15 Fun and Engaging Growth Mindset Activities for Kids to Build Confidence
In today’s fast-changing world, teaching kids a growth mindset is just as important as teaching them math, reading, or science. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with practice, learning, and determination. It helps children embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and become more confident in their abilities.
Unfortunately, many kids grow up thinking that they are either “good” or “bad” at something and that their abilities are fixed. This is known as a fixed mindset, and it can limit a child’s potential. By encouraging a growth mindset from an early age, parents and teachers can help children develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and a love for learning.
Below are 15 fun and engaging growth mindset activities for kids that not only build confidence but also make the process exciting and memorable.
1. The “I Can Learn” Journal
Give your child a notebook dedicated to writing down something new they learn each day. It could be a fact, a skill, or a personal realization. This daily habit reinforces the idea that learning is a lifelong journey and that improvement comes with effort.
2. The Challenge Jar
Fill a jar with slips of paper, each containing a small challenge—such as “Draw a self-portrait,” “Try writing with your non-dominant hand,” or “Learn a new word.” Kids pick one daily or weekly. This encourages them to step out of their comfort zone.
3. Compliment Circle
Whether at home with siblings or in a classroom, have kids sit in a circle and take turns giving each other genuine compliments. This activity boosts self-esteem, fosters empathy, and helps children focus on others’ strengths as well as their own.
4. Growth Mindset Role Models
Read biographies or watch videos about people like Thomas Edison, J.K. Rowling, or Serena Williams—individuals who faced multiple failures before achieving success. Discuss how persistence and learning from mistakes helped them succeed.
5. The “Yet” Game
Whenever your child says, “I can’t do this,” encourage them to add the word “yet” at the end. This small language shift turns a negative statement into a hopeful one and helps children see that improvement is possible with practice.
6. Puzzle Time
Jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, and brain teasers are excellent tools for building problem-solving skills. Encourage your child to work through the challenge instead of giving up when it feels hard.
7. Learn a New Skill Together
Choose a skill that neither you nor your child has mastered—like painting with watercolors, learning sign language, or baking bread. By learning alongside them, you model that it’s okay to be a beginner.
8. Mistake Celebration Day
Dedicate one day a week to openly sharing mistakes made during the week. Discuss what was learned from them and even reward “the best mistake” with a small prize. This helps kids see mistakes as valuable learning experiences.
9. Positive Affirmations Wall
Create a board where your child can post affirmations like, “I can improve with practice” or “I am capable of learning new things.” Reading these daily can boost confidence and encourage a positive outlook.
10. Role-Play Problem Solving
Give kids scenarios to act out—such as losing a game or having a disagreement with a friend—and let them come up with solutions. This builds social skills, adaptability, and resilience.
11. Growth Mindset Art Projects
Ask your child to draw or paint a goal they want to achieve, along with the steps they need to take to get there. Visualizing goals makes them more real and attainable.
12. Team-Building Games
Activities like scavenger hunts, relay races, or group challenges help kids understand the value of teamwork and persistence. When working together, they learn that success often requires cooperation.
13. Mindfulness & Breathing Exercises
Teaching children simple breathing techniques or mindfulness activities can help them manage stress and frustration during challenging tasks. Calm minds are better equipped to handle obstacles.
14. Storytelling with a Twist
Encourage kids to create stories where the main character faces multiple failures but eventually succeeds. This creative exercise reinforces the idea that setbacks are part of the journey.
15. Gratitude Practice
At the end of each day, ask your child to share three things they are grateful for. Gratitude shifts their focus from what went wrong to what went right, promoting optimism and emotional resilience.
Why Growth Mindset Activities Work
These activities work because they focus on effort, persistence, and learning from mistakes—the core principles of a growth mindset. When kids regularly practice these habits, they begin to naturally approach challenges with curiosity rather than fear.
By turning growth mindset lessons into fun and engaging activities, you help children internalize these valuable life skills without feeling like they’re in a formal lesson.
Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Model a Growth Mindset: Let kids see you learning from your own mistakes.
- Praise Effort, Not Just Results: Instead of saying “You’re so smart,” say “I’m proud of how hard you worked.”
- Make Challenges Fun: Turn learning into a game so that trying new things feels exciting.
Final Thoughts
Raising confident, resilient kids starts with the mindset they carry into each new challenge. With these 15 fun and engaging growth mindset activities, you can help children see that they are capable of learning, improving, and achieving their dreams.