Why You Should Consider Writing a Growth Mindset Book For Children

Have any of these thoughts ever crossed your mind before? 

"I’ll never be as good as a bestselling author, so why even try?"

"My first draft is terrible—clearly, I’m not meant to be a writer."

"If I was really talented, writing wouldn’t feel this hard."

"If I have to edit this much, my writing must be awful."

"If my book doesn’t get published on the first try, it means I’m not good enough."

These are all examples of a fixed mindset—the belief that if something doesn’t come easily or workout right away, it means you’re not capable. It’s a thought pattern where you assume things are just the way they are. There’s no room for change and no room for growth. But what happens if we flip that? 

Imagine approaching those same scenarios with a growth mindset: 

"Every bestselling author had to start somewhere. The more I write, the better I’ll get."

"First drafts are meant to be messy. The revision process will help polish and refine my story to be its best”

"Writing is a skill, not just a talent. The challenge means I’m growing."

"Editing is where great writing happens. Even the best authors have to revise their stories."

"If my book is rejected, I’ll trust that it’s part of the process. Every 'no' just brings me closer to the right 'yes.'"

It can be easy to fall into the trap of believing “fixed” thoughts, and that’s exactly why I believe teaching a growth mindset from a young age is so important. When we teach and exhibit a growth mindset to younger children, they grow up believing in possibilities—not limitations. That means more dream chasers and fewer children giving up before they’ve even begun. 

This blog will explore the growth mindset and how writing a children’s book on this topic can help inspire children—and maybe even yourself along the way.  

What Is a Growth Mindset? 

A growth mindset is the belief that with dedication, effort, and learning, anything is possible. Having a growth mindset means: 

• You see challenges as opportunities rather than setbacks. 
• You focus on the process rather than the end result. 
• You learn and grow from a failure rather than giving up. 
• You are willing to step out of your comfort zone, despite the potential outcome. 

How Do Growth Mindset Books Help Children?

Meet Sally. 

Sally has always been a straight-A student and rarely struggles in school. She’s always believed that being smart means things should come easily to her. But then she starts learning division. Suddenly, her grades slip, and she’s spiraling. “If I were really smart, this wouldn’t be so hard,” she thinks. Sally feels discouraged, frustrated, and now believes she’s just bad at math. 

That’s until her teacher sits down to talk with her. She tells her that everyone struggles from time to time and that challenges don’t mean she isn’t smart. She sends her home with a book about a little girl who gets her first bad grade, but learns to see failure as a chance to grow. 

Sally reads the book that night and connects with the character. She returns to school with a newfound sense of self, now believing that it’s okay if everything doesn’t come easily. She trusts that with effort and practice, she can grow and improve. 

✅ Fixed Mindset → Growth Mindset

The truth is: there are many Sallys out there. 

Every day, children struggle with setbacks and self-doubt. That’s why books that encourage a growth mindset can be so powerful. 

Here are three ways that growth mindset books can help children believe in possibilities:

• They teach them to embrace mistakes: Instead of fearing failure, growth mindset books can actually help children learn that mistakes are a part of growth. 
• They encourage them to persevere through struggles: Because children often relate to the characters they read about in books, if a character is pushing through a challenge, then children can be encouraged to do the same. 
• They inspire them to believe in their ability to improve: Through growth mindset books, children can learn that their skills and talents aren’t just the way they are. They start to believe growth comes through effort and determination. They learn that the infamous "I can’t do this YET" is far more powerful than "I’ll never be able to do this." 

What Are Good Examples of Growth Mindset Children’s Books? 

• I CAN Believe in Myself by Miriam Laundry and Jack Canfield: This story follows Molly as she conquers her fear of speaking in front of her class. Readers are left feeling inspired to turn the words "I can't" into "I can!" 
• Stanley’s Standing Ovation by Barbara Swisher Amundson: Stanley is cautious—so cautious that he always turns down playdates. But as the school science fair approaches, his curiosity helps him to step outside of his comfort zone, teaching readers to embrace their individuality. 
• Too Young by Sally Wong: Inspired by the author's own experiences of always feeling "too young," this story shows that when you're determined to make a difference, age doesn't stand in the way. 
• Octavia Can Do It! by Liliana Tommasini: This story empowers children to try—by doing things by themselves with the reassurance that it's always okay to ask for help. 

3 Tips for Writing a Growth Mindset Book 

If you feel passionate about writing a growth mindset book for children, start with these three tips: 

1. Start With a Relatable “Fixed Mindset” Challenge 

Your fixed mindset challenge should feel personal and relatable to children. They need to see characters struggling with the same relatable things they are going through. 

For instance, let’s look at this example: 

Jake is leaving for summer camp in two weeks, but there’s just one problem: He doesn’t know how to swim. 

He wants to learn how to swim before camp, but every time he steps near the water, he’s already convinced himself by saying: 

"I’ll never learn.”

“I’m just not good at swimming."

By showing readers Jake’s struggle in a way they will recognize and relate to, you can begin to set the stage for his growth throughout the story. 

2. Show the Process of Going From a “Fixed” Mindset to a “Growth” Mindset 

Children don’t need a lecture from a picture book—they need a journey. Jake’s transformation shouldn’t be immediate (“As soon as Jake stepped in the water, he realized he could!”). Instead, it should unfold over the course of the book. 

Maybe the course of your story starts with Jake telling an adult that he doesn’t know how to swim. Then, maybe he watches the other children swimming, realizing that they too had to start somewhere. When he finally decides to try, maybe his progress comes little by little—he first learns to kick, then float, and then finally, swim. 

Round out the journey with an end that is encouraging and rewarding: “When Jake arrived at camp, he dropped his bags, grinned at his friends, and said, 'Who’s ready to swim?” 

This satisfying ending shows how confident and excited Jake is now when it comes to the water. This journey of Jake learning to swim before camp encourages readers that they can grow through their challenges, too. 

3. Keep the Story Engaging 

Children often learn without even realizing it. So, why not make learning fun? An engaging story has the opportunity to make children laugh, feel something, and remember. Focus on teaching powerful lessons by using playful language, exciting characters, or a repeated phrase: 

• Playful Language: Just imagine children laughing as they watch Jake learning to swim with words like “splash, sploosh, kick-kick-kick!” instead of a plain “Jake practiced swimming.” 
• Exciting Characters: What if Jake was a turtle who’s afraid of water or a duck who sinks instead of floats? Children often love the humor and irony of this, while still connecting to the challenge. 
• Repeated Phrases: Repetition reinforces themes. Maybe Jake repeats the phrase, “One splash at a time!” throughout the book that sticks with children long after they finish. 

A great growth mindset book doesn’t just tell children to believe in themselves—it shows them. Writing a growth mindset book can be a wonderful way to not only inspire children but also remind yourself what’s possible, too. 

Growth mindset is for everyone, at every age.

Every time you find the motivation to keep going in your writing journey or step out of your own comfort zone, you’re living out the very lesson you hope to share. The dreams you are chasing today might be the very thing that helps a child believe in themselves tomorrow. 

Keep going. Keep creating. Keep believing.

I believe in you!