Carol Dweck, a well-known developmental psychologist at Stanford University, believes that the most important principle in raising children is to teach them to believe that success does not come from innate intelligence, but from hard work.
This way of thinking is what we often call a growth mindset. It can help children recover from failures and setbacks as quickly as possible, encourage children to try new things bravely, and make children become more confident and determined people.
01 The Dot
《DOT》
Growth mindset theme:
Coping with challenges, accepting failure, positive self-suggestion and Self-confidence.
Picture book introduction:
Vashti, who could not draw, drew a dot with the encouragement of the teacher. The teacher solemnly asked Vashti to sign the painting, framed the painting, and hung it on the wall for exhibition.
With the teacher's encouragement, Vashti began to try to draw dots of more sizes, colors, and creativity. Vashti not only learned to draw, but also fell in love with it.
Correct encouragement and timely guidance from adults are really important for children.
Just like in this picture book, the teacher who encourages the children to bravely pick up the paintbrush inspires the children to take the first step in painting. However, even a small step can introduce children to the world of art.
02 Beautiful Oops
"Beautiful Oops"
Growth mindset theme:
Learn from making mistakes, overcome obstacles, and confront Challenge and change your thinking.
Picture book introduction:
Oops is generally used in the context of doing something wrong, such as accidentally pouring coffee on the book, tearing a piece of paper when turning the page, When drawing, watercolor drips on the drawing paper...At this time, I will subconsciously shout: Oops!
How can we turn erroneous Oops into something valuable? This picture book provides children with a new perspective on looking at mistakes:
A piece of paper with a tear can be turned into a crocodile's big mouth; a piece of paper with large coffee stains can be turned into various small Animals; a folded corner of paper can turn into a penguin's head; a few drops of purple watercolor on paper can turn into a piggy car.
Teared, stained, and torn paper... we can use our imagination to turn every flaw into a beautiful work of art.
Recognizing that mistakes are not terrible, and learning new knowledge from mistakes is one of the characteristics of a growth mindset.
03 Jabari Jumps
Growth Mindset Theme:
Overcoming fear of failure, courage and perseverance.
Picture book introduction:
The first time swimming in life, the first time diving in life...
For children, almost everything they do, These are all first experiences in life. When they cower because of fear, what we have to do is to give them a gentle push and let them feel brave and comfortable to experience the novelty for the first time.
The father’s approach in this picture book is very worthy of our reference.
The boy wants to practice diving for the first time, but he is afraid.
First he asked other children to queue in front of him, then he excused himself as a little tired, and finally, the boy said he forgot to do stretching exercises...
Dad squatted down and Comfort the boy and say: It is normal to be afraid, and dad will be afraid sometimes. But I take a deep breath and tell myself: I'm ready.
When the boy followed his father's instructions and finally overcame his fear and completed the dive, he happily shouted to everyone, "I'm ready, I want to do it again!"
This picture book can encourage children to overcome their fears and face challenges bravely.
04 Rosie Revere, Engineer
"Rosie the Little Engineer"
Growth mindset theme:
Self-confidence and perseverance, Accept failure and learn from your mistakes.
Picture book introduction:
Rosie dreams of becoming an engineer. She likes to look for parts in the trash and make some small inventions.
One day, Rosie used a fan blade and a cheese sprayer to design a hat for her uncle, the animal caretaker. But when my uncle saw the hat, he burst out laughing. The devastated Rossi hid his dream of being an engineer.
Not long after, my great-great-grandmother came to visit and accidentally mentioned her dream of flying when she was young.
Rosie wants to make a flying machine to fulfill her great-great-grandmother’s only wish. Unfortunately, the aircraft fell to the ground shortly after it flew into the sky. Rossi thought that he had failed again.
The great-great-grandmother who happened to see this scene encouraged Rosie and said: Life might have its failures, but this was not it. The only true failure can come if you quit. The real failure in life is Choose to give up.
Rossi realized that every failed attempt was actually a step towards success. Therefore, she no longer fears failure and ridicule, but instead improves her inventive device by making mistakes and failing.
05 The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
"The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes"
Growth Mindset Theme:
Persistence, Perseverance and Confidence Heart, not afraid of making mistakes and failing.
Picture book introduction:
Carol Dweck found that if parents often praise their children's IQ instead of praising their children's efforts, the children will even Will avoid doing things that might go wrong.
This makes children less confident and uncomfortable.
This book writes about Beatrice, a girl who never makes mistakes.
She always remembers to do her homework, make her bed, and take the initiative to greet her little fans...and her juggling performance even ranked first in the talent show for three consecutive years.
Although she never makes mistakes, Beatrice is not happy. Because it is too hard to keep making no mistakes and not dare to try anything.
This story tells children that everyone makes mistakes, and the important thing is that we can learn the positive side from our mistakes. So, don’t strive for perfection, and don’t feel sorry for yourself for making mistakes.
Instead of being a perfect child who never makes mistakes, it is better to enjoy the unexpected surprises in life.
06 The Most Magnificent Thing
《The Most Magnificent Thing》
Growth Mindset Theme:
Perseverance and taking the initiative to meet challenges , learn from mistakes.
Picture book introduction:
How to overcome setbacks and failures, big and small, in life?
When encountering setbacks, should you choose to give up or continue to try hard?
The little girl in this picture book can give us some insights:
The girl wants to make the most gorgeous thing in the world. She tried to make it round and square; long and short; large and small... But no matter how many ways she tried, the girl couldn't make it. What you want.
After failing many times, the girl held her injured hand and sat on the ground in frustration, thinking: "I'm not good at this. I quit." (I'm not good at this. I quit.) )
Then, the girl who slowly calmed down tried to look at her failure from a new perspective again, summed up the experience from the previous failure experience, and started her work again.
Believing in the meaning of hard work and perseverance, and being willing to work hard with full motivation, this is the greatest advantage that a growth mindset gives children.
07 Giraffes can't dance
《Giraffes can't dance》
Growth mindset theme:
The power of YET, Confidence and Perseverance
Picture book introduction:
Carol Dweck once mentioned the power of YET in a TED speech: YET means that the child is only temporarily underachieving. Ideal, it means that children can make progress next time through hard work.
The same is true for Gerald the giraffe in this picture book.
Giraffe Gerald, who could not dance for the time being because his neck was too long and his legs were too thin, was ridiculed by everyone.
Fortunately, there was a wise little cricket who encouraged the giraffe and said:
Sometimes when you're different you just need a different song. It's just a different song.
This different song, in my understanding, is a different method and approach. The giraffe failed, probably because the method was wrong, and what we should do is to keep looking for the right method, the appropriate method.
Therefore, this picture book is also used abroad to teach children the difference between things we can't do yet and things we can't do. As Carol Dweck said, children are temporarily unqualified. As long as they work hard and find a way, they will definitely be able to do it.
This is the power of a growth mindset.
Conclusion
The above seven growth mindset picture books are all aimed at cultivating children's perseverance, hard work and self-confidence.
We have also mentioned in an article before: Talent does not determine a person's achievement, hard work can bring people closer to success. In short, a growth mindset is the belief that as long as you work hard, you can do better.
It is this difference in thinking patterns that determines what kind of person a child will become in the future.