Time to Grow...🌱

Y'ALL ITS FRIDAY! Hey, take a minute to pat yourself on the back for making it through another week. We believe it’s a parent's right to worry. But we’re here to help you Worry Smarter, Not Harder. Today we’re covering a "Growth Mindset" and how you can implement one into your teen's life.

Quick Thought From Us

In a world so focused on pre-defined measures of success, the idea of change and growth can seem scary. If I’m a “B student”, will I always be a “B student”? Or maybe, you’ve been training for a cross-country meet and still can’t beat your best time. What about my lack of confidence in social situations? These concerns are valid and your teen can most likely resonate with some. But, don't worry - although prominent, these worries do not have to become permanent.

By learning how to foster a “growth mindset”, your teen can start to alter their internal narrative in order to understand that change and growth are not scary, but actually possible and necessary steps to accomplishing goals.

What is a “Growth Mindset”?

The term “growth mindset” was coined by American psychologist and researcher, Carol Dweck, in 2002. To keep things brief - she’s basically a nationally revered leader in psychology and currently teaches at Stanford University… (cough cough, she’s legit).

The “growth mindset” is a relatively new concept and is kind of in contrast to the way previous generations were raised. For example, teachers and parents used to work hard to instill confidence in teens by telling them things like:

“It’s okay that you’re not a great math student… you seem to really understand science plus you’re a terrific soccer player. We can’t do everything well!”

These kinds of statements can perpetuate a fixed mindset. Carol Dweck and her team define a “growth mindset” as the belief that intelligence is something flexible with the ability to be nurtured rather than stay fixed. Basically, despite our nature, we all have the potential to learn and grow; our intelligence can be cultivated and developed like a muscle.

Having a growth mindset tells us that change is possible (even probable) - a very empowering idea, especially for teens during their mental health journeys.

Why is This So Important?

Adopting a “growth mindset" is important for two main reasons.

First, research indicates it increases motivation. When we believe that we can improve, we are more likely to put in the work and pick ourselves back up even when we fall.

Second, a “growth mindset” increases confidence. When we believe that we will eventually succeed even if it takes time, we are more comfortable taking risks because we are not afraid of failure. It becomes easier to acknowledge that each step (successful or not) is part of the learning process.

So Where is the Research?

To clarify, a “growth mindset” isn’t only about effort - obviously, the result matters too. Dweck explains that while effort plays a large part, having a growth mindset is also about trying new strategies, seeking feedback from others, not being afraid to take risks, and picking yourself back up when you fall… all steps to yield a successful outcome.

In 2007, extensive research was published on two longitudinal studies exploring the role of implicit theories of intelligence in adolescents' mathematics achievement. While this may sound fancy, these studies found that a growth mindset has extremely positive effects on student motivation, academic performance, and engagement.

Additionally, in a national survey of K-12 Teachers conducted by The Education Week Research Center, nearly all 600 participants (98%) said that based on their own data and experience, a growth mindset improves their own teaching and helps their students learn. We can keep going, but you get the idea!

7 Steps to Implement a Growth Mindset in Your Teen

1. When making changes to your daily life, mental outlook, etc. - don’t make speed a priority. Instead, emphasize that everyone is capable no matter how long it takes. As always, start with baby steps and you’ll be at your goal even sooner than expected.

2. Explain how learning works in simple terms. Habits form in the same way that muscles get stronger from working out. The more time you focus on yourself and try to build your own self-confidence, the more confident you’ll become.

3. When talking to your teen, praise their effort and hard work. For example, say things like “Your hard work in this area seems to really pay off!” versus “You seem better!” This reinforces them to stay on the right path in their pursuit of better mental health versus solely focusing on the outcome.

4. Embrace missteps along the way. Not every day will be a positive day in terms of working through certain things - but it is all a necessary part of the journey.

5. Encourage positive self-talk to reframe your teen’s perspective. Don’t let them say “Ugh, I am so bad at this” and use that kind of language. Rather, encourage them to say things like “I don’t understand this yet, but I will with more practice”. Speaking things into existence is real.

6. Work in opportunities for reflection. Encourage your teen to ask themselves, “What did I do to feel better between yesterday and today?” By assessing the efforts that lead to success, they will be more likely to replicate them in the future.

7. Value the process more than the end result. As your teen tries new things to alleviate any stresses that they may face, it won’t necessarily improve overnight. Encourage them to keep trying and embrace their mental health plan.

Note: In addition to taking these steps, parents should touch base with their teen’s coaches, mentors, and with each other in order to make sure that all messages being sent about mental health are aligned.

More Learning...

Check out this article published in the Harvard Business Review about some common misconceptions about a “growth mindset” and how to avoid them:

What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means

Remember. You’re here, and that’s enough. <3

Learning the Landscape - Being a teen in 2023, kinda sucks

The current generation of teenagers have suffered more than any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stressors of the modern digital world. Teenagers face more pressure to succeed than ever before and the combination of social distancing and social media has left teens feeling lonely, stressed, and anxious. In addition, parents are drained and burned out trying to manage the unknown ramifications of their teens' struggles in an unfamiliar digital world. Teens have always turned to their friends and parents to help them get through the hard parts of adolescence. Unfortunately, in 2023, teens have been left to rely only on themselves.

Want to discover new ways to boost your teen’s wellbeing? Sign up for a free parent coaching session with a LINK mentor expert.

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Feeling a little more in tune with your teen? Let us know what else you'd want to learn about :)

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