Creating a positive mindset in children

A positive mindset in children is essential to help them thrive in the 21st Century.

Developing the right mindset early on is crucial for a successful, happy life. When kids learn putting forth effort and using the right strategies can help them get better at things, they feel empowered, and try harder. When they know their brains are capable of growing, they are more confident, resilient, and are not afraid to fail!  (Source: Biglifejournal)

How creativity can help

We’ve talked recently about how creativity and the arts can improve mental health and wellbeing in children.

When children immerse themselves in a creative task, they’re able to switch off their worries and thoughts about the outside world. Engaging in a creative task can also provide a sense of achievement for children.

When we combine the practice of seeing through a creative task and enjoying the outcome, we can observe the shoots of positivity begin to form. If children engage in creative pursuits on a regular basis, they’ll reap the benefits within their mindset.

Creative tasks are not bound by the rules of academic activities. Instead, children are encouraged to think freely, express themselves and achieve outcomes that are personal to them. Success is determined internally, not by an exam grade or grown up’s opinion.

This means children can begin to determine their own rules for achievement and success. And, in turn, begin to cultivate a positive mindset, which they can apply to other pursuits at school.

How to encourage creativity in children

We understand that creativity can unlock a positive mindset in children. But, the question is, how do we encourage children to develop a natural interest and appetite for creativity?

We know that children learn best when they’re curious, interested and engaged. However, it can be challenging to change perceptions of the arts, and build confidence in children who don’t see themselves as being creative.

The visual environment.

Your school’s visual environment is key to inspiring creativity.

In fact, visuals are processed 60,000 times faster in the brain than text!

So, why not use imagery on your school’s walls that showcases a rich array of creative pursuits?

• A beautiful image of a dancer
• Notes from a piano
• Quotes from famous theatre shows
• Words from languages around the world
• Famous works by painters through the ages

…these are all visual prompts that can fuel curiosity for creativity in children.

The impact of a positive mindset on learning

Building confidence is critical to a pupil’s learning outcomes.

If a child believes they’re no good at a certain subject, they may be afraid to invest time in improving.

Some children might see their peers excelling in areas in which they struggle. Whilst other young folks may have additional needs or certain limitations that make learning challenging.

“I can’t do it”.

As a teacher, how many times have you heard this phrase?

According to The Decision Lab, “People with a fixed mindset are afraid to take risks, because they fear failure”.

Often, we may misinterpret our pupils’ lack of interest and engagement as bad behaviour or laziness. But, it may, in fact, be representative of fear.

The pandemic has exacerbated this issue – causing some pupils to fall even further behind. A lack of remote learning opportunities and unsettled home environments mean that not all pupils have started the school year on a level footing.

It may seem that, as a result, we need to invest more time and effort into the core subjects. For example, offering Maths tutors, additional Science classes and Summer School to catch up on reading.

These can certainly help to bridge some of the learning gaps caused by the pandemic. But, they won’t necessarily attend to the confidence crisis and mental health issues that are causing a negative mindset in many children.

Creativity in action

At Promote Your School, we design bespoke Wall Art for schools around the world.

We continue to get request for designs that showcase the core subjects like Maths, Science and English. But we’re seeing a big increase in the volume of request for more creative interests too.

It’s wonderful to see so many schools turning to creativity to inspire a positive mindset;

• We designed this theatre wall for Ash Manor School
• An immersive underwater design for Plumcroft Primary School
• Torquay Academy asked us to design a Spanish wall
• We loved creating this nature-themed Activity trail for Middleton Primary School

Get in touch

Now it’s your turn – what would you like to achieve?

We design custom Wall Art, bespoke to each school’s requirements. And, we provide a consultative service to help you get the most from your budget and achieve your unique aims as a school.

Contact us to find out more and arrange a free, Covid-safe site visit!