Growth mindset as I understand it is the principle that most any ability can be improved through dedication and perseverance. This includes skills such as performance in sports and even characteristics such as patience. This principle is powerful because it means that we can do most anything we wish and that we should never be discouraged by failure. Mistakes and falling short are seen as a healthy part of the learning process and success is focused on along the journey and not just as an end destination.
This is exactly the outlook I want to help instill in my children. I want them to feel empowered and realize their incredible potential. I don’t want them to get caught up in failure and even wish for them to embrace it in a way. And I really want them to celebrate all of their little successes instead of waiting for a time that they may never feel that they measure up to.
Below are my very favorite books that teach this message in such wonderful ways. Each one is a powerful book that has so much to offer. I feel that they are valuable tools for us in teaching growth mindset to our children and hope you feel the same.
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“Accident!” by Andrea Tsurumi-It all started with one accident, which resulted in the perpetrator fleeing the scene. They are soon joined by a string of fellow creatures who all have their own mistakes they are running from until they learn the valuable lesson that accidents and mistakes are a part of life. Love!
“Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees- This one is fast becoming a classic and I can completely see why. It features a giraffe who wants to dance, but all the other animals laugh at them and tell them that “giraffes can’t dance”. Deciding not to be discouraged, giraffe heads out to create a dance of his own.
“The Bad Seed” by Jory John and Pete Oswald- This book introduces you to a seed who is horribly bad. He is rude and mean and it isolates him. That is until one day he decides that he wants to be different. He starts with small positive changes and learns how to overcome his difficult past and be happy again.
“The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds- This is another brook that I feel is definitely becoming a classic. It’s the story of a little girl who feels like she can’t do art. A wise teacher tells her to simply start with what she can draw: a dot. The little girl does and with a little a little practice creates many dot masterpieces with glee.
“The Book of Mistakes” by Corinna Luyken- This gem starts with the narrator explaining the process for the illustrations in the book. They calmly point out that making one eye larger than another on the protagonist was a mistake, but putting glasses on to complete the look was a good idea. And so the process continues as the reader watches the narrator/illustrator make mistake after mistake and turn it into a wonderful opportunity or something new each and every time.
“Even Superheroes Make Mistakes” by Shelly Becker and Eda Kaban- Superheroes seem to be all the craze right now, which makes this book extra fun. It delivers the message that absolutely makes mistakes and that the best thing when you do is to move on and try to fix things or do better next time. It includes a dash of humor and a lot of fun.
“After the Fall” by Dan Santat- I ADORE this book! It tells the story of Humpty Dumpty and how after he falls off the wall his fear of falling starts to disrupt his life. He can’t go back up to his favorite perch to bird watch and he can’t even climb ladders at the grocery store. His fear of falling is too strong until one day he decides to face his fear and comes out victorious and empowered.
“The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper and George Hauman- This classic is a favorite from my childhood and I simply could not leave it off this list. It is such a wonderful display of believing in yourself and never giving up. Through sheer willpower and effort, this little train achieves its mission and inspires kids along the way.
“What Do You Do With a Problem” by Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom- In this book the nature of the problem that the boy is experiencing exemplifies many different characteristics of fear and anxiety in my opinion. In the beginning he avoids it and tries to ignore it, but it just gets bigger and bigger. He learns that he needs to face his problems head on and when he does he finds the silver lining and things work out. I think it is a great one for worriers as well as growth mindset.
“Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin” by Chieri Uegaki and Qin Leng – This is the story of a girl who is excited to learn the violin and wants to play in a recital. There’s only one problem, she still doesn’t really know how to play the violin. Her brothers tease her and she is nervous, however she is determined and finds a way to share her love for the violin and her grandfather in a beautiful and unique way. She also finds a way to overcome her stage fright in the big moment of her performance.
“Dragon Was Terrible” by Kelly DiPucchio and Greg Pizzoli- Dragon was positively terrible and made the worst decisions. However, he turns a new leaf when he makes a new friend and proves that anyone can decide to be different. This one is so much fun and is an entertaining way to approach this subject.
“The Dreamer” by Il Sung Na- This is a pig who loves watching the birds and longs to fly. One day he decides to make his dream a reality by creating a device that will enable him to fly. It is a long road of trying and failure, but persistence is his strength and eventually success is found. This one is so inspiring and the illustrations are dreamy.
A Whale of a Mistake by Ioana Hobai- This book is all about those really big mistakes that feel like they can swallow you whole or weigh you down. It addresses how finding perspective can help you see your mistake in a different light and can help it shrink and help you grow. It’s a positively beautiful book.
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