Child Quote by Carol S. Dweck
““Parents think they can hand children permanent confidence—like a gift—by praising their brains and talent. It doesn’t work, and in fact has the opposite effect. It makes children doubt themselves as soon as anything is hard or anything goes wrong. If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning. That way, their children don’t have to be slaves of praise. They will have a lifelong way to build and repair their own confidence.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Mindset, 2006
Praising effort over innate talent fosters resilience, curiosity, and lifelong confidence.
In simple terms: Praise effort, not talent.
Key Takeaway
Focus on growth.
Themes
growth
confidence
parenting
education
resilience
mindset
Mood
educational
reflective
Type
psychological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- parent‑child interactions
- school feedback
- coaching
- self‑improvement
Key Concepts
psychology
developmental theory
learning motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you encourage a love of challenges?
- What language best supports growth?
A Different Perspective
overpraise can create dependency on external validation.
