How To Raise A Happy Genius

A mindset is the way that a person’s brain assesses and responds to particular situations, and there are two basic types. These are a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Those with a fixed mindset believe that their ability to cope with situations and resolve problems are constrained by their innate or natural abilities. As a result, when they encounter difficulties, they simply give up, believing that they do not have the capabilities to deal with them. In contrast, those with a growth mindset believe that their abilities are infinitely malleable and can be expanded by learning new things. As a result, when they encounter problems, they see then as a challenge to be solved, and they strive to overcome them. In short, those with a fixed mindset give up in the face of adversity, while those with a growth mindset persist. This means that having a growth mindset, rather than natural talents or innate abilities, is the key to succeeding in life. It is therefore critical to instill a growth mindset in children if we wish them to grow into happy and successful adults, and the Growth Mindset Pocketbook by Barry Hymer and Mike Gershon is the perfect introduction to explaining how to do this.

Basic Book Information (2015 Paperback Edition): ISBN: 978-1-90661-060-8; Year of First Publication: 2014; Recommended Retail Price (RRP): £9.99/US$15.95; Number of Pages: 128. To purchase this book in the UK, click here. To purchase this book in the USA, click here.

What is this book about? This book is about the difference between fixed and growth mindsets, and how you can instill a growth mindset in children. While it’s primarily aimed at teachers, parents will find this book just as useful, both for understanding what a growth mindset is and for helping their child develop one.

Why is it important to know? While there is no guarantee that a growth mindset will result in your child becoming a success in their adult life, it makes ii much more likely. In addition, even if they are not, by your standards, a success, the chances are that they will be a lot happier than those with a fixed mindset because they will have chosen the life they want to lead rather than feeling that they have been pushed into it by their inability to deal with the hurdles that life has thrown at them. As a result, it is really important that both parents and teachers understand what a growth mindset is and how they can help and encourage their child to develop one.

What are the key take home messages? 1. A growth mindset encourages children to persist in the face of adversity; 2. Children can be encouraged to develop a growth mindset through, amongst other things, being praised for the effort they put in rather than their abilities; 3. Trial-and-error learning is essential for success in both childhood and adult life, and a growth mindset allows kids to embrace the risks and failures associated with such learning; 4. Growth mindsets help individuals succeed, but when growth mindsets can be encouraged in groups, such as families, social groups or school classes, the positive effects can be even greater for all members of the group.

Who are the authors?  Barry Hymer is a professor of psychology in education who studies, amongst other things, the application of mindset theory in classrooms, while Mike Gershon is a teacher, trainer, writer and consultant. Together, they form the perfect team for introducing the reader to the practical elements of growth mindsets and how to encourage their development in children.

How technical is this book? This book does have some technical elements, but they are clearly explained. As a result, it provides the perfect introduction to mindset theory, as well as providing some great practical advice on how to implement strategies that will give your child the best chance of developing a growth mindset.

How long will it take to read? This is a short book, and it can easily be read in under an hour or so, yet the information it contains will change how you interact with your child forever, and through this, you will help them to develop a critical skill for developing into a happy and successful adult.

Are there other books by the same author? Both Barry Hymer and Mike Gershon have written, co-authored or co-edited other books about practical elements of child development. This includes Dilemma-based Learning In Primary Schools (BH) and How To Use Questioning In The Classroom (MG). You can find a full list of books written by Barry Hymer here (if you are based in the UK) or here (if you are based in the USA), while you can find a full list of books for Mike Gershon here (if you are based in the UK) or here (if you are based in the USA).

Links To Purchase This Book

To Purchase In The UK

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About The Author: This post was written by Colin Drysdale, the creator of How To Raise A Happy Genius.

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