Dix Street Press
January 16th, 2026
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From Mrs. Katie: Embracing a Growth Mindset in the New Year
Embracing a Growth Mindset in the New Year
Dear Families,
The start of a new year is a wonderful time to encourage children to embrace a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can grow with effort, practice, and learning from mistakes.
Students with a growth mindset understand that challenges are opportunities to learn, not reasons to give up. They are more resilient, motivated, and willing to try new things—even when tasks feel difficult.
Tips to Encourage a Growth Mindset at Home
Praise effort, not just results: Instead of “You’re so smart,” try “I’m proud of how hard you worked!”
Normalize mistakes: Remind your child that mistakes are a natural part of learning.
Model perseverance: Talk aloud about challenges you face and how you work through them.
Set small goals: Help your child break big tasks into manageable steps to build confidence.
Celebrate progress: Recognize improvement and effort, not just the final outcome.
Starting the year with a growth mindset can help children approach school, friendships, and challenges with confidence, curiosity, and resilience. Let’s make this a year of learning, effort, and growth together!
