Track how many times you offer process praise throughout the day by jotting it down in a notebook. For example, note when she comes home with a good grade, and you say, “You worked really hard to study for that test” instead of “Wow, you’re so smart!” Or ask someone else at home to help you track your praise. When you start tracking your habits, it’s easier to catch yourself in the moment and change your behavior for the better. For more information, check out this course on growth mindset, designed by experts to help parents like you!
Sources:
- Always 2014 Confidence & Puberty Survey – on line survey with 1,300 females ages 16 to 24
- Nolen-Hoeksema, Susan. Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life. New York: Holt Paperbacks, 2004. 2 Reprint edition.
- Blackwell, Lisa, Kali H. Trzesniewski, and Carol S. Dweck. "Implicit Theories of Intelligence Predict Achievement Across an Adolescent Transition: A Longitudinal Study and an Intervention." Child Development 78.1 (2007): 246-63. Print.
- Gunderson, Elizabeth A., Sarah J. Gripshover, Carol S. Dweck, Susan Goldin-Meadow, and Susan C. Levine. "Parent Praise to 1- to 3-Year-Olds Predicts Children's Motivational Frameworks 5 Years Later."Child Development 84.5 (2013): 1526-541. Wiley. Web. 24 July 15.
- Master, Allison. “Growth Mindset.” interview. 16 Apr. 2015
- Gunderson, Elizabeth A., Sarah J. Gripshover, Carol S. Dweck, Susan Goldin-Meadow, and Susan C. Levine. "Parent Praise to 1- to 3-Year-Olds Predicts Children's Motivational Frameworks 5 Years Later."Child Development 84.5 (2013): 1526-541. Wiley. Web. 24 July 15.
- Dweck, Carol. Promoting Growth Mindsets. Digital.
- Simmons, Rachel, and Simone Marean. "Growth Mindset." Telephone interview. 9 Apr. 2015
Physical changes are only one part of puberty—the brain grows and develops, too, affecting mood, confidence, and the need for independence.
