Developing perseverance – learning not to give up
Building towers may seem like a simple and fun activity for children, but did you know that it can also teach them valuable life skills? We started our journey in Year One by encouraging children to approach tower building with a growth mindset, they can learn about making mistakes, persevering with tasks, and ultimately, supporting their own learning.
A growth mindset is the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It is the opposite of a fixed mindset, which believes that intelligence and abilities are fixed traits that cannot be changed. When children approach tower building with a growth mindset, they are more willing to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Mistakes are inevitable when building towers, especially for young children who are just starting to refine their fine motor skills. Whilst building many of our blocks toppled over, and the children found their towers were not as sturdy as they had envisioned, and frustration crept in for some. However, instead of viewing these mistakes as failures, the children were encouraged to have a growth mindset and see mistakes as opportunities for growth and learning.
Alex said, “I’ll make it two rows that way it will be stronger”
When a tower fell, some children began to analyse what went wrong, they identified potential solutions, and tried again. This process allowed them to develop problem-solving skills, resilience, and the understanding that failure is not the end, but rather a stepping stone towards success. By normalizing mistakes and encouraging children to embrace them as part of the learning process, we help foster a growth mindset in children.
Perseverance is another crucial skill that the children developed through tower building. Some children faced challenges such as blocks not fitting together, finding the right balance, or even feeling frustrated when they cannot replicate a tower they have seen. However, by encouraging children to persevere and not give up, they can develop a strong work ethic, determination, and the ability to overcome obstacles.
Rudi said, “It fell down! Never mind, I’ll persevere”.
Whilst persevering with building towers, the children not only developed their motor skills but also practiced patience and focus. The act of trying again and again teaches them that success often requires time, effort, and practice. By celebrating their accomplishments, whether it is a tall tower or a stable one, motivated the children to keep trying even when things get challenging.
Huck said, “I’ve moved over so I have more space as I kept getting bumped and my tower kept falling down”.
Whilst tower building, it was amazing to see the children collaborating, communicating and working together. Working together to build a tower encourages teamwork, sharing ideas, and listening to others' perspectives. Some children began to negotiate and compromise fostering their social and emotional development.
Eve said, “I swapped this button for that one because it was flatter”
The children learnt so much through a simple tower building activity and it provided a valuable opportunity learn the importance of a growth mindset. By embracing mistakes, persevering with tasks, and supporting their own learning, there is no doubt the new Year One children can grow into confident and resilient individuals.
