Ellen Galinsky

While reading Mind in the Making, there were some moments I felt I was reading common sense statements. I am not proclaiming to be a perfect mother or teacher, but I felt reassured knowing that many of Galinsky’s points I either agreed with or have tried her methods/approaches. I believe the seven skills mapped out throughout the book are pretty on point, although I felt at times some topics definitely intertwined with others. The highlight of the text had to be the various personal show more vignettes dispersed throughout. I loved reading that other parents and kids experience the same questions, concerns, discipline issues, fears, etc as my family. Some of these story snippets were so simplistic yet so correct in reminding me of the innocence of children. show less

Things you can do to enhance a child’s ability to wait, interest in learning, etc. A mix of research plus some concrete suggestions for games and approaches to particular recurring problems. Never praise your kid for being smart, only for working hard! Etc. I feel like I’ve seen most of this stuff before, but it could make a good introduction, plus the author is very reassuring, not like some advice which suggests that if you didn’t do X prenatally and thereafter your child is doomed.

Interesting, but I feel like I have read a lot of this material before. Honestly, I skimmed it, because I have read my fair share of parenting books and child development books.

I found this unsatisfying - I had read more in depth books on many of the topics. But I might recommend it to someone sticking their toe in the water of the child development ocean.