Growth Mindset in Programming

Image by Leopictures from Pixabay

Sometimes, we plan our programs and services so tightly that we don't leave enough room for the way children often learn - through discovery, creativity, self-directed play and exploration. A recent ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children ) blog post by Erica Hogan, has some great suggestions from a very-plan oriented librarian on ways to loosen up that structured sort of approach to give kids more agency and promote a growth mindset.

She writes: "There is certainly nothing wrong with projects that have a finished product in mind, but the approach was out of sync of with recent work on Reimagining School Readiness and other research I found most inspiring. I realized all that careful planning left very little room for child-directed play, problem solving, risk taking, experimentation, and creative thinking. Since unstructured exploration contributes to building a growth mindset and enhances the cognitive and social emotional development, I decided to make some changes. What follows are two strategies that have helped me rethink opportunities for child-led activities within programs."

Click here to read her full post. [Planning the Unplanned: Program Reflections to Encourage Growth Mindset. Hogan, Erika. ALSC blog. July 1`6, 2023]