A parent would easily prefer that their children not develop a fixed mindset about their own abilities because this would prevent them from responding well to obstacles. By focusing on the child's efforts, parents can encourage the development of a growth mindset. Children would benefit from understanding that their hard work can pay off when life starts to get difficult. If a child is thriving, however, it is imperative not to show him too much admiration for his efforts, otherwise he may see himself as having poor abilities. This can be equated to a soccer player being congratulated for doing his best on the team rather than for being the most valuable player on the team. To foster a growth mindset, parents need to convey to their children that what they have accomplished was achieved through hard work and perseverance. Thinking back to the comical example of Sally Forth, it wasn't the best idea for Sally to tell her daughter what she had done. As discussed above, it would have been better for Sally to inform her daughter that her abilities are malleable and will grow with hard work, rather than suggesting that her abilities were fixed and that she would have them even if she "was a full-blown idiot." (Marciuliano & Keefe,