• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Thoughtful Parent

A blog that makes child development approachable.

  • About Me
  • Social-Emotional Development
    • 7 Ways to Teach Your Child About Kindness
    • 4 Powerful Social-Emotional Lessons Kids are Learning During the Pandemic
  • Temperament
    • Seeing the Unique Gift of Your Child’s Temperament
    • Insights for Parents from the Science of Child Temperament
  • Toddler Development
    • Research-Backed Real-Life Strategies to Discipline Kids without Yelling
    • Research-Backed Ways to Thrive Through the Toddler Years
  • Child Development Classics
    • A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the 4 Attachment Styles
    • Child Psychology Classics: The Mirror Test
  • Parent Coaching

Great New Resource for Parents: Mind in the Making

Education · April 27, 2010

If you had to name 7 essential skills that you wanted to instill in your child that would benefit them throughout their life, what would be on that list? I hadn’t really thought of this until I recently ran across a new book that’s just been released called “Mind in the Making: Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs.” Here are the 7 skills discussed in the book:


1. Focus and Self Control – children need this skill in order to achieve their goals especially in a world that is filled with distractions and information overload.

2. Perspective Taking – children who can figure out what others feel and think are less likely to get involved in conflicts.

3. Communicating – children need to be able to determine what they want to communicate and how. This is the skill teachers and employers feel is most lacking today.

4. Making Connections – children who can make unusual connections are more creative and can go beyond knowing information to using information well.

5. Critical Thinking – children need to be able to search for reliable knowledge to guide their beliefs, decisions, and actions.

6. Taking on Challenges – children who can take on challenges instead of avoiding or simply coping with them will do better in school and in life.

7. Self-Directed Engaged Learning – lifelong learners can change as the world changes in order to reach their full potential.

The author, Ellen Galinsky, is a well-respected researcher in family and work issues. Although I haven’t read the book yet, it sounds fascinating. She has brought together the work of some of the best child development researchers in the field to compile a “handbook” of sorts for parents. This book (much like the goal of this blog) is designed to take some of the best child development research and distill it down into a usable format for parents.


I recently heard a podcast with the author and one of the things she mentioned was how she noticed while interviewing children that many seem to have lost that spark of the desire to learn that all children are born with. I could really relate to this as I remember seeing this also while visiting schools as part of a previous job. This is sad because any of us who have very young children know that they are naturally curious and want to learn anything they can. Through Mind in the Making, Galinsky hopes to give parents concrete ideas for helping their kids keep that spark of learning throughout their entire life. This skill, along with the others outlined in the book, are helpful not only for kids’ school experience but for their career and personal lives.

Along with the book, Mind in the Making will also have online videos, a vook (video book) and learning modules available for teachers and parents. What a great set of resources!

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: books

Amy Webb, Ph.D.

Writer and mom of two who brings academic child development and parenting information into the lives of ordinary parents who can use it in their daily lives.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

child temperament quiz
Amy Webb
As a mom of two young boys, I've seen first-hand how research-based child development information, combined with intuition, can guide you through your parenting journey. Although I have a Ph.D.in Human Development and Family Sciences, many of my real parenting discoveries have come through my experience. I believe parenting with confidence comes from knowledge; parenting with grace comes from insight. Join me on this parenting journey of learning and discovery

Learn Your Child’s Temperament

child temperament

Moms–Preview My New Book!

Get Parenting Inspiration at My RedBubble Shop

parenting blog

Guides

Child Temperament

Stay-at-Home Mom

Developmental Toys

Toddler Development

Social-Emotional Development

 

Search

Online Course for Moms

stay at home mom course

As seen on

Amazon affiliate links appear on this blog. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (at no added cost to you).

Popular Posts

  • newborn reflexes
    What a Baby’s Temperament Tells Us About Their Long-Term Development
  • top parenting blogs
    23 Best Parenting Blogs
  • mirror test babies
    Child Psychology Classics: The Mirror Test
  • connecting with kids
    What Research Says is the Best Stay-at-Home Mom Schedule for Kids {and moms too!}
  • toddler speaks own language
    How to Give Your Child a 1980s Childhood {and it’s backed by research!}

Join our Facebook Group of intentional parents!

parenting

Copyright © 2023 · Maker Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok