Best Growth Mindset Stories For Kids

Using growth mindset stories for kids is one of the best ways to promote a growth mindset in young children. Kids of all ages love stories, and they are able to relate to characters in many different ways. Understanding the concepts that the story is telling and being motivated to adopt the habits that were portrayed by their favorite characters from the story.

Fostering a growth mindset in our kids is super important because a growth mindset will have a profound effect on how your kids learn throughout their lives.

.As a homeschooling provider, you can use growth mindset stories and the lessons being told to reinforce why it’s better to have a growth mindset vs a fixed mindset.

While it’s great to have these books at your fingertips in your home library. I acknowledge that this may not be the case for all homeschooling parents. If you’re on a tight budget, that limits your spending. You can find read-aloud for almost all of these stories on YouTube.

All you need to do is go to YouTube search and type the book’s name with read-aloud at the end.

3 Ways To Promote A Growth Mindset With Stories

1. Start your day with a growth mindset story.

What a nice way to begin your day than starting your homeschool day with a positive and empowering story that will uplift your kiddos. Getting them in the right frame of mind to start their day.

2. Growth mindset bedtime story.

Reading growth mindset stories for kids at bedtime is a beautiful way to send your kids off to sleep. From time to time, instead of the classic bedtime stories, why not switch things up with a story that will inspire and empower your child to be the best they can be?

3. Dedicate a day to mindset learning.

Mindset Monday has a beautiful sound to it, don’t you think?

Having a day schedule in your planner where you focus on one topic for the day will quickly get your kids into a routine. Making learning fun. You can dedicate Mondays ( or any day that works for you) to social-emotional learning, kindness, helpfulness, etc.

If you have younger kids, you can use toys and mimic the characters from the stories you read.

Here’s a list of growth mindset stories for kids that I believe are excellent for promoting a growth mindset in our little ones.

16 Best Growth Mindset Stories For Kids

1. I can’t do that yet by Esther Pia Cordova

This book is about a young girl named Enna who lacks self-confidence. Enna is learning to read, but she is finding it to be quite challenging and doesn’t believe she will ever be successful in learning to read.

Then one night, she has a dream whereby she sees a future version of herself. The future version of herself encourages Enna to keep trying and not give up.

This is a wonderful book to inspire kids to learn and grow and never give up when things are challenging and frustrating.

2. A world without failures by Esther Pia Cordova

If your kids are at a stage in life where they get frustrated and overwhelmed every time they are unable to get things done perfectly the first time. This is an excellent book to read to your kids.

It shows that a world without failure is not necessarily a good thing. Because without failures, there will be no learning and room for growth. ( A fantastic lesson for us adults as well!|)

This story will remind kids that failing at things is not necessarily a bad thing but actually a good thing. And it’s important to fail because every time we fail it gives us an opportunity to get better at that thing we once failed at doing.

3. The Tortoise and The Hare

This is a classic story that describes how having a growth mindset can bring about drastic results.

Everyone laughs when the tortoise says he will win the hare at a race. But the tortoise believed in himself and his abilities. The hare, on the other hand, felt superior to the tortoise and didn’t quite put his best foot forward. The end results the tortoise won the race because he believed in himself and give his best at the race.

4. I Can do Hard Things by Gabbi Garcia

Apart from promoting a growth mindset, this book also touches on diversity. Another area we, as parents and educators, need to support our kids in. This book repeats that hard things can be done even when it seems impossible.

I can do hard things – will become a mantra in your child’s mind, and whenever she is hit with challenges, she will use this mantra to get through the challenges she is faced with.

5. Y is for Yet: A Growth Mindset Alphabet by Shannon Anderson

An alphabet of reasons why not to give up when we feel frustrated. This book will help kids to develop a growth mindset by mastering the belief that learning is a process it requires effort and persistence. Helping kids to build resilience and become more confident.

6. I Choose to Try Again by Elizabeth Estrada

This book is about a young girl, Kiara, who tries again even when hit with major challenges in life. Kiara chooses to try again instead of giving up. This is a great book to support social-emotional learning and help kids build confidence and resilience.

This book will help your child develop an ” I can attitude.” A life skill that will last with her for years to come!

7. Ninja Life Hacks Growth Mindset 8 Book Box Set

These books will bring about some epic conversations between you and your child. In fact, your child will keep asking you to read these books to him at night.

It’s a great collection to support your kids with emotional intelligence and anger issues.

The investment is a bit steep, but the results these books will bring about in your child are invaluable.

8. When Sophie Thinks She Can’t by Molly Bang

This is an excellent book if your child struggles with math. Because the main character, Sophie, gets angry and frustrated when she tries to solve a math problem. She’s unable to do and feels less than others. She compares herself to her sister and feels unlucky.

Sophie’s teacher will give her the tools that will help her cultivate a growth mindset which she will share with others.

9. Your Thoughts Matter by Esther Pia Cordova

This is a great book to build your child’s self-esteem and bring awareness to kids about their thoughts.

The main character, Romy, has a secret that she hasn’t shared with anyone.

She has two friends inside her head. One encourages her (growth mindset), while the other friend (fixed mindset) reminds her not to attempt anything challenging as it’s outside her comfort zone.

10. The School of Failure by Rosie J. Pova

This is a great book to read to your kiddos when they feel like they are not enough and is unable to measure up to others.

Let’s face it, even though your child is a homeschooler; they will have days when they feel like they are not measuring up to others.

This is a great book to remind kids that they don’t have to necessarily fit in but rather know that they belong. To use failure as a stepping stone to continue doing what they desire to do.

11. Bubble Gum Brain by Julia Cook

This book uses bubble gum and brick to contrast a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.

The bubble gum brain is flexible; it stretches, gets out of her comfort zone, and tries new things.

The brick brain demonstrates a fixed mindset. It stays the same way, doesn’t want to try new things because of fear or the possibility of failure.

12. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

This is a great story to read to your child who worries over every little thing. The girl who never made mistakes is an excellent read for kids who seek perfection because the story emphasizes that making mistakes is imperative to us as humans. There’s no need to thrive for perfection.

13. The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi

Kids face a lot of challenges as they grow and learn through life. As a homeschooling parent, you can help your child navigate these challenges and learning curves with The Magical Yet. By helping them to turn a negative into a positive when dealing with difficulties.

14. Mistakes are how I learn by Kira Wilson

Reassuring your child that it’s okay to make mistakes is an invaluable life lesson. This lesson will allow her to push out of her comfort zone and stretch beyond. This book is another great tool that you, as a parent, can use to reiterate to your child that mistakes will allow her to grow. Mistakes are one of the best ways to learn and grow.

15  Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak

Got a little one who is fascinated by how the brain operates, Then Your Fantastic Elastic Brain may be what you need.

This book will teach the kids in your life not only how the brain works but how they can control their brains. It will explain how the brain works and ways your child can stretch their brain to have a growth mindset.

16. Listen by Tatsuya Fushimi

As a homeschooling educator, I absolutely love this book. It’s one of those that my kids find so much value in. Basically, it shows the different thoughts your child will experience from time to time – both positive and negative thoughts.

The author reminds us to strengthen our positive thoughts and release our negative thoughts  To trust the positive voice in our heart even though sometimes it may feel alone.

 

As an educator, you can promote a growth mindset by reminding your kids of their superpowers  On days when they are struggling with a task such as reading, writing, drawing, or tying their shoelaces, and reassure them that it’s okay. They just can’t do it yet, but with practice and persistence, they will get better at doing that very thing they are struggling with.

Use the power of yet to empower your child to have a growth mindset  Because having a growth mindset will have a profound effect on your child for the rest of his life.

 

For more growth mindset and social-emotional tools, please check out my growth mindset activities on TPT.