21 Best Growth Mindset Books for Kids to Enhance Resilience

A growth mindset can help children understand that making mistakes is a usual part of the learning process and that failure is an opportunity to try again. It encourages them to embrace challenges and persist through difficulties, leading to greater self-confidence and resilience in kids. Growth mindset books for kids are one of the best ways to foster a growth mindset that can help them develop a love of learning and a positive attitude toward their abilities.

In this blog, you will be able to understand why it is important to foster a growth mindset in kids and how you can do it. 

Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset

Having a fixed or growth mindset can greatly impact their learning and development throughout life. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that seventh-grade students taught a growth mindset had higher grades, fewer absences, better behavior, and good manners than those not trained in a growth mindset.

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Undoubtedly, kids with a growth mindset are more confident in their abilities and believe they can develop skills with hard work and dedication. They are likely to take challenges head-on and persist through them. This also helps to build self-esteem in kids at an early age.

On the other hand, kids who have a fixed mindset are more rigid in their beliefs and think that their abilities and intelligence cannot be improved. They will mostly feel discouraged and lost when challenged and are more likely to give up. 

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5 Reasons Why Kids Should Read Growth Mindset Picture Books?

Children’s books for nurturing growth mindset contain protagonists who are resilient and ready to face new challenges. By reading these best books for growth mindset for kids, they can learn a lot of things like:

1. Overcoming challenges with hard work and perseverance
2. That they have the power to change and improve their skills as they like
3. Staying adaptable and curious attitude towards problem-solving
4. Learning from failure and finding new solutions to problems
5. Striving for improvement and growth instead of perfection

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6 Characteristics of Kids With a Growth Mindset

Kids who have a growth mindset are very different from the ones who have a fixed mindset, as we’ve seen previously. A study published in the journal Child Development found that children who had a growth mindset were more likely to seek out challenges and learn from mistakes, and were less likely to give up on difficult tasks. Here are a few characteristics you will only find in kids with a growth mindset:

1. Embrace challenges: Kids who have a growth mindset look at challenges as an opportunity instead of a problem.
2. View failure as a learning opportunity: Kids who have a growth mindset look at difficulties and challenges in their lives as learning opportunities to improve their skills. 
3. Belief in hard work: Kids with a growth mindset believe that hard work and effort can help them overcome any challenge and can lead them to success or help them improve their skills.
4. Persistence: Resilience and persistence are things kids with a growth mindset stick to. With persistence, kids will not give up easily, no matter how tough the task at hand is. 
5. Focus on learning: Kids with a growth mindset need to learn. Instead of emphasizing achieving a certain grade, they will always keep their focus on learning and development.  
6. Embrace feedback: Children with a growth mindset will always take feedback positively and try to learn and improve from it. 

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9 Questions to Ask Kids With Growth Mindset Picture Books

1. In what ways could the task have been made more challenging by the protagonist?
2. What might be the reasons behind the protagonist’s reluctance to attempt something new?
3. What changes could the protagonist make in their approach for the next time?
4. Would you categorize the protagonist’s mindset as fixed or growth? Please elaborate.
5. What can the protagonist learn from their mistake?
6. Did the protagonist seek assistance when they required it? Would seeking help have made a difference?
7. What are some alternative strategies that the protagonist could experiment with?
8. How did the protagonist use their failures as a stepping stone to success?
9. How might the protagonist approach or resolve their problem?

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How to Read With Your Child

It is essential to sit and read with your child as it will help them cognitively and will promote the development of reading habits. Here are some tips to make reading with your child easier:

• Choose the right book: To ensure you select an appropriate book, consider your child’s interests and age, as well as their developmental stage. It’s important to choose a book that is both challenging and enjoyable for them.
• Be expressive: To engage your child, read with expression by using different tones, pitches, and pacing that match the story and characters.
• Ask questions: Encourage your child to participate in the reading and learning experience by asking questions or allowing them to turn the pages. This promotes engagement and comprehension skills.
• Use real-life experiences: Help your child make connections to the story by relating it to their own experiences or encouraging them to connect the story to other aspects of their life. This enhances their critical thinking and understanding.
• Discuss the story: After reading, engage your child in a discussion about the story. Ask open-ended questions that promote critical thinking and help them understand the story on a deeper level.
• Read and read again: Re-reading the same story can help reinforce vocabulary and promote comprehension. Your child may enjoy hearing the story again and again, so don’t be afraid to repeat it.

How Can Parents Encourage Reading – 7 Best Ways?

Parents play a huge role in encouraging kids to read. And when it comes to pushing them to read more, there are some easy ways to encourage them:

1. Set a good example by reading yourself first. This will encourage kids to read too. 
2. Making reading fun is important to encourage kids to read. Select books with engaging content, illustrations, or interactive features.
3. Read the story out loud. Reading aloud is a great way to engage children in reading and help them develop their skills.
4. Create a reading routine for them. This will help to make reading a regular part of your child’s routine.
5. Visiting the library frequently is a great way to expose kids to different books and genres. This also helps them discover new authors.
6. Give kids the freedom to choose their own books, as it will encourage them to be more invested in reading.
7. Celebrate your kid’s reading accomplishments, like finishing a book or reading for a specific amount of time. This will help them feel proud and motivated to continue reading.

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21 Best Motivating Growth Mindset Books for Kids

Growth mindset books for kids are one of the best ways to help them develop a mindset that makes them face new challenges with a never-say-die attitude. Here are some of the best growth mindset books for kids you absolutely need to read with them:

1. “Your Fantastic Elastic Brain” by JoAnn Deak: Read this book with your kids to teach them how the brain works and encourages them to develop a growth mindset by embracing challenges and learning from their mistakes.
2. “The Most Magnificent Thing” by Ashley Spires: This book tells the story of a girl who sets out to build the most magnificent thing but faces challenges along the way. This story will encourage kids to persevere through obstacles and embrace the process of learning and creating.
3. “Ish” by Peter H. Reynolds: If you want your kids to learn that it’s okay to make mistakes and that creativity is about expression, not perfection, this is the perfect book to read. 
4. “Rosie Revere, Engineer” by Andrea Beaty: Follow the story of a young girl who loves to invent but gets discouraged after a failed invention. This book encourages kids to pursue their passions and not be afraid of failure.
5. “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds: If you’re looking for a book that encourages kids to embrace their creativity and discover their unique talents, this is it!
6. “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae: Teach your kids the importance of believing in themselves and not giving up, even if others doubt them, with this wonderful book.
7. “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper: A classic story, this book makes kids believe in themselves and never give up, even in the face of seemingly impossible obstacles.
8. “The Growth Mindset Coach” by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley: Looking for a book that provides parents and teachers with activities and strategies to help kids develop a growth mindset? This is your Bible. 
9. “Beautiful Oops!” by Barney Saltzberg: Teach your kids that mistakes can lead to discoveries and encourages them to embrace their creativity and imagination with this well-written book.
10. “What Do You Do With a Problem?” by Kobi Yamada: Motivate your kids and teach them how to face and overcome challenges with a growth mindset with this book.
11. “Salt in His Shoes” by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan: This book tells the story of basketball legend Michael Jordan and how he learned to develop a growth mindset through hard work and determination.
12. “After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)” by Dan Santat: This classic story has been a motivator to us all and it’s time to whip it out for your kids as well. 
13. “The Energy Bus for Kids” by Jon Gordon: Talk about the power of positivity and how to develop a growth mindset through positive thinking and actions with this wonderful book.
14. “The OK Book” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: This book encourages kids to embrace their unique talents and to be okay with being different.
15. “The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do” by Ashley Spires: Teach your kids the importance of trying new things and not being afraid of failure with this book.
16. “Mistakes That Worked” by Charlotte Foltz Jones: This book tells the stories of famous inventors and how their mistakes led to some of their greatest discoveries.
17. “Little Elliot, Big City” by Mike Curato: Little Elliot and his adventures around the big city will teach your kids the importance of being resilient and overcoming obstacles with a growth mindset.
18. “How to Catch a Star” by Oliver Jeffers: The protagonist in this book will encourage your kids to dream big and pursue their passions with determination and creativity.
19. “The Magic of Mistakes” by Andrea Beaty: This engaging story is a good one to teach your kids that mistakes can lead to discoveries and encourages them to embrace their creativity and imagination.
20. “Mindset Matters” by Bryan Smith: This is one of the best books that promote a growth mindset for kids. It teaches kids how to develop a growth mindset and the benefits of embracing challenges and learning from mistakes.
21. “What Do You Do With a Chance?” by Kobi Yamada: A wonderful story, this one will encourage your kids to seize opportunities and take risks, even if they feel scared or uncertain, and to learn from every experience.

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Conclusion

Now when we know about the books that promote growth mindset for kids, it’s time to take action! Get your kids these books as per their interests and watch their curiosity and creativity increase!

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