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As adults, we know that when we face challenges and setbacks, how we perceive and respond to these obstacles can significantly impact our chances of success. Yet, for so many of our children with Dyslexia, they're taught to perceive their setbacks as a failure, something to be ashamed of, and inherently bad.
In this post, I will discuss how you can cultivate a growth mindset in your child, and help them realise that their diagnosis is not a setback, but a superpower. You can empower your child by:
Emphasising that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work
Fostering a love for learning
Focusing on effort and progress
Surrounding them with positive role models
Encouraging collaboration and peer support
Empowering your child to approach challenges positively
The concept of a growth mindset, popularised by psychologist Carol Dweck, emphasises the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. On the other hand, a fixed mindset suggests that our talents and capabilities are innate and fixed or unchangeable.
For our children with Dyslexia, adopting a growth mindset becomes even more crucial. Learning differences often lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and a tendency to focus solely on the results or lack thereof. But, we can better support our children by understanding the contrast between growth and fixed mindsets.
A fixed mindset can have detrimental effects on children with Dyslexia. If they believe their abilities are fixed and unchangeable, they often become disheartened by their challenges and view them as a reflection of their intelligence or worth. This fixed mindset creates a cycle of negativity, hindering their progress and preventing them from reaching their full potential.
Praise and feedback play a significant role in shaping a fixed or growth mindset. When children with Dyslexia receive praise solely based on their achievements or results, it reinforces the notion that their worth is tied to their performance. This leads to a fear of failure and a reluctance to step out of their comfort zone because the risk of making a mistake = no praise, which for them begins to mean they aren't good enough/smart/worthy.
By recognising that outcomes do not solely determine success, our children can begin to appreciate the progress they make along their journey with Dyslexia. Effort becomes the driving force behind their growth and development. This shift in mindset will allow them to see mistakes and setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than as indicators of failure. You may be thinking, but that's not what always happens in my child's classroom, and I get it. It's beyond frustrating, as ALL children would benefit from this way of thinking and learning. But you can shape your child's mindset at home, and that power is immense. Despite my son's initial few years at school, he was often found mentoring other kids on sports teams or at the playground who struggled when they missed a shot or lost a game. He learnt those skills at home, not in the classroom.
It is critical for our children to understand that their learning differences do not define who they are or their future potential. By embracing a growth mindset, they will build resilience and develop effective strategies to overcome life's challenges, not just those in the classroom. They learn to view their neurodivergence as a strength rather than a limitation. This mindset shift empowers our children to approach tasks positively, knowing their efforts and perseverance will ultimately lead to success.
I understand just as much as anyone that raising a child with Dyslexia requires a supportive environment that fosters this type of mindset. After highly traumatic school years, I have spent more than 20 years working tirelessly to improve my own. To now hear my ten-year-old say things like "Don't worry, Dad, that just means you're about to learn something new" or "You can do it, mum, you just have to keep going." brings me enormous pride; these are beliefs that will serve him his entire life.
Here are some strategies you can use to help cultivate a growth mindset in your child at home and school:
Encourage a love for learning: Foster a passion for knowledge by providing opportunities for exploration and discovery. Help your child understand that learning is a lifelong journey and that setbacks are a natural part of the process, regardless of your age, capability, or differences. Share your experiences and learning with your child so they can see how you effectively manage the process.
Focus on effort and progress: Celebrate the effort and progress rather than waiting to praise the end results. This could be as simple as praising a self-correction when they are reading or attempting something new or more complex than before.
Use direct praise so their minds can dispute/dismiss/diminish it. Example. Instead of "That was great." you can say, "I really liked how you sounded out the word con-tri-bu-tion." Their brain will process that they did that, so they can't discount the positive validation.
Emphasise that mistakes are valuable learning opportunities and that perseverance is key. In our house, you often hear both adults and our kids say things like - 'Mistakes mean I'm learning' or 'This is a bit hard; I must be about to learn something new.' It's a point of anticipation rather than frustration.
Provide appropriate support: Ensuring children with Dyslexia have access to the necessary resources and accommodations to support their learning needs. This may include specialised tutoring, therapies, assistive technology, or accommodations on school work as per the individual learning plan (be sure to check out my free resource on advocating for your child at school here)
Surround your child with positive role models who demonstrate a growth mindset. This includes friends, family members, the books you read together, the movies they watch, and famous Dyslexics you talk about. If my son shows an interest in a particular sportsperson, actor or writer, you can be sure I'm straight onto Google to see if they are neurodivergent in any way. 9/10 times they are. Like attracts like; your child seeing successful people they admire doing something they love successfully has a profound subconscious impact. The world is FULL of people doing extraordinary things, using their Dyslexic thinking skills; be sure they see that as much as possible.
Where possible, encourage collaboration and peer support to create a sense of belonging and empowerment with other children with similar differences.
By implementing these strategies, parents and educators can help children with Dyslexia develop a growth mindset that will serve as a foundation for their future success.
You've got this!
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