, like learning to tie shoes, showing them it takes practice and we don’t always get it right the first time.

For activities, I’d set up challenges that are a little tricky but doable, like building a tower with blocks. If the tower falls, I’d model positive self-talk, like “Oops! Let’s try again, we can make it stronger!” This hands-on experience shows them that it’s okay not to get things perfect right away and that persistence pays off. By creating a classroom environment that celebrates trying and learning, I hope to build a foundation for a growth mindset early on.