Mind in the Making (MITM) is a wonderful parenting guide, is based on neuroscience and psychological principles of child development. While it is not a short read like The Whole Brain Child, if offers seven key skills parents can foster in their children and plenty of specific examples for how to promote the skills.
The 7 key skills are:
- Focus/Self Control
- Perspective Taking
- Communicating
- Making Connections (between things)
- Critical Thinking
- Taking on Challenges
- Self Directed Engaged Learning
Several groups in the Port Angeles and Sequim area have actively promoted MITM, including Prevention Works, the Port Angeles School District, and Dr. Darlene Clemons who emails out MITM mini-messages. You can sign up for her email list by emailing her.
Reading helps kids brains grow, and promotes increased IQ. MITM has a list of recommended books parents can read to their children, which Dr. Clemons has organized by key skill and age. For families splitting up, we recommend both households have a copy of these books, or share the books between households, so that kids not only get the benefit of enhancing their key life-skills, they see that both parents want the same thing for them, and the children gain a sense of continuity between households. Click here to read more about the trauma to your child from the loss of the family unit.