To help your child become an autonomous and resilient learner:
Teach him about the power of passion and perseverance.
Throughout November, I will be profiling the theories of Angela Lee Duckworth, whose work in the area of child psychology and character development has earned her one of the world’s most viewed TED Talks, and whose book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance is a #1 New York Times best-seller.
The years that Duckworth spent as a management consultant with major international firm, followed by the time she spent as a school teacher, showed her that it is grit (a combination of passion and perseverance), as opposed to “natural talent,” that determines whether a person will succeed or fail. Since then, Duckworth has gone on to advise the White House, the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 CEOs on the power of grit.
As a starting point, you can teach your child about the concept of a growth mindset: understanding that you can improve and succeed at anything – with lots of effort and determination!