Parents want their kids to grow up to be hardy and resilient. They understand life is only going to get more complicated as they grow older, with an increasing number of possible points of failure and disappointment. The best we can do is train our children to overcome adversity and push themselves forward, even when conditions aren’t in their favor.

The mindset that drives such a response to failure is called a “growth mindset.” Originally coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset refers to the valuing of hard work, effort, and persistence as determinants of success. When someone with a growth mindset fails, they don’t think, “I’m just not good enough.” They think, “Next time I need to try harder.”

Though it would be easy to suggest that cultivating this way of thinking is just a matter of changing a few thoughts, the reality is that a growth mindset is shaped by the environment your kid is in—namely, their peers, coaches, and parents.

Helping your children develop a growth mindset—an outlook that embraces challenges and sees abilities as qualities that can be developed over time—can be a game-changer in their lives. This mindset builds resilience and persistence and fosters a love for learning and self-improvement. Here’s a look at 6 science-backed steps you can take to help instill this invaluable mindset in your children.

One of the cornerstones of a growth mindset is valuing the process over the product. When children are praised solely for their successes or inherent talents, they may develop........

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