Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that others can't do it (and sometimes do it even better) with training.
Carol S. DweckRead
Our message to parents is to focus on the process the child engages in, such as trying hard or focusing on the task - what specific things they're doing rather than, 'You're so smart. You're so good at this.' Although it's never too late to change, what you do early matters.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Encouraging a focus on effort and process rather than innate ability can foster growth in children.
Carol S. Dweck emphasizes the importance of recognizing and praising the effort and strategies that children employ in their learning processes rather than solely labeling them as 'smart' or 'good.' This approach not only instills a growth mindset but also underscores that early experiences and messages can significantly impact a child's development and attitude towards challenges.
Themes
Growth MindsetEffortLearningChildrenParenting
In practice
Example use cases
In a parent-teacher meeting, a teacher might say, 'It's important to acknowledge the effort your child put into this project.'
More from Carol S. Dweck
All quotes →Some students start thinking of their intelligence as something fixed, as carved in stone. They worry about, 'Do I have enough? Don't I have enough?'
Carol S. DweckRead
In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you're not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn't need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.
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Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.
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I loved everything. I loved sciences and I loved humanities. But ultimately, I felt that in the humanities, you know, you're writing about things that already exist. But in the sciences, you're discovering things that no one has known before. Ultimately I chose psychology because it seemed to combine science with things that I liked to think about.
Carol S. DweckRead
Business leaders who openly acknowledge people's concerns about becoming obsolete and who invest resources in workers' growth can help create a nation of learners - and perhaps resolve some of the political chaos that's bubbling around us.
Carol S. DweckRead
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