At Step Up Kids Run Club our mission is to help kids develop a growth mindset in a fun, kinetic way. But what is “growth mindset,” and why is it important?
Growth mindset is a term coined by educational psychologist Carol Dweck. In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (which is at the top of my recommended reading list for everyone!) she lays out the two mindsets that she has discovered in her research: fixed and growth. Those with a fixed mindset see talents, intelligence and abilities as a set of fixed traits. When they meet a challenge they are unable to overcome or face a failure, they are more likely to give up, blame circumstances, or avoid situations where they aren’t guaranteed success. Those with a growth mindset see talents, intelligence and abilities as skills that can be learned and developed. When they meet a challenge or face failure, they can approach it with resilience, accepting that they cannot do it yet, but can work to learn and develop the skills needed for success.
Here’s a great example of fixed vs. growth mindset from BigLifeJournal.com (1):
An article I read recently gave a great synopsis of why a growth mindset is so important for our kids. “Instilling principles of a growth mindset in your child from a young age can set them up for a life of success by encouraging him or her to:
- Take risks.
- Welcome new experiences.
- Enjoy the process and understand the value of learning.
- Face challenges with a positive attitude.
- Work hard.
- Learn from his or her mistakes.” (2)
At Step Up Kids Run Club, we use running as a way for kids to practice growth mindset principles. As we teach them running skills like posture, pacing and energy direction, we are also teaching them growth mindset skills like power words, positive thinking and resilience. These principles are woven into our games and drills. They are spoken by our coaches and integrated into our student’s vocabularies. And our students live out the reality of how a growth mindset can help them overcome challenges and learn new skills in running, a reality they can use when facing other life challenges as well.
Sources:
- https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/fixed-mindset-vs-growth-mindset-examples
- https://therapyworks.com/blog/language-development/home-tips/growth-mindset/