Research on How Parents’ Growth Mindsets Shape Their Children’s in Upper Elementary School

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology analyzed how children’s beliefs about learning and improvement, known as a growth mindset, change over time and how their parents’ beliefs might influence them.

Researchers followed a large group of fourth-grade students in Beijing (4,004 students) for two and a half years and collected data at five different points. They found that, in general, children’s growth mindset tended to decline over time, but there were differences among students in how much it changed.

One important finding was that mothers’ growth mindset played an important role in influencing their children's beliefs. When mothers started with a strong growth mindset and maintained it over time, their children were more likely to have a stronger growth mindset as well.

However, if a mother’s growth mindset declined quickly, their child’s growth mindset also decreased. Interestingly, fathers’ growth mindset did not have the same impact — there was no clear connection between their beliefs and how their children’s mindset developed.

This study matters because it shows that parents, especially moms, can help their children believe in getting better over time.

Understanding the Research

The researchers examined how children’s growth mindset developed over time and what factors influenced it by studying students from 36 public primary schools in Baoding City, Hebei Province, China.

They collected data from children and their parents over five waves in a longitudinal study, beginning in the fourth grade and continuing through the sixth grade.

The study measured growth mindset using a four-question scale. It also looked at family factors like parents' education and income.

Results showed that a growth mindset stayed mostly the same as kids grew and that parents’ and children’s mindsets were connected. The study also checked if these connections were different for boys and girls. To make sure the results were accurate, researchers used special tools to handle missing information.

These were the main findings:

• Children’s growth mindset (belief that abilities can improve with effort) decreased over time.
• Both mothers’ and fathers’ growth mindsets also declined.
• Mothers’ mindset influenced children’s mindset more than fathers’ mindset.
• If a mother's mindset started high, her child was more likely to have a higher mindset later.
• If a mother’s mindset declined quickly, her child’s mindset also declined quickly.
• Fathers’ mindset influenced their daughters but had no effect on their sons, while mothers’ mindset influenced both boys and girls.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Since parents’ beliefs, especially moms, help influence their child’s mindset, it’s important to create a home that supports effort and learning. Dads also help shape their daughters’ mindset, so both parents can help their child believe in growing and improving!

Here are tips to promote this mindset at home:

Show them how you handle your own challenges

This is important because children often copy what they see. If they watch you give up easily, they might think challenges can’t be overcome. But if they see you stay positive and keep trying, they’ll believe they can grow and improve too.

Let them know that mistakes are powerful learning tools

Mistakes help children understand what went wrong and how to improve. To make the most of mistakes, help your child reflect on:

• What happened
  
• What they can do differently 
  
• What they’ve learned

Taking responsibility for mistakes teaches accountability, which reinforces a growth mindset. Check out our accountability handout for more tips. 

Value curiosity and effort at home

Be sure to praise your child if they show curiosity by asking questions and trying hard even when things are difficult. This helps them see learning as a journey — not just something they have to get right the first time.

The authors suggest that more research is needed to see if these findings apply to other cultures and to understand exactly how parents’ beliefs affect their children’s mindset.

Feel free to download our Growth Mindset posters for simple reminders that encourage kids to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep trying!