Today, Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the world’s most iconic brand portfolios, announced an exciting new initiative from its Hot Wheels brand. Continuing its mission to ignite the challenger spirit in every child, Hot Wheels has launched Challenge Accepted, a platform designed to empower children through play, encouraging them to embrace challenges and cultivate a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can develop through effort, practice, and persistence.
To inform and enhance the development of Challenge Accepted, Hot Wheels partnered with Mindset Works, a global leader in growth mindset research and development. By collaborating with experts in the field, Hot Wheels aims to provide children and their parents with tools, insights, and strategies to foster resilience and a challenger mindset during key developmental stages.
A recent survey conducted by Hot Wheels and Mindset Works revealed a striking insight: while 77% of children aged four to eight believe they can learn anything with effort, 71% of parents admit to stepping in when their children face minor challenges, often in an attempt to protect their child’s self-esteem. Unfortunately, this well-meaning intervention may inadvertently hinder the development of a growth mindset, depriving children of opportunities to build resilience and problem-solving skills—critical factors for long-term success.
Through Challenge Accepted, Hot Wheels addresses this challenge by showing how interactive play can spark the challenger spirit in children. The research found that children who frequently play with Hot Wheels toys are 32% more likely to take on new challenges, experimenting through trial and error—a process fundamental to learning and growth.
“Very young children naturally display a growth mindset, but as they approach age five, they become more vulnerable to adopting fixed mindset beliefs about their abilities. This shift is influenced by school environments, social evaluations, and external expectations from adults and peers,” explains Dr. Lisa Blackwell, co-founder of Mindset Works. “By supporting children’s growth mindset through play, parents and educators can play a critical role in keeping the challenger spirit alive.”
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Paddock Magazine…