How did it go last week? Did you practice using the Growth Mindset Phrase?

It takes practice but WOW! What a difference you will see in your kids.

Try to actively use this weeks phrase. This Growth Mindset statement is doing 2 things.

Firstly, it is positively reinforcing great behavior, which in this case is asking for your opinion. Kids, and all of us, want to do good things. We all want positive attention and be praised for good behavior. Asking for other peoples opinion is a great skill to have. It demonstrates leadership, helps others feel valued, and can build incredible teams who can do incredible things as a strong unit. Humble people ask for others opinions; Insecure individuals and those with inflated egos do not.

Secondly, this phrase is labeling them as a “Considerate Person”. We are helping to ground their identity into a positive personality trait. By pointing out that they are in fact a considerate person based on the action they just displayed, it is not an empty comment. They will feel like the compliment has been validated in their minds and, therefore, must be true. When humans can tie their identity to a trait, they act in accordance to it naturally without effort. New connections are made in their minds to display this behavior and every time they act in accordance with it, it reinforces it further. It becomes who they area.

But be careful, it works both ways. If you label your child negatively, the same thing will happen. We never mean to do it, but it does happen. Perhaps they are playing with another child and take the other child’s toy away. You want to immediately correct this behavior but stay something like, “Don’t do that. You aren’t not a good sharer.” That statement is just as effective as the positive label. They will believe you and find opportunities to prove that phrase is correct.

Or perhaps you ask them to clean their room for the 10th time and finally say, “You are a terrible listener!” or “You are so messy!”

We never intentionally mean to hurt their identity, but it happens. Everything worth doing takes conscious practice until it becomes an unconscious, positive habit.

Try this weeks Growth Mindset Parent Challenge. Intentionally use it. Find opportunities to use positive labels with your child and watch them develop almost overnight.

Stay tuned for next week!