ASK YOUR COUNSELOR Developing children's GROWTH MINDSET

NURTURING 21st CENTURY CHILDREN-ASK YOUR COUNSELOR

- By Nivedha M.

How can I help my ten-year-old son develop a growth mindset and encourage him to embrace challenges and setbacks in competitive academic settings?

— Vinita Raul, Mumbai

Accept your child as he is. This advice is not just about academics; it's about every aspect of life. Children need your support to develop healthy growth mindsets and face challenges with confidence. Make the effort to understand his learning style — every child has a dominant style of learning. He could be a visual, auditory, kinesthetic, solitary or social learner. Identifying and understanding his learning style will provide you a clear roadmap to prepare remedial strategies. Encourage effort — one of the best ways to build his confidence is to appreciate his efforts. Motivate him to improve continuously even if results don't match your expectations. He needs to know that effort matters more than results. Avoid comparing him with others; instead offer constructive criticism. Bouncing back from failure with determination to improve continuously is growth mindset.