THE SCIENCE
ABOUT MINDSETS
Mindset is a simple idea discovered by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in decades of research on achievement and success—a simple idea that makes all the difference.
In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong.
In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities.
Teaching a growth mindset creates motivation and productivity in the worlds of business, education, and sports. It enhances relationships. When you read Mindset, you’ll see how.
ABOUT OUR BOOK
Most people assume that you’re born with a certain amount of intelligence, and that there’s no way to become smarter. But science shows that this is wrong.
We now know that intelligence can be developed.
When discussing how to raise our kids, the growth mindset was the most important thing we wished to instill. I thought that this was an important story to share with the world.
Perhaps your children sometimes go “I can’t do that!” or “I give up!”. Well, if they say this often enough, they might start to believe it, thus limiting their ability to learn.
I want to show your children that they can learn to do anything. This way of thinking is called a “Growth Mindset.” I’m applying the latest research from developmental
psychology in a children’s book called “Making a Splash.” Which tells a story about two siblings, Lisa and Johnny, and how they differ in their attitudes towards learning.
The book contains a powerful message about the growth mindset, that will stay with your children. The fundamental message is that it’s not about how smart you are. It’s about how smart you can become. So, when your children are confronted with tough decisions, I hope the book’s message will encourage your children to view it as an opportunity to grow, and not be afraid to fail.
It's a 40 page hardcover book with a guide for parents.
In all the research, I keep finding that the best way to learn is through stories. Even MBA students are taught through case studies. This in the book, I use a story to show children what it’s like to have a growth mindset.
I think that having a growth mindset is critical for our childrens’ development. Below are some growth Mindset resources compiled by our friends at PERTS!
Books
• Carol Dweck, Mindset: The New Technology of Success (2006) • Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code: Greatness isn’t born. It’s Grown. Here’s how. (2009)
• Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: Stories of Success (2008)
Videos
• John Legend - “Success Through Effort”
• Khan Academy - “You Can Learn Anything”
TED Talks
• Angela Lee Duckworth - “Grit” (Note: Make it clear that grit is a behavior that happens only when you have a growth mindset.) •
Derek Sivers - “Why You Need to Fail to Succeed”
Other
•Sesame Street, musician Janelle Monae sings about “The Power of Yet”
• Kizoom, Brain Jump with Ned the Neuron: Challenges Grow Your Brain
Articles, visuals, and more
• Complete Mindset Kit by PERTS, a complete guide to the growth mindset
• Infographic by Nigel Holmes on Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets
• Edutopia writes about how the brain can continue to grow much longer than we thought possible: “Neuroplasticity: Learning Physically Changes the Brain”
• Carol Dweck talks about parenting tips to encourage positive learning attitudes: “The Perils and Promise of Praise”
• Paul Tough discusses experiments in college that drastically boost learning by helping students feel like they belong: “Who Gets to Graduate?”
• Carol Dweck, “Even Geniuses Work Hard”
• Edudemic “Why the Growth Mindset is the Only Way to Learn” article
• Brainology, “You can grow your intelligence” article and reflection worksheet