A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication, and persistence. It’s about understanding that challenges and mistakes are opportunities for growth, not signs of failure. For kids, having a growth mindset can help them approach learning with curiosity, resilience, and confidence.
In this blog, we share a collection of growth mindset quotes for kids that inspire them to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and believe in their ability to improve. These quotes encourage kids to keep trying, stay positive, and see every setback as a chance to grow.
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Table of Contents
Why Teach Kids About Growth Mindset
Teaching kids about growth mindset helps them build resilience, perseverance, and a positive attitude toward learning. When children understand that their abilities can be developed through effort and persistence, they become more confident and motivated to take on challenges. Growth mindset encourages children to embrace mistakes as opportunities for learning, which helps them develop problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence. By fostering a growth mindset, parents and educators can empower kids to face challenges with a positive attitude, celebrate progress, and continue growing in every aspect of their lives.
11 Growth Mindset Quotes for Kids
#1 “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” — James Joyce
Mistakes lead to learning.
Every time you make a mistake, you open a door to understanding something new.
Journal Prompt: What’s a mistake that helped you discover something important?
#2 “It’s hard, but that’s what makes it great.” — Tom Hanks
The best things are the hardest won.
The effort and struggle make achievements feel meaningful and rewarding.
Journal Prompt: What’s something hard you’re proud of doing?
#3 “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” — John Wooden
Focus on your strengths.
Even if some things are tough, you still have talents and abilities you can use.
Journal Prompt: What’s something you can do today that makes a difference?
#4 “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
Keep going no matter what.
Both success and failure are just steps on the journey—what matters most is your determination.
Journal Prompt: When did you keep going after a setback?
#5 “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
Action is the first step to success.
Sometimes the hardest part is just beginning—but that’s how everything great begins.
Journal Prompt: What’s something small you can start today?
#6 “The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it is the hallmark of a growth mindset.” — Carol Dweck
Growth comes from challenge.
Being willing to push past comfort zones shows true strength and dedication.
Journal Prompt: What challenge are you willing to stick with?
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#7 “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” — A.A. Milne
You’re more capable than you know.
Often, we forget our own power—but it’s always there, ready to shine.
Journal Prompt: When did you surprise yourself by being brave or smart?
#8 “You learn something valuable from significant events—but you never touch your true potential until you challenge yourself.” — Roy T. Bennett
Growth needs challenge.
Life teaches lessons, but your real strength shows when you take on something difficult.
Journal Prompt: What challenge could help you reach your full potential?
#9 “Picture your brain forming new connections… Keep on going.” — Carol Dweck
Learning changes your brain.
Every time you try something new, your brain grows—literally!
Journal Prompt: What new skill or idea are you working on learning?
#10 “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.” — Elon Musk
Determination beats the odds.
Big dreams can come true when you care enough to keep going, no matter what.
Journal Prompt: What’s something important to you that you want to stick with?
#11 “Success is about being your best self, not being better than others.” — Carol Dweck
Compete with yourself, not others.
It’s not about winning—it’s about improving and becoming the best version of you.
Journal Prompt: How are you working on being your best self?
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Ways to Use These Quotes
- Growth Mindset Journals: After reading a growth mindset quote for kids, encourage children to write about a time when they faced a challenge and how they overcame it. They can reflect on the lessons they learned and how they grew stronger through the experience.
- Growth Mindset Discussion: Share a growth mindset quote for kids and start a conversation about how they can use a growth mindset in different areas of their lives. Ask questions like, “What’s a challenge you’re facing right now?” or “How can you keep improving even when something is difficult?”
- Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results: Use a growth mindset quote for kids to reinforce the idea that effort and persistence are more important than immediate success. Encourage kids to recognize the hard work they put into learning, rather than focusing solely on the outcome.
- Growth Mindset Art Projects: Share a growth mindset quote for kids and ask children to create art that represents growth. Whether it’s drawing a plant growing from a seed or a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, this activity helps them visualize the idea of personal development.
- Resilience Role-Playing: Use a growth mindset quote for kids to start a role-playing activity where kids act out different scenarios where they face a challenge and have to keep trying, just like someone with a growth mindset would. This helps them practice perseverance and problem-solving.
- Goal-Setting for Growth: Share a growth mindset quote for kids and help kids set small goals to work toward, whether it’s improving a skill, learning something new, or completing a challenging task. Celebrate progress and persistence along the way.
Additional Resources
Growth Mindset Books For Kids
- Early Elementary Children (Ages 3-6)
- Lower Elementary Children (Ages 7-9)
- Upper Elementary Children (Ages 9-11)
Growth Mindset Activities For Kids
- Growth Mindset Challenge: After reading a growth mindset quote for kids, create a growth mindset challenge where kids try something new, like learning a new skill or completing a difficult task. Remind them that mistakes are part of the process and encourage them to keep trying.
- Growth Mindset Poster: Share a growth mindset quote for kids and help kids create a poster that reminds them of the power of persistence and effort. They can hang it up as a daily reminder to keep working hard and stay positive.
- Failure to Success Reflection: Share a growth mindset quote for kids and have children think about a time they failed at something and what they learned from it. Ask them to write or draw about how they turned that failure into a success, helping them see failure as part of growth.
- Growth Mindset Storytelling: After reading a growth mindset quote for kids, ask kids to create a story about a character who faces challenges but keeps trying and learns along the way. This encourages them to apply the concept of resilience and growth to their imagination.
More Ideas For Parents & Caregivers
- Encourage Perseverance at Home: Use a growth mindset quote for kids to encourage your child to keep trying when faced with challenges at home. Whether it’s completing a puzzle or learning a new task, remind them that effort is the key to improvement.
- Model a Growth Mindset: Share a growth mindset quote for kids and model how you approach challenges. Whether it’s at work, in hobbies, or in personal life, show your child how to stay persistent, learn from mistakes, and keep improving.
- Create a “Growth Wall” at Home: Use a growth mindset quote for kids to create a “Growth Wall” where kids can add sticky notes about challenges they’ve overcome, lessons they’ve learned, and goals they’ve achieved. This helps them visualize their growth and celebrate progress.
What’s Your Favorite Growth Mindset Quote?
A growth mindset is about believing that with hard work, dedication, and persistence, anything is possible. The growth mindset quotes for kids shared today inspire us to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and keep pushing ourselves to be the best version of who we are. Let’s continue to encourage kids to approach every challenge as an opportunity for growth, and celebrate every step forward in their learning journey.
What is your favorite Growth Mindset Quote from the post, or do you have another? Share it by tagging me on Instagram @LittleYellowStarTeaches. I would love to see!
Bye for now,
Prima from LittleYellowStar
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