5 Ways to Build Your Preschooler’s Math “Growth Mindset”
Jul 21, 2024
While learning math skills is important for your preschooler’s future academic success, seeing themselves as a capable math learner—and having the ability to persist through challenges—has an even bigger impact on their math education and beyond.
Through my work with kids both one-on-one and in the classroom, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful a growth mindset can be when kids are faced with new challenges. Here are five practical ways you can help your child learn to persist, play, and grow as they learn academic skills:
1. Emphasize hands-on learning
Traditional methods like flashcards and worksheets can be boring and frustrating! Instead, use interactive math games and puzzles that spark curiosity and creativity. These activities reinforce math concepts while encouraging flexible thinking and problem-solving skills. Our Grow Into Math Instagram page is full of free, research-backed math games if you’re looking for ideas!
2. Show your own growth:
While you might hear adults say that they’re “not a math person” (and you might even say it yourself!), math ability is not something you’re born with! Show your child that math skills can be developed through effort and persistence by sharing something that you’re learning and how you’re putting in effort to achieve your goal—even if it didn’t come easily at first. This can be as simple as opening a jar or talking about how you’re working hard to improve at a new hobby.
If your child is stuck in the loop of saying “I don’t know” or “I can’t do that,” encourage them to add the word “yet!” “I can’t do that YET” leaves room for effort and improvement! Check out this great Sesame Street video for a fun introduction of this small but powerful change.
3. Incorporate math talk and play:
Integrate math into your child’s daily routine through casual conversations about numbers, shapes, and patterns. Discuss how math relates to everyday activities like cooking, shopping, building, or whatever activity your child loves. This helps children see math as relevant and engaging rather than intimidating.
If you’re looking for ways to get started with early math, grab this free PDF for ideas on how to incorporate joyful math into your child’s daily routine.
4. Celebrate effort over achievement:
Celebrate your child's effort and progress, regardless of the outcome. Instead of “Wow, you built such a tall tower,” try saying: “You’re working so hard on building that tower! I saw how you didn’t give up when it fell down the first time.” This small change encourages them to see challenges as opportunities for growth, and not get discouraged if they don’t get something right on the first try.
5. Let them struggle:
This might be the hardest one! Resist the urge to solve problems for your child immediately. Instead, provide support and guidance while allowing them to explore different strategies independently. For example, if you’re working on a puzzle together, try asking open-ended questions like “What if you try turning the piece a different way?” or offering hints like “I think I might see something in the top row that might match” rather than taking over. This gives your child a chance to stretch and grow their own problem-solving abilities and persistence.
By incorporating these five simple strategies into your daily interactions and routines, you can help your child develop a positive attitude towards math and cultivate a growth mindset that extends way beyond the classroom. Emphasizing effort, resilience, and curiosity will equip them with valuable skills for navigating challenges throughout their academic journey and beyond.
Interested in diving deeper into the research? Here are a few great papers about how to encourage persistence in young children from my friend and colleague Dr. Julia Leonard: