Growth mindset in early childhood

Matt Bawler, Teacher and Head of Early Years, shares with us his insight into the research, theory and neuroscience behind Carol Dweck's work on fixed mindset and growth mindset, and how he applies this to practice with young children and parents. 

Matt and Angelica tap into:

• 01:15 - Getting it right from the start: Proactive vs reactive 
• 02:50 - I am, I can, I will
• 03:45 - Shared language and partnership
• 04:50 - Growth mindset for parents and families as well as children
• 05:30 - Defining growth mindset
• 08:45 - Are you praising the product or the process?
• 10:00 - Carol Dweck's experiment 
• 11:50 - The neuroscience behind growth mindset
• 14:20 - Celebrating mistakes
• 15:30 - Growth language linking to areas of development
• 17:00 - Modelling lifelong learning: It's ok to not know the answer
• 18:20 - A joined up educational approach: Huge influence of early childhood
• 19:30 - Pressures of being a parent/carer
• 21:30 - Not 'me and my child', but 'us and our children'
• 22:00 - Losing teaches you more than winning
• 24:25 - Critical thinking and growth mindset
• 26:00 - Is competition a bad thing? And am I enough?
• 27:45 - Not wrapping children in cotton wool
• 28:45 - Consistent co-regulation and modelling self-regulation
• 29:45 - We will always lose, make mistakes and come across difficult situations
• 30:45 - Self-esteem, resilience and sense of self
• 31:00 - Strengthening neural pathways through building on previous experiences
• 33:00 - Gender normative stereotypes 
• 35:30 - Children and adults as co-learners: Breaking down power dynamics
• 37:00 - Skills-based adaptability 
• 37:50 - Going outside of our early years bubble
• 38:00 - From fire fighting to active advocacy 

Hear and read more on The Voice of Early Childhood website: www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com