Mindset and the Get GRIT Program: Empowering Students with Cognitive Behavioural Skills

In the Get GRIT Program, one of our core focuses is mindset—how our thoughts shape our emotions, behaviours, and ultimately our success. Mindset plays a crucial role in everything from handling challenges to building resilience, and it’s at the heart of developing grit. But how can we help students understand and strengthen their mindset?

One powerful tool for fostering a positive mindset is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). In this blog, we’ll explain how CBT connects to the Get GRIT Program and provide practical tips for parents to support their children in developing a healthy, growth-oriented mindset.

What is Mindset?

Mindset refers to the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. It affects how we approach challenges, how we handle setbacks, and even how we see our potential for growth. There are two main types of mindsets:

1. Fixed Mindset: The belief that abilities and intelligence are static. People with a fixed mindset may think, "I’m just not good at this," and avoid challenges as a result.

2. Growth Mindset: The belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort and perseverance. A growth mindset helps students understand that challenges are opportunities for growth, and setbacks are part of the learning process.

In the Get GRIT Program, we emphasise the importance of developing a growth mindset. We teach students that resilience and effort are key to overcoming obstacles. With a growth mindset, they can see failures as stepping stones to success and feel empowered to keep trying.

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

CBT is a widely-used therapeutic approach that helps people understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It’s based on the idea that how we think about situations affects how we feel and act.

In simple terms:

• Thoughts → Influence Feelings → Which lead to Behaviours.

For example, if a student has a negative thought like "I’ll never be good at this," they might feel discouraged and give up, reinforcing the negative belief. On the other hand, if they have a positive, growth-oriented thought like "I can improve with practice," they’re more likely to stay motivated and keep trying.

CBT encourages us to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more realistic, helpful ones. This process helps people manage their emotions and change behaviours that may be holding them back.

How Does CBT Fit with the Get GRIT Program?

The Get GRIT Program uses principles from CBT to help students identify and manage their thoughts. We teach children that thoughts are not facts, and they can choose to change unhelpful thoughts into more positive, productive ones. This is an essential skill in building grit—the ability to persevere through challenges with resilience and determination.

Key lessons in the Get GRIT Program that connect with CBT include:

• Catch It! Check It! Challenge It! Change It!: This approach encourages students to catch their negative thoughts, check if they’re accurate, challenge them, and then change them to more helpful thoughts.

• 'Go' Thoughts vs 'Stop' Thoughts: Students learn to differentiate between thoughts that help them move forward (Go Thoughts) and thoughts that hold them back (Stop Thoughts).

• Mindful Awareness: Students practice noticing their thoughts and emotions without judgment, giving them space to choose how to respond.

By using these CBT strategies, students are better equipped to face challenges with a resilient mindset, shift unhelpful thoughts, and embrace opportunities for growth.

Tips for Parents to Support a Growth Mindset at Home

Parents play a pivotal role in reinforcing the mindset lessons children learn at school. Here are some simple and effective ways to integrate CBT principles and foster a growth mindset at home:

1. Model a Growth Mindset:

   • Share your own experiences with learning and overcoming challenges. For example, "I didn’t know how to do this at first, but I kept practising, and now I’m getting better at it!"

   • Celebrate effort and persistence, not just success. Praise your child for trying hard, even if the outcome isn’t perfect.

2. Help Them Reframe Negative Thoughts:

   • When your child expresses frustration, help them identify negative thoughts and reframe them. For example, if they say, "I can’t do this," encourage them to think, "I can’t do this yet, but I’ll keep trying and learning."

   • Encourage your child to ask themselves, "Is this thought helpful?" and help them replace negative thoughts with more positive, solution-focused ones.

3. Use ‘Go’ Thoughts:

   • Teach your child the difference between 'Go' thoughts (thoughts that help them move forward) and 'Stop' thoughts (thoughts that hold them back). Guide them to create their own list of Go thoughts they can use when faced with a challenge, such as "I can keep going," or "I can ask for help."

4. Encourage Self-Reflection:

   • Help your child reflect on their experiences. After facing a challenge, ask them questions like: "What did you learn from this? What would you do differently next time?"

   • Keep a journal to track thoughts, feelings, and progress. This helps them understand how their mindset affects their actions.

5. Focus on Problem-Solving:

   • Encourage your child to think through challenges step by step. Help them break down big problems into smaller, more manageable tasks. This process fosters resilience and teaches them that challenges are opportunities to learn.

6. Promote Mindfulness Practices:

   • Teach your child to take a moment to pause and breathe when they’re feeling overwhelmed. This helps them become aware of their thoughts and emotions before reacting.

   • Use simple mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing or focusing on the present moment, to help them manage stress and negative thoughts.

Conclusion: Empowering Kids with Mindset Skills

A growth mindset and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are invaluable tools in building resilience and helping children succeed. In the Get GRIT Program, we equip students with the skills to challenge negative thoughts, build emotional strength, and develop the grit needed to persevere through life's challenges.

As parents, your support in reinforcing these skills at home can make a huge difference in helping your child navigate their world with confidence, resilience, and a positive mindset.