Mindsets In Children

Mindsets in early childhood are foundational beliefs children form about themselves, their abilities, and how they relate to the world. These beliefs begin to take shape through everyday experiences, interactions, and the language used by adults around them. The following article provides information on Key Mindsets, How Do These Mindsets Relate To The EYLF Outcomes, What Activities Can Foster These Mindsets In Children and more.

Key Mindsets

Growth Mindset

Belief: “I can get better with effort.”
Why it matters: Children with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and see mistakes as learning opportunities.
How to foster it:
- Use phrases like “You worked really hard on that!” instead of “You’re so smart.”
- Model resilience by narrating your own problem-solving: “This is tricky, but I’ll keep trying.”
- Introduce the power of yet: “You can’t do it… yet!”

Resilient Mindset

Belief: “I can bounce back when things go wrong.”
Why it matters: Builds emotional strength and adaptability.
How to foster it:
- Acknowledge emotions and guide children through them.
- Celebrate effort and perseverance, not just outcomes.
- Share stories of characters who overcome setbacks.

Inclusive & Empathetic Mindset

Belief: “Everyone belongs, and I can care about others.”
Why it matters: Encourages kindness, cultural awareness, and social connection.
How to foster it:
- Embed diverse stories and cultural practices into daily routines.
- Encourage perspective-taking: “How do you think they felt?”
- Practice acknowledgment of Country and inclusive provocations.

Curious & Exploratory Mindset

Belief: “I love to learn and discover.”
Why it matters: Fuels inquiry, creativity, and independent thinking.
How to foster it:
- Offer open-ended materials and STEAM provocations.
- Encourage questions and experimentation.
- Celebrate the process, not just the product.

How Do These Mindsets Relate To The EYLF Outcomes

The mindsets we nurture in early childhood—like growth, resilience, empathy, and curiosity—are deeply embedded in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Here's how they align with the five learning outcomes:

Growth Mindset → Outcome 1 & 4

Outcome 1: Children develop resilience, autonomy, and a sense of agency.
Outcome 4: Children show persistence, enthusiasm, and confidence in learning.
Example: When a child says, “I can’t do it… yet,” they’re demonstrating both agency and a disposition for learning.

Resilient Mindset → Outcome 1 & 3

Outcome 1: Children develop resilience and a strong sense of identity.
Outcome 3: Children become strong in their social and emotional well-being.
Example: A child who keeps trying after a failed block tower is building both emotional strength and identity.

Inclusive & Empathetic Mindset → Outcome 1 & 2

Outcome 1: Children learn to interact with empathy and respect.
Outcome 2: Children respond to diversity with respect and contribute to their world.
Example: When children acknowledge different cultural practices or comfort a peer, they’re enacting these outcomes.

Curious & Exploratory Mindset → Outcome 4 & 5

Outcome 4: Children develop curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Outcome 5: Children express ideas and represent thinking through various media.
Example: A child experimenting with magnets or storytelling through loose parts is engaging deeply with these outcomes.

Practical Examples Of Mindsets

Growth Mindset

Belief: “I can improve with effort.”

Examples:

A child attempts to zip their jacket, struggles, and says, “I’ll try again.”
During a puzzle activity, an educator says, “You haven’t figured it out yet, but look how many pieces you’ve already placed!”
A child chooses a harder climbing frame after mastering the smaller one.
A child says, “I used to get frustrated with scissors, but now I can cut zigzags!”
During group time, a child volunteers to try a new song they were shy about yesterday.
An educator encourages: “You made a mistake, and that’s how we learn!

EYLF Link: Outcome 4—Children develop dispositions for learning, such as persistence and confidence.

Resilient Mindset

Belief: “I can bounce back from setbacks.”

Examples:

After a tower falls, a child sighs, then says, “I’ll build it again, stronger.”
A child who was upset about losing a turn later joins the group again with a smile.
An educator models resilience: “I spilled the paint, but I can clean it up and start again.”
A child spills water and calmly says, “I’ll get a cloth to clean it.”
After being excluded from play, a child finds another group and initiates a new game.
An educator narrates, “You were upset when your drawing ripped, but you taped it and kept going.”

EYLF Link: Outcome 1 – Children develop resilience and a strong sense of well-being.

Inclusive & Empathetic Mindset

Belief: “Everyone belongs, and I can care about others.”

Examples:

A child offers a tissue to a peer who is crying and says, “It’s okay, I’m here.”
Children participate in an Acknowledgment of Country each morning, showing respect for culture and place.
An educator reads a story featuring diverse families and invites children to share about their own.
A child invites a peer with limited English to join a game using gestures and smiles.
Children help set up a cultural celebration table with items from their families.
An educator models, “Let’s make sure everyone has a turn. How can we include Zara?”

EYLF Link: Outcome 2—Children respond to diversity with respect and contribute to their world.

Curious & Exploratory Mindset

Belief: “I love to learn and discover.”

Examples:

A child asks, “What happens if I mix these two colors?” and tests it out.
Children use magnifying glasses to examine leaves, then draw what they see.
An educator sets up a STEAM provocation with magnets, and children explore what sticks and what doesn’t.
A child notices a snail trail and asks, “Where do you think it’s going?”
Children mix sand and water, testing which containers hold more.
An educator prompts, “What do you think will happen if we add vinegar to the baking soda?”

EYLF Link: Outcome 4—Children develop curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

What Activities Can Foster These Mindsets In Children

Growth Mindset Activities

Belief: “I can improve with effort.”

Puzzle Challenges: Offer puzzles of increasing difficulty. Celebrate persistence, not just completion.
Mistake-Friendly Art: Provide open-ended materials (e.g., watercolor, collage) and encourage “happy accidents.”
Storytelling with a Twist: Read books where characters learn from mistakes (e.g. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds). Reflect together: “What did they learn?”
“Power of Yet” Wall: Children add things they’re still learning—“I can’t tie my shoes… yet!”

EYLF Link: Outcome 4—Dispositions for learning, like confidence and persistence.

Resilient Mindset Activities

Belief: “I can bounce back from setback."

Obstacle Course Adventure: Set up a course with challenges. Celebrate effort and retrying.
Tower Rebuild Challenge: Build with blocks, then intentionally knock it over. Ask, “What could we do differently this time?”
Reflection Journals: Invite children to draw or dictate a time they kept trying.
Emotion Puppets: Use puppets to act out setbacks and model coping strategies.

EYLF Link: Outcome 1 & 3—Identity and emotional well-being.

Inclusive & Empathetic Mindset Activities

Belief: “Everyone belongs, and I can care about others.”

Emotion Charades: Children act out feelings; peers guess and discuss.
Family Traditions Wall: Invite families to share photos or artifacts from home cultures.
Kindness Jar: Add a pom-pom when someone shows empathy or inclusion.
Diverse Storytime: Read books with varied family structures, cultures, and abilities. Reflect: “What makes this family special?”

EYLF Link: Outcome 2 – Respect for diversity and contribution to community.

Curious & Exploratory Mindset Activities

Belief: “I love to learn and discover.”

Loose Parts Provocations: Offer open-ended materials like shells, tubes, and fabric for self-directed exploration.
Mini Science Labs: Vinegar + baking soda, magnet hunts, or shadow play.
Feely Boxes: Children guess hidden objects using touch—builds sensory curiosity.
Wonder Wall: Children post questions (“Why do leaves fall?”) and revisit them through inquiry.

EYLF Link: Outcome 4 & 5—Curiosity, creativity, and communication.

Key Mindsets

How Do These Mindsets Relate To The EYLF Outcomes

Practical Examples Of Mindsets

What Activities Can Foster These Mindsets In Children

Further Reading