The ‘Instead of thinking… try thinking…’ comparison section is the main focus of this printable growth mindset poster for children. It pairs common fixed mindset thoughts, such as ‘I can’t do this’, ‘I give up’, ‘This is too hard’ and ‘I made a mistake’, with positive alternatives like ‘I can’t do this yet’, ‘I’ll try a different way’ and ‘Mistakes help me learn’.
Colourful animal characters and simple wording make the poster accessible for younger children, especially primary school pupils who benefit from clear, memorable phrases. The language is suitable for classroom displays, nurture rooms, counselling spaces, social work direct work, therapy rooms, homework areas and family learning spaces where children may need encouragement to keep going.
The poster also includes the message that the mind is like a muscle, becoming stronger the more it is used. That makes it useful for short conversations about effort, practice, problem-solving, learning from mistakes, trying again, building confidence and developing a growth mindset rather than feeling stuck or giving up.
Teachers, parents, carers, school counsellors, social workers and pastoral staff could print and display it as a visual prompt, use it during circle time, refer to it after a setback, or ask a child to choose a replacement thought when they are finding work difficult. The wording is particularly suited to children who are anxious about getting things wrong, compare themselves with others, or need support with resilience and self-belief. Created by Edita Stiborova.
