Challenge tower game
4–5 yearsSuccess MindsetMaterials: Building blocks, books, or plastic cups
None needed if you use household items
Build towers together using blocks or household items. Start with easy towers, then deliberately try harder ones that might fall. When a tower falls, say 'Not yet' and try again with a new strategy. Talk about what you learned from each attempt. Count how many tries it takes to solve each challenge. Make it clear that trying multiple times means your brain is working hard and getting stronger.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Build towers together using blocks or household items. Start with easy towers, then deliberately try harder ones that might fall. When a tower falls, say 'Not yet' and try again with a new strategy. Talk about what you learned from each attempt. Count how many tries it takes to solve each challenge. Make it clear that trying multiple times means your brain is working hard and getting stronger.
Why It Works
This activity teaches persistence and strategy development through concrete challenges. Students with growth mindset showed 30-40% greater likelihood of completing challenging tasks compared to fixed mindset peers (Duckworth et al., 2007). The physical nature of the activity makes effort and improvement visible, helping children connect trying hard with getting better results.
Tips for Parents
Let your child see you struggle and persist too. Model phrases like, 'That didn't work. Let me try a different way.'
Ask questions like, 'What could we try differently?' to encourage problem-solving.
Celebrate the process of trying different strategies, not just the final successful tower.
Materials Needed
Building blocks, books, or plastic cups
None needed if you use household items
Learning Methods
Metacognitive StrategiesStructured Academic LearningCooperative Learning
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