How Growth Mindset Builds Everyday Resilience: Your Free 5-Step Guide

"I'm not good at maths"

"I can't do this"

I'm rubbish at reading"
 

How many times have you heard a child say something like this? And how many times have you wondered how to help them see themselves differently?

Children's Mental Health Week may be coming to an end, but the work of supporting young people's wellbeing is a daily commitment that extends far beyond awareness campaigns. As teachers, we hold a unique and powerful position in shaping how children view themselves, their abilities, and their potential.

The statistics are sobering: 1 in 6 children and young people now have a diagnosable mental health condition. While clinical interventions are essential for those who need them, there's also tremendous value in preventative approaches that build resilience and emotional strength in all learners.

One of the most effective tools we have at our disposal? Growth mindset.

Understanding Growth Mindset

Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, effort, and learning from mistakes. It stands in contrast to a fixed mindset—the belief that abilities are static and unchangeable.

"In a growth mindset, challenges are exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh, I'm going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here's a chance to grow" Carol Dweck

For children struggling with mental health challenges, or those at risk of developing them, growth mindset offers something profound: hope. It provides a framework for understanding that today's difficulties don't define tomorrow's possibilities.

But growth mindset isn't just about positive thinking. It's about changing the fundamental narrative children tell themselves about failure, challenge, and their own capacity to learn and grow.

"This point is . . . crucial,” writes Dweck. “In the fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome. If you fail — or if you’re not the best — it’s all been wasted. The growth mindset allows people to value what they’re doing regardless of the outcome." Carol Dweck

The Mental Health Connection

Children with a fixed mindset often experience:

• Anxiety around making mistakes
• Avoidance of challenges that might expose their perceived limitations
• Shame when they struggle
• A belief that needing help indicates weakness
• Lower resilience when facing setbacks

In contrast, children with a growth mindset tend to:

• View challenges as opportunities rather than threats
• Persist longer when faced with difficulty
• Seek help as a learning strategy
• Recover more quickly from setbacks
• Experience less anxiety around performance

The difference isn't about innate ability—it's about the stories children tell themselves about what it means to struggle, to not know something immediately, or to need support.
 

Five Practical Strategies for Your Classroom
 

1. Effort Over Intelligence

Instead of: "You're so clever!" Try: "I'm really impressed by how you kept trying different approaches."

Why this matters: Praising intelligence suggests that success comes from something innate and unchangeable. Praising effort reinforces that success comes from actions they can control.
 

2. Highlight Approach

Instead of: "Well done, that's correct." Try: "I see you tried different methods to solve this problem. That's excellent problem-solving!"

Why this matters: Acknowledging the process, not just the outcome, helps children understand that learning is about the journey. This is particularly powerful for learners who struggle—their effort and strategies deserve recognition even when the answer isn't perfect.
 

3. Positive Responses to Challenge

Instead of: "This is too hard for you right now." Try: "It's okay not to know the answer. Let's figure it out together. Learning happens when we face challenges."

Why this matters: How we frame difficulty shapes whether children see it as a threat or an opportunity. When we normalize not knowing, we remove the shame that can trigger anxiety.
 

4. Reframe Failure

Instead of: "That's wrong, try again." Try: "Making mistakes is part of learning. What can we learn from this to help us improve next time?"

Why this matters: For children prone to anxiety or low self-esteem, mistakes can feel catastrophic. Reframing them as information rather than failure reduces their emotional weight.
 

5. Celebrate Progress

Instead of: Focusing only on end achievements Try: "Look at how much you've grown since the beginning! Your hard work is paying off."

Why this matters: Progress tracking makes growth visible and concrete. It helps children see that their efforts are making a difference, which builds both confidence and motivation.

 

The Language We Use Matters

Every interaction is an opportunity to either reinforce a fixed mindset or cultivate a growth mindset. The casual comments we make, the way we respond when a child says "I can't do this," and how we celebrate success all contribute to the internal narrative children develop.

Consider these common scenarios:
 

Scenario 1: A child struggles with reading

Fixed mindset response: "Some people are just naturally good at reading. You might be better at other things."

Growth mindset response: "Reading is like building a muscle—the more you practice, the stronger you get. Let's work on this together."
 

Scenario 2: A child gives up quickly on a maths problem

Fixed mindset response: "Maybe maths just isn't your strong suit."

Growth mindset response: "I notice you stopped when it got tricky. That's exactly when your brain is growing the most! Let's break this down into smaller steps."
 

Scenario 3: A child succeeds easily

Fixed mindset response: "You're a natural! This is so easy for you."

Growth mindset response: "That came quickly to you. Should we find something more challenging so your brain can really grow?"

 

Beyond the Classroom: Whole-School Approaches

While individual teachers can make an enormous difference, growth mindset has the greatest impact when it's embedded throughout a school's culture:
 

Display boards that celebrate learning processes, mistakes that led to breakthroughs, and effort rather than just achievement

Assembly themes that share stories of perseverance, famous figures who failed before succeeding, and the science of neuroplasticity

Staff modelling where teachers share their own learning challenges and growth moments with students

Parent engagement that helps families understand and reinforce growth mindset at home

Policy alignment where assessment and feedback practices emphasize progress and development
 

Special Considerations for SEND

Growth mindset is particularly powerful for children with special educational needs, who often face additional challenges and setbacks in their learning journey.

However, it's crucial to implement it thoughtfully:

Avoid toxic positivity: "You can do anything if you try hard enough" isn't helpful for a child with genuine barriers. Instead: "With the right strategies and support, you can make progress."

Acknowledge real challenges: "Your dyslexia makes reading harder, AND your brain can develop stronger reading skills with practice and the right tools."

Celebrate all progress: For some children, what might seem like small steps represent enormous effort and growth. Honour that.

Provide appropriate scaffolding: Growth mindset doesn't mean removing support—it means helping children understand that using support is a smart strategy, not a sign of weakness.
 

The Long-Term Impact

When children internalize growth mindset, they develop more than academic skills. They build:

• Resilience to face life's inevitable setbacks
• Self-compassion when things don't go as planned
• Courage to try new things and take healthy risks
• Persistence to work toward long-term goals
• A sense of agency over their own development

These are protective factors against mental health challenges. They're the psychological tools that help young people navigate stress, disappointment, and uncertainty.
 

Moving Forward

Children's Mental Health Week reminds us of the importance of this work, but the real impact happens in the daily interactions between educators and students. Every time we respond to a mistake with curiosity instead of judgment, every time we celebrate effort alongside achievement, every time we help a child see their own growth—we're building not just better learners, but more resilient human beings.

The beauty of growth mindset is that it doesn't require expensive programs or major curriculum changes. It requires intention, consistency, and a commitment to the language we use and the culture we create.

As we move beyond this awareness week, let's carry forward the commitment to building classroom environments where every child—regardless of their starting point or challenges—can develop the confidence and resilience to thrive.
 

Download Your Free Resource

Our "Cultivating Confidence: 5 Step Guide to a Growth Mindset" provides practical examples and strategies you can implement immediately in your classroom. Whether you're a classroom teacher, SENCO, or school leader, this PDF offers concrete ways to embed growth mindset into your daily practice.

The Long-Term Impact

When children internalize growth mindset, they develop more than academic skills. They build:

• Resilience to face life's inevitable setbacks
• Self-compassion when things don't go as planned
• Courage to try new things and take healthy risks
• Persistence to work toward long-term goals
• A sense of agency over their own development

These are protective factors against mental health challenges. They're the psychological tools that help young people navigate stress, disappointment, and uncertainty.
 

Moving Forward

Children's Mental Health Week reminds us of the importance of this work, but the real impact happens in the daily interactions between educators and students. Every time we respond to a mistake with curiosity instead of judgment, every time we celebrate effort alongside achievement, every time we help a child see their own growth—we're building not just better learners, but more resilient human beings.

The beauty of growth mindset is that it doesn't require expensive programs or major curriculum changes. It requires intention, consistency, and a commitment to the language we use and the culture we create.

As we move beyond this awareness week, let's carry forward the commitment to building classroom environments where every child—regardless of their starting point or challenges—can develop the confidence and resilience to thrive.
 

Download Your Free Resource

Our "Cultivating Confidence: 5 Step Guide to a Growth Mindset" provides practical examples and strategies you can implement immediately in your classroom. Whether you're a classroom teacher, SENCO, or school leader, this PDF offers concrete ways to embed growth mindset into your daily practice.
 

Download the PDF
 

Want Whole-School Impact?

Growth mindset is just one element of creating truly inclusive learning environments. If you're looking for comprehensive, evidence-based SEND training that supports every member of staff, explore STEPS - our whole-school CPD platform trusted by over 500 schools across the UK and beyond.

STEPS provides bite-sized, practical training modules that help all staff understand and support learners with SEND, building confidence and capability across your entire team.

Learn more about STEPS