Happy Kids! That’s what all parents and grandparents want. But in today’s fast-paced world, what we often get are frustrated, stressed, unhappy little people who haven’t learned how to manage the ins and outs of daily life. They don’t know how to listen, share, take turns, obey and respect others. They aren’t able to find ways to entertain themselves. They’re self-absorbed (like many adults) and may be overly reliant on “things” like their video games, I-pads and other screens to keep them content.

What has gone wrong? Ellen Galinsky, in her landmark book, Mind in the Making outlines seven life skills that every child needs to develop to succeed in learning and life. Some of these skills seem like common sense manners from “the good old days” and others are more related to maximizing learning, but all seven are crucial to a child’s growth and success.

Galinsky did extensive research on the science of early learning–how the brain develops and the ways in which life skills are learned. She identified the seven life skills and helps parents and teachers learn ways to guide our children toward implementing them.

This is an important book for everyone who lives and works with young children. Stay tuned. I’ll focus on one life skill each week and list ways parents can guide their children toward making the skills a part of everyday life.