--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children love this idea that their brain…" description: "\"Children love this idea that their brain is like a muscle that gets stronger as they use it.\" — Carol S. Dweck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/carol-s-dweck-3250_brain_children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain_2990625.png" --- # Children love this idea that their brain is like a muscle… ![“Children love this idea that their brain is like a muscle that gets stronger as they use it.” quote by Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/carol-s-dweck-3250_brain_children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain_2990625.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/carol-s-dweck-3250_brain_children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain_2990625.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/carol-s-dweck-3250_brain_children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain_2990625.png) > “Children love this idea that their brain is like a muscle that gets stronger as they use it.” [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explains the brain‑muscle metaphor, encouraging mental exercise to strengthen cognitive abilities. **In simple terms:** The brain grows stronger with use. Key Takeaway Engage in challenging mental activities. Themes learning growth mindset neuroplasticity Mood encouraging optimistic Type motivational educational When to use this quote - studying - skill acquisition - problem solving Key Concepts psychology education Questions to Reflect On - What mental exercises do you practice? - How can you apply a growth mindset daily? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex neurological processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Muscle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscle/) ## Related quotes > [Creativity is like a muscle that gets stronger each time you challenge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/creativity-is-like-a-muscle-that-gets-stronger-each-time-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/compassion-is-a-muscle-that-gets-stronger-with-use/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Optimism is a muscle that gets stronger with use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/optimism-is-a-muscle-that-gets-stronger-with-use/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [My parents both work in publishing, and I was a bright, academic kind of kid, and I read a lot of books, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lloyd/my-parents-both-work-in-publishing-and-i-was-a-bright-academic-kind/) [Harry Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lloyd/) > [The only way we can develop muscle is through regular exercise. As soon as we stop stretching and working toward higher ethics, our standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/the-only-way-we-can-develop-muscle-is-through-regular-exercise-as/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [“The brain is like a muscle; books are the diet and writing is the workout.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/the-brain-is-like-a-muscle-books-are-the-diet-and-writing-is-the/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [I believe the brain is like a muscle - like any other it can be improved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-lendl/i-believe-the-brain-is-like-a-muscle-like-any-other-it-can-be-improved/) [Ivan Lendl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-lendl/) > [“...the brain is like a muscle, and if you don't exercise it by reading and doing creative stuff, it'll get weak and mushy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kinney/the-brain-is-like-a-muscle-and-if-you-don-t-exercise-it-by-reading/) [Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/) > [Positivity is like a muscle: keep exercising it, and it becomes a habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-massenet/positivity-is-like-a-muscle-keep-exercising-it-and-it-becomes-a-habit/) [Natalie Massenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-massenet/) > [Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/courage-is-like-a-muscle-we-strengthen-it-by-use/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) > [Some ladies like muscle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-heath/some-ladies-like-muscle/) [Phil Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-heath/) > [Courage is like a muscle strenghthened by its use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-gordon/courage-is-like-a-muscle-strenghthened-by-its-use/) [Ruth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-gordon/) > [Essentially, your voice is an instrument; it's a muscle, and you have to treat it like a muscle, and so you have to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/essentially-your-voice-is-an-instrument-it-s-a-muscle-and-you-have-to/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Determination is like a muscle. If you do not use it regularly, it fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-jennings/determination-is-like-a-muscle-if-you-do-not-use-it-regularly-it/) [Lynn Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-jennings/) > [“The mind is like any other muscle in your body. Use it or lose it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-mind-is-like-any-other-muscle-in-your-body-use-it-or-lose-it/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) ## More by Carol S. Dweck > [“you aren’t a failure until you start to blame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/you-aren-t-a-failure-until-you-start-to-blame/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“tune in to the messages you’re sending. Are they messages that say: You have permanent traits and I’m judging them? Or are they messages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/tune-in-to-the-messages-you-re-sending-are-they-messages-that-say-you/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [A company that cannot self-correct cannot thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/a-company-that-cannot-self-correct-cannot-thrive/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-people-already-know-they-re-deficient-they-have-nothing-to-lose/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Most experts and great leaders agree that leaders are made, not born, and that they are made through their own drive for learning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/most-experts-and-great-leaders-agree-that-leaders-are-made-not-born/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“Genius is not enough; we need to get the job done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/genius-is-not-enough-we-need-to-get-the-job-done/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/why-seek-out-the-tried-and-true-instead-of-experiences-that-will/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [What can I learn from this? What will I do next time I'm in this situation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/what-can-i-learn-from-this-what-will-i-do-next-time-i-m-in-this/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [When we praise children for their intelligence, we tell them that this is the name of the game: Look smart; don't risk making mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-we-praise-children-for-their-intelligence-we-tell-them-that-this/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [We're not saying people don't need fuel for strenuous work; they just don't need it constantly. People have many more resources at hand than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/we-re-not-saying-people-don-t-need-fuel-for-strenuous-work-they-just/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“What on earth would make someone a nonlearner? Everyone is born with an intense drive to learn. Infants stretch their skills daily. Not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/what-on-earth-would-make-someone-a-nonlearner-everyone-is-born-with/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-passion-for-stretching-yourself-and-sticking-to-it-even-or/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The whole point of marriage is to encourage your partner's development and have them encourage yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-whole-point-of-marriage-is-to-encourage-your-partner-s/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“When people with the fixed mindset opt for success over growth, what are they really trying to prove? That they’re special. Even superior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-people-with-the-fixed-mindset-opt-for-success-over-growth-what/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [I'm such an egghead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/i-m-such-an-egghead/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) [Explore all 135 Carol S. Dweck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Children love this idea that their brain is like a muscle that gets stronger as they use it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carol S. Dweck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain-is-like-a-muscle-that-gets/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain-is-like-a-muscle-that-gets/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/carol-s-dweck-3250_brain_children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain_2990625.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/carol-s-dweck-3250_brain_children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain_2990625.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/carol-s-dweck-3250_brain_children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain_2990625.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Children love this idea that their brain is like a muscle that gets stronger as they use it.” — Carol S. Dweck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carol S. Dweck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Children love this idea that their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain-is-like-a-muscle-that-gets/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/children-love-this-idea-that-their-brain-is-like-a-muscle-that-gets/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```