The Role of Books in Developing a Growth Mindset in Children

We all want our children to do well in life. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing them thirst for information and want to explore the world, learning how to face challenges and tackle anything that comes their way. But what many aren’t aware of is that this growth mindset isn’t a natural occurrence and is a very crucial skill we can teach our children.

Studies have found an important role of books in developing a growth mindset in children. 

Why Develop a Growth Mindset in Children

There are two types of mindsets:

• Fixed mindsets, which is the belief we are born with a given level of skill, intelligence and ability, and there are just things we are and aren’t good at.
• Growth mindsets, which is the belief that we can always shape and improve our skills, intelligence and abilities.

Children with a growth mindset are more willing to take risks, be more comfortable with new experiences, enjoy the process of learning, face challenges more positively and be able to learn from their mistakes. They will take these skills into adulthood, helping them live a happier, more positive life. 

How Books Can Help Develop a Growth Mindset in Children

When children read, they are naturally exposed to new information and see how different characters solve different problems. When they connect with these characters and situations, they can resonate with the outcome, and take the information onboard into their own life. If they are exposed to positive characters with a growth mindset, they will naturally start to exhibit similar behaviours.

“As adults, books have the power to change the way we think. This is even more prevalent in children while their minds are still developing. The right books have the power to give children a growth mindset that will influence their whole life for the better.”

Tips for Developing a Growth Mindset in Children with Books

1. Choose age-appropriate books.

The more a child can resonate with a story and the contents of a story, the more they will be able to gain from a story. In young children, choosing books that are bright, engaging and provide a fun way to learn will help pique their curiosity in reading and learning, making it easier for them to continue the habit as they age. As our children grow, we can look into more age-specific stories and long-form content to continue their interest in learning and development through books.

At Busy Books Australia, we make it incredibly easy to find age-appropriate Busy Books by separating Busy Books by age. We have Busy Books appropriate for all ages, from as young as 18 months to 2 years all the way up to 12 years of age. Each Busy Book has been written by or under the guidance of a group of child-industry experts, such as our Talk to Me Printed Busy Book, which was written by award-winning speech pathologist, Emily Mackie. This helps us ensure the material is suitable for each age group to ensure children are engaged and receiving the most from each activity and story. 

2. Expose your child to a range of book topics.

Growth mindset is all about seeking variety and learning through experience. By exposing children to a range of book topics, children can gain a greater understanding of a topic or see different ways of approaching problems.

For example, in our Busy Books, we give children a number of different puzzles and activities to learn different aspects of the same topic. In our activity book, Community & Construction, children are exposed to different professions and what they do in our community. One activity has the child matching tasks the professional does with the professional, such as putting fires out with the firefighter, while the next activity has them match what tool the person would use to do the task, such as a hose with putting fires out. 

“By exposing kids to new information in stages, they begin to learn there is always more for them to explore. It helps them start to question what’s next or want to investigate more as they learn in other areas of their life.”

3. Ask questions about what they have read.

While books can help children develop a growth-mindset with self-guided reading, parents and teachers can also play an active role in increasing their thirst for knowledge. Whether you read the story with them or know they have been reading, you can ask questions or start conversations about what they have read to get them to think in different ways about information they read.

For example, if you finished up the Community & Construction Busy Book, you may ask your child about what else they think a firefighter may do in the community. Or, if they’ve read a story book, how they think a character felt or how else they could have handled a situation. It gets your child to think deeper about the information they’ve already learned. Ensure you give praise when they show an interest in exploring new information or face new challenges with a positive attitude to promote good patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Role of Books in Developing a Growth Mindset in Children