The Power of 'Yet' and 'But':

Here at PPN, we believe in helping every child become a confident and resilient learner. One way we do this is by encouraging a growth mindset—the belief that we can improve our abilities through effort, learning, and persistence.

The truth is, that a growth mindset isn’t just an approach to learning – it is an approach to life.

Two small but powerful words can help support a growth mindset: “yet” and “but.”

When children say, “I can’t do this,” it can feel final, as if they’ll never be able to succeed. But if we add the word “yet,” the sentence changes:

“I can’t do this… yet.”

“I haven’t reached my goal… yet.’

That one word reminds us that learning, and life, is a journey. It’s okay to find things difficult at first. With practice, patience, and support, we can get better. “Yet” opens the door to possibility.

The word “but” can also help shift thinking. We often hear things like, “I made a mistake” or, “this is hard”. If we add “but,” we can reframe the moment:

“I made a mistake, but I learned something important.”

“I didn’t win the race, but I’m proud of how hard I tried.”

“This is hard, but I can ask for help.”

“But” helps us see challenges in a more positive light. It encourages children to look for the learning, even when things don’t go as planned, and consider the current challenge as an actionable stepping stone for what comes next.

As parents and teachers, we can model these changes too – in both our conversations with other (including our children) and our self-talk. A growth

By using “yet” and “but,” we remind children that their brains are always growing. Mistakes are part of learning, and effort leads to progress. These simple words help build resilience, confidence, and a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

Let’s keep cheering our children on—one “yet” and “but” at a time!