We know that helping children believe in themselves is just as important as teaching them letters and numbers. That’s where a growth mindset comes in — the idea that abilities and intelligence can grow with effort, learning, and persistence.
Even in the early years, the way we talk to and encourage children has a huge impact on how they see themselves as learners. When we nurture a growth mindset, we’re helping children develop resilience, confidence and a lifelong love of learning.
What Is a Growth Mindset, Exactly?
The term “growth mindset” comes from psychologist Carol Dweck, who found that people who believe they can improve through effort tend to achieve more than those who think their abilities are fixed.
For children, this might look like:
- Saying “I can’t do it yet,” instead of “I can’t do it.”
- Trying again after a mistake.
- Feeling proud of how hard they tried, not just the outcome.
Everyday Ways to Encourage a Growth Mindset
At Saige, we build a growth mindset into everyday learning through:
- Positive language: We praise effort, strategies and persistence. Instead of “You’re so smart,” we say, “You worked really hard on that puzzle!”
- Modelling mistakes: Educators openly talk about their own mistakes and how they learn from them. It helps children feel safe to take risks and have a go.
- Open-ended play: Activities where there’s no “right” answer allow children to problem-solve and come up with their own solutions.
- Reflection time: We regularly ask children questions like “What did you learn from that?” or “What would you do differently next time?”
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Whether it’s building a tricky tower or learning to zip up a jacket, early learners often face challenges. At Saige, we use these moments to encourage children to keep trying, ask for help when they need it, and celebrate their progress.
Mistakes aren’t seen as failures — they’re stepping stones to success.
Families Play a Big Role, Too
Parents and carers are a child’s first teachers. You can support a growth mindset at home by:
- Talking about effort, not just achievement.
- Sharing stories of times when you learned from mistakes.
- Encouraging your child to try new things, even if they feel tricky at first.
At Saige, we want every child to believe in their own potential. By nurturing a growth mindset from the very beginning, we’re helping them become confident, curious learners who aren’t afraid to take on the world — one small step at a time.