Simmons Weaver

You might be wondering what a growth mindset is, so let’s start by defining it. A growth mindset is the believe that we can improve our abilities through effort, practice, and learning from mistakes. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset which is the believe that our abilities are set in stone.

So why is having a growth mindset important?

Having a growth mindset is vital to development because it allows us to view challenges as a growing opportunity, rather than as an unclimbable mountain. When we approach issues with a growth mindset, we are more likely to achieve goals and try new things that may be difficult or unfamiliar to us. These situations help foster perseverance, problem-solving skills, and a stronger work ethic.

A growth mindset is something that is learned, and therefore, must first be taught. Teaching children this practice from a young age is a great way to help them navigate the coming challenges in their lives, and will also help them to better resolve social issues. Take a look at a few of our products we recommend for exploring growth mindsets.

Roylco Laminated Speech Bubbles:

Our Laminated Speech Bubbles allow children to write how they think someone would respond to a certain situation with a growth mindset vs. with a fixed mindset. This is a great tool to visually show kids how having a fixed mindset often leads to more frustration and limitations, while having a growth mindset leads to greater positivity and success.

Roylco Stand-Up Self Portraits:

Using the Stand-Up Self Portraits, children are able to express what they imagine someone with a fixed mindset looking like (facial expression, what they would say, etc.) and someone with a growth mindset. This allows parents and teachers the opportunity to ask children questions of why they think someone with that specific mindset would think and feel that way, which leads to greater conversation of the benefits of having a growth mindset.

See the Growth Mindset Lesson Plan for greater detail on how to most effectively utilize these tools, Laminated Speech Bubbles and Stand-Up Self Portraits, as a method of teaching young learners the importance of adopting a growth mindset.

We hope you too see the importance of both adults and children putting into practice a growth mindset. It is never too early to learn to effectively overcome challenges and expand your mind to the possibilities in front of you!

First things first: What are calm down corners?

We’re glad you asked! Calm down corners are a space that help kids learn to understand, control, and regulate their feelings in a safe and familiar environment.

Many of us do not think about the fact that controlling our emotions is something we once had to learn and practice. We are all aware though that this is a valuable skill throughout every stage of life, which is why it is such an important thing to guide your kids through starting from a young age.

For the best calm down corner, you will want to create a comfortable space in a quiet room, and as you may have guessed, a corner is often best. Making the space comfortable and familiar will help the child feel safe and will also help them to engage in activities that allow them to calm down and understand what it is that they are feeling. You can do this by filling the area with things such as books, comfortable seating such as a bean bag, crafts, and toys!

Why are they important?

They provide a designated, safe area where children can go when they feel overwhelmed, anxious, or upset. Having a physical space designated for calming down can help children feel secure and supported. Calm down corners also teach children self-regulation skills by giving them the opportunity to identify their emotions and choose healthy coping strategies to manage them. When children learn to recognize their feelings and regulate their reactions, they develop important emotional intelligence skills that benefit them throughout life. Providing children with a designated space to calm down empowers them to take control of their emotions and behavior. Instead of reacting impulsively to strong emotions, children learn to pause, self-soothe, and make more thoughtful choices about how to respond.

Tools to help increase your child’s mindfulness include:

Mindfulness Tracers

Our Mindfulness Tracers are inspired by nature, body, and mind and help bring mindfulness and art together to create the perfect meditative exercise for calm down corners! Trace the design to help center yourself and de-stress, and then follow it up with decorating the design to create a beautiful piece of art.

Mindfulness Tracers

Emotion Tokens

Foster your child’s emotional intelligence with our Emotion Tokens that allow kids to explore what they’re feeling in the form of art! Use different stencils and colors to better express emotions while also promoting empathy and understanding.

Emotion Token Stencils

Creating a calm down corner in your home or classroom is an invaluable practice for both you and your child(ren). It is never too early or late to develop emotional intelligence, self-management, and core relational skills. Let’s help our kids become the best versions of themselves one emotional moment at a time!

Author: Simmons Weaver

Growth Mindset Lesson Plan

The Importance of Calm Down Corners