MIND IN THE MAKING
FIRST BOOK TIP SHEETS
Cover
FOCUS AND SELF CONTROL
Head, Shoulders, Knees Toes The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Annie Kubler Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a This cheerful board book world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves engages young children’s paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and minds and bodies. It exercising self control. introduces them to a classic song while teaching them several parts of the body. Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control Use it to get little ones up and moving! TIP: While reading the book to your child, you can point to your head and say: • “Here’s my head. Where’s your head?” Then point to the child’s head: • “There’s your head!” High-quality books and Wait for your child’s response and respond back. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based SKILL: Life Skills from Focus and Self Control includes paying attention, which calls on an Mind in the Making Executive Function skill. Also, this back and forth interaction is what by Ellen Galinsky researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you Find more books says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The and materials on the First importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding Book Marketplace, a resource from child development research. available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. For children who are beginning to remember and understand words, you www.fbmarketplace.org. can let them point first and you follow their lead. You can ask: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: • “Where are your toes?” and “Where are my toes?” Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of SKILL: ball, involves a back and forth Asking questions is a good way to be interactive and help children conversation between you and your . child where you listen, then build on pay attention and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. TIP: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, You can encourage your child to point to the part of the body named in your feelings, your thoughts and your the book first and then do the action. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay SKILL: attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. This activity requires memory. Focus and Self Control includes Find more about Families and Work remembering information so that you can use it. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Elmo Says... By Sarah Albee The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs The classic game “Simon Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control Says” meets Sesame Street Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a in this lively board book. world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves Favorite characters instruct paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and children to imitate their exercising self control. actions—but only when they hear the words “Elmo says!” Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control
TIP: You can play the game as you read the book with your child. Like the game of “Simon Says,” your child is not supposed to follow the directions unless the book states: “Elmo says.” SKILL: Focus and Self Control includes being able to remember rules. It also includes the High-quality books and ability to slow down your reaction and also to pause and choose a response. Playing educational resources from First games and reading books that require children to remember and not go on automatic, but to exercise self control, are what promote Executive Function skills. Book supporting research-based Life Skills from TIP: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Ask your child to try to remember what comes next in the story: • “What comes after ‘walk like a cat?’ Yes, it is ‘swing a bat.’” Find more books and materials on the First Showing the picture can give your child clues about the words in the book. Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to SKILL: educators and programs Developing Focus and Self Control takes practice. It is good to repeat this game and read serving children in need. the book again and again. www.fbmarketplace.org.
TIP: You will notice that these tips promote In the preschool years, you can make the game more challenging by switching rules to the two child development principles: opposite. For example, if Elmo says: “Touch your nose,” ask your child instead to do the Serve and Return and Executive opposite and tap his or her toes. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of SKILL: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Your child has to exercise self control when you change the rules, an Executive child where you listen, then build on Function skill. and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. TIP: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Note that this book and game all involve children in a physical activity. As you read the your feelings, your thoughts and your book, have your child do the actions called for in the story. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay SKILL: attention, remember information, think Children learn Focus and Self Control by being active—not by sitting still! flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this classic bedtime story, a rabbit says goodnight to what’s in the room, from “Goodnight, Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control moon” to “Goodnight, nobody” Children need this skill in order to achieve their , especially in aworld that goals finally to “Goodnight, noises is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, everywhere.” The mesmerizing and exercising self control. remembering the rules, thinking flexibly cadence of the rhymes and the clever details in every picture Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control form a reassuring and calming end of the day tradition Tip: for As you read each page of Goodnight Moon, point to the objects named children and in the story (the red balloon, two little kittens) and ask your child to point adults after you. alike. Skill: High-quality books and When you invite your child to find the objects, you are helping your child educational resources from First learn to pay close attention to the details in the pictures, which calls on Book supporting research-based Executive Function skills. The back and forth interaction you have with Life Skills from your child in reading this book is what researchers call “serve and return.” Mind in the Making Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the by Ellen Galinsky other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to Find more books brain building is a key finding from child development research. and materials on the First Tip: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to After the opening of the book, there is a tiny mouse on all of the pages educators and programs with pictures in color. See if your child can find and point to the mouse. If serving children in need. not, point the mouse out to your child. www.fbmarketplace.org.
Skill: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Your child will not only have to pay attention to find the mouse, he or she Serve and Return and Executive will also have to use the skill of self control to select the mouse in the Function skills. midst of everything else happening in the picture. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Tip: conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on Once your child has heard Goodnight Moon a number of times, stop and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. before words that rhyme. Can your child remember that after “Goodnight, Executive Function skills are skills kittens” is “Goodnight, mittens?” You can help your child remember by you use to manage your attention, pointing to the relevant pictures. your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. Skill: They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think When you play the rhyming and remembering game, you are not only flexibly and exercise self control. helping your child learn to listen carefully to the sound of words, you Find more about Families and Work are also promoting his or her working memory, an important aspect of Institute’s Mind in the Making at Focus and Self Control. www.mindinthemaking.org. Noisy Nora By Rosemary Wells The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs What’s a mouse to do when her father and mother spend all their time with her older sister Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control and baby brother? Make lots of Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that noise—that’s Nora’s solution! is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, So, “First she banged the remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. window. Then she slammed the door …” Hushed Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control by her parents and Tip: scolded As you read Noisy Nora, suggest things Nora could do instead of causing trouble: by her sister, • “Nora might like to read a book while she waits.” Nora runs away, • “Nora could think of something funny as she waits.” • “It might be easier for Nora to wait if she sings a song.” High-quality books and educational resources from First • “Nora might tell her parents that she needs some attention, too.” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Skill: Mind in the Making Focus and Self Control includes finding ways to wait even when it is hard, by Ellen Galinsky which calls on Executive Function skills. Getting good at waiting requires Find more books strategies, including telling people what you need. Your child can learn and materials on the First strategies from you and the characters in books. Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to educators and programs Ask your child what else Nora could do to help her wait. serving children in need. Skill: www.fbmarketplace.org.
By asking your child to suggest his or her own ideas for waiting, you You will notice that these tips promote are helping your child to be prepared with strategies when self control two child development principles: is necessary. The back and forth conversation you have with your child Serve and Return and Executive skills. about this book is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a Function game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to conversation between you and your brain building is a key finding from child development research. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Tip: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Remind your child of a time when she or he managed to wait successfully: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your • “When I was on the phone, you waited for me to read your book by behavior to reach your goals. looking at the pictures alone.” They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. When you remind your child of a time that he or she exercised Focus and Self Find more about Families and Work Control, you are reinforcing the strategies that have been successful. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. The Carrot Seed By Ruth Krauss The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Pictures by Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control Crockett Johnson Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves In this heartwarming story, paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and a boy plants and cares for exercising self control. a carrot seed. He’s certain it will grow into something wonderful, even when those Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control around him have doubts.
TIP: You can talk with your child about all the ways the little boy in the story cared for the carrot seed (pulling the weeds around the seed and sprinkling the ground with water, etc.) and how he kept focused on his goal even when everyone in his family doubted that the seed would grow.
High-quality books and SKILL: educational resources from First Focus and Self Control includes being able to work toward a goal. Book supporting research-based Executive Function skills are driven by goals. Life Skills from Mind in the Making TIP: by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Ask your child: and materials on the First • “What did the little boy do to help the seed grow?” Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to • “How do you think the little boy felt when nothing came up?” educators and programs serving children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. An important aspect of Executive Function skills is remembering You will notice that these tips promote information so you can use it in different ways. By asking your child to two child development principles: recall the story, you are building this capacity. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of TIP: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your You can share a story with your child about a time that you had to child where you listen, then build on exercise self control to work toward a goal that was important to you. and extend what your child says or Remind the child of a time that he or she worked toward a goal as well. does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, SKILL: your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. It is important for children to understand that working toward a goal takes They include being able to pay time, takes effort and takes believing you can achieve the goal. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Whistle for Willie By Ezra Jack Keats The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Many children will recognize Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control the star of this beloved Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a book—it’s Peter from The world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves Snowy Day! Here, he paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and models both patience and exercising self control. practice as he teaches himself to whistle so that he Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control can summon his dog.
TIP: You can ask your child:
• “What did Peter do to learn how to whistle?” SKILL: High-quality books and When your child retells parts of the story, he or she is developing Focus and Self Control by paying attention and remembering. Focus and Self Control also educational resources from First includes being able to practice in order to work toward a goal. Executive Book supporting research-based Function skills are driven by goals. Life Skills from Mind in the Making TIP: by Ellen Galinsky We all do better at achieving our goals if they are important to us. Find more books and materials on the First You can ask: Book Marketplace, a resource • “Why did Peter want to learn to whistle?” available exclusively to Wait for the child’s response and respond to that, perhaps by asking: educators and programs serving children in need. • “Did Willie notice Peter when he couldn’t whistle?” www.fbmarketplace.org.
SKILL: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: This back and forth conversation is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like Serve and Return and Executive a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds Function skills. (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key Serve and Return, like game of finding from child development research. ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on TIP: and extend what your child says or You can share a story with the child about a time that you had to exercise self does to promote learning. control to work toward a goal that was important to you. Or you can remind your Executive Function skills are skills child of a time that he or she worked toward a goal, such as throwing a ball, saying a you use to manage your attention, hard word or going to a new place. By telling inspiring stories about your child’s past, your feelings, your thoughts and your you are helping your child build a “can-do” self image. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think SKILL: flexibly and exercise self control. It is important for children to be aware that working toward a goal takes time, takes Find more about Families and Work practice and effort, and takes believing you can achieve the goal. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. A Chair for My Mother By Vera B. Williams The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When a fire destroys their home, Rosa, her mother and grandmother put their shiny Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control coins into a jar until they have Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that saved enough to buy the chair is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, they are all dreaming of.and all remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. is far too quiet until her joyful return. Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control
Tip: As you read A Chair for My Mother, talk with your child about how it might feel to lose his or her things in a fire.
Rosa might have felt sad or angry, but instead, she and her family focused on creating a new home and saving for a new chair. Ask your child how it would feel to save that much money. High-quality books and educational resources from First Skill: Book supporting research-based The skill of Focus and Self Control is necessary as you work toward a goal. Life Skills from Executive Function skills are driven by goals. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky When you talk about how Rosa and her family saved for the new chair, your child is seeing the value of working toward long-term goals. The back and forth Find more books conversation you have with your child about this book is what researchers call and materials on the First “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something Book Marketplace, a resource (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday available exclusively to interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. educators and programs serving children in need. Tip: www.fbmarketplace.org. Ask your child about a goal he or she would like to work toward. Talk about what it might take to make it happen. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Skill: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. When you help your child think of a goal that he or she is interested in achieving Serve and Return, like game of and discuss ways to stay focused on that goal, you are helping your child learn ball, involves a back and forth the skill of Focus and Self Control. Make sure you help your child think about a conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on goal he or she really cares about, not one you set for your child. and extend what your child says or Tip: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Share a story with your child about a time that you stayed focused on a goal and had you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your to wait to make it come true. Share your strategies for making that happen behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay Skill: attention, remember information, think Focus and Self Control is promoted when we have strategies to help us wait, not flexibly and exercise self control. get distracted and not go on automatic even when things are hard. Children Find more about Families and Work learn through stories. When you share your story and strategies, your child is learning Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. ways to help himself or herself in the future. The Art Lesson By Tomie dePaola The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Tommy is a creative kid Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control who loves to draw until a Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a strict teacher makes him world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves follow the rules of her art paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and class. An autobiographical exercising self control. story by beloved author Tomie DePaola, this is an empowering ode Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control to creativity! TIP: You can ask your child:
• “What was Tommy’s goal? How did he work toward it?”
Wait for the child’s response and respond to that. High-quality books and SKILL: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based This back and forth interaction is what researchers call “serve and Life Skills from return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something Mind in the Making (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these by Ellen Galinsky everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. Find more books and materials on the First TIP: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to You can ask: educators and programs serving children in need. • “What were the goals of Tommy’s friends?” www.fbmarketplace.org.
SKILL: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Focus and Self Control includes having a goal and working toward it Serve and Return and Executive even when you feel like doing something else or others want you to Function skills. do something else. Executive Function skills are driven by goals. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 The Art Lesson By Tomie dePaola The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Tommy is a creative kid Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control who loves to draw until a Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a strict teacher makes him world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves follow the rules of her art paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and class. An autobiographical exercising self control. story by beloved author Tomie DePaola, this is an empowering ode Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control to creativity! TIP: Ask your child to think about what Tommy did when he was told to take his box of 64 crayons home or to copy a picture?
You can ask:
• “Did that help Tommy achieve his goal?” High-quality books and And continue the conversation by asking: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based • “Have you ever had a time you wanted to do something different or had Life Skills from to wait? What did you do to help yourself wait?” Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
SKILL: Find more books Focus and Self Control requires us to be able to think about things and materials on the First flexibly as well as not to go on automatic, but to exercise self control. Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. The book ends with the fact that Tommy continued to draw and still does. www.fbmarketplace.org.
Ask the children if they notice that the character in the book (Tommy) and You will notice that these tips promote the book’s creator (Tomie) have almost the same name. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. SKILL: Serve and Return, like game of Children would enjoy looking up Tomie dePaola and finding out more ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your about him. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Pursuing additional information requires Focus and Self Control. does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 The Little Red Hen Retold by The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Philemon Sturges Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control This delightful spin on a Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a classic folktale is filled with world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves humorous details! The Little paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and Red Hen goes through each exercising self control. step of making a pizza, but do her friends help her? No. Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control In this version, though, she finds a creative new way for them to contribute. TIP: Ask your child:
• “How do you think the Little Red Hen feels when the duck, the cat and the dog are too busy to help? How do you think the Little Red Hen feels getting the pizza pan, the flour, the mozzarella and the toppings all by herself? Why do you think she kept working?” High-quality books and educational resources from First • “How would you have felt, and what would you have done?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from SKILL: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Executive Function skills are driven by goals including Focus and Self Control. This entails being persistent and continuing to try to reach Find more books goals even if others are too busy or don’t want to help. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource TIP: available exclusively to educators and programs Ask your child: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. • “What were the duck, the cat and the dog doing each time they were asked to help?” You will notice that these tips promote Wait for the child’s response and respond to that, perhaps by asking: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “Why was each of these activities important to them?” Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth SKILL: conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on If you look closely, each animal is pursuing an interest, such as the cat and extend what your child says or practicing music. A back and forth conversation between you and your does to promote learning. child about the book is what researchers call “serve and return.” The Executive Function skills are skills importance of this everyday interaction to brain building is a key finding you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your on this topic from child development research. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 The Little Red Hen Retold by The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Philemon Sturges Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control This delightful spin on a Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in a classic folktale is filled with world that is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves humorous details! The Little paying attention, remembering the rules, thinking flexibly and Red Hen goes through each exercising self control. step of making a pizza, but do her friends help her? No. Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control In this version, though, she finds a creative new way for them to contribute. TIP: The objects in the Little Red Hen’s shopping wagon, cupboard and fridge provide many opportunities for asking children to remember and identify and name different objects. You can point to them and say: “What’s that?”
SKILL: High-quality books and When you invite your child to find the objects in the shopping wagon, educational resources from First you are helping your child learn to pay close attention to details in Book supporting research-based the pictures. Life Skills from Mind in the Making TIP: by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Ask your child: and materials on the First • “Why do you think that the Little Red Hen was willing to share her pizza Book Marketplace, a resource with the others, even when they were unwilling to help?” available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. This question promotes self control—children have to put aside what they might have done and take the perspective of the Hen. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive TIP: Function skills. Ask your child: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your • “What might the Hen have done to prevent going back to the store over child where you listen, then build on and over again?” and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills SKILL: you use to manage your attention, Focus and Self Control includes . This is exemplified your feelings, your thoughts and your thinking flexibly behavior to reach your goals. when the Little Red Hen has to adapt to not having a pizza pan, then They include being able to pay flour, then mozzarella and, finally, pizza toppings. When you talk about attention, remember information, think the Little Red Hen and her friends using Focus and Self Control, your flexibly and exercise self control. child is learning strategies to do the same. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 The Best Seat in Second Grade
By Katharine Kenah The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this classic bedtime story, a Sam feels he has the best seat in his classroom because he Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control sits next to the class hamster. Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that He yearns to show the hamster is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, the world remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. outside his cage, so he sneaks him Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control along on a class trip to the science Tip: museum Sam was tired of waiting to be the Hamster Helper. Talk with your child and then about a time he or she was tired of waiting for something. Try to recall loses him in what he or she did to make the waiting easier. the Hamster Habitat! Skill: High-quality books and Focus and Self Control includes being able to wait to do something, educational resources from First even when it is hard. This is learning to exercise self control, an Executive Function skill. Helping your child remember what he or she Book supporting research-based did to make the waiting easier promotes this skill. The back and forth Life Skills from conversation you have with your child about waiting is what researchers Mind in the Making call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does by Ellen Galinsky something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Find more books development research. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to educators and programs Share what you do when you need to stay focused even when it is hard or when you can’t go on automatic. For example, sitting in traffic or waiting serving children in need. for the bus, you may sing or think about happy things. www.fbmarketplace.org.
Skill: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Focus and Self Control is promoted when you have strategies to use Serve and Return and Executive when you are challenged or distracted. When you share your story and Function skills. strategies, you are teaching your child new ways to develop self control. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Tip: conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on Sam took the hamster on the field trip because he couldn’t resist sharing and extend what your child says or the experience with him. You can talk with your child about how Sam does to promote learning. didn’t think ahead about the consequences, especially the risk of losing Executive Function skills are skills the hamster. Ask your child what Sam might have handled the situation you use to manage your attention, differently. You can also share a time that you didn’t think ahead and your feelings, your thoughts and your how that affected you or others—for example, saying something that hurt behavior to reach your goals. someone else’s feelings. Share what you do now to stop and think ahead. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Finding ways to stop and think ahead require reflecting and resisting the Institute’s Mind in the Making at temptation to go on auto-pilot. Your child will learn from your experience. www.mindinthemaking.org.
Wilma Unlimited By Kathleen Krull The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Wilma Unlimited tells the inspiring true story of how Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control Wilma Rudolph overcame Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that many odds—from being is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, the “sickliest child” in her remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. hometown with a variety of illnesses, including polio, to Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control becoming the world’s fastest runner and winning TIP: three The book says that Wilma began running and jumping as soon as she Olympic learned to walk. Moving was a strength of hers from early on. Ask your Gold child to think about his or her unique strengths and interests. Then Metals. ask your child to think about how he or she can use these strengths to achieve a goal, even if challenges arise along the way. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Focus and Self Control is promoted when we build upon our strengths Life Skills from and have meaningful goals. Executive Functions are driven by goals. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky This back and forth conversation you have about your child’s unique strengths, interests and goals is what researchers call “serve and return.” Find more books Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the and materials on the First other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions Book Marketplace, a resource to brain building is a key finding from child development research. available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. TIP: www.fbmarketplace.org. Ask your child what helped Wilma become the fastest runner in the Olympics. For example, after she was stricken with polio, she wanted to You will notice that these tips promote be able to go school with everyone else. So, she worked hard and prac- two child development principles: ticed walking even though nobody ever thought she would be able to Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. move around without the brace. When she took off her brace and walked into church, she “took her mind off her knees by concentrating on taking Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth another breath, and then another.” conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or SKILL: does to promote learning. When you ask your child to reflect on Wilma’s experiences, you are Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, helping him or her see how empowering it can be to set goals and your feelings, your thoughts and your concentrate on achieving them. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Wilma Unlimited By Kathleen Krull The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Wilma Unlimited tells the inspiring true story of how Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control Wilma Rudolph overcame Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that many odds—from being is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, the “sickliest child” in her remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. hometown with a variety of illnesses, including polio, to Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control becoming the world’s fastest runner and winning TIP: three Make a list of strategies your child can use to work toward a goal he or Olympic she cares about. These strategies could include setting up practice time, Gold getting help from others, positive self talk, taking your mind off problems, Metals. using the “power of concentration,” and remembering the goal.
High-quality books and SKILL: educational resources from First Achieving goals depends on using specific strategies, especially if there Book supporting research-based are challenges. When you make a list of strategies with your child, you Life Skills from are promoting the skill of Focus and Self Control. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky This back and forth conversation about strategies is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does Find more books something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of and materials on the First these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Book Marketplace, a resource development research. available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 A Crooked Kind of Perfect
By Linda Urban
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs A Crooked Kind of Perfect is the story of a girl called Zoe who dreams of performing on Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control the piano. As she puts it, “My Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that dad was supposed to buy me a piano,” but instead buys a is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, “wood-grained behemoth” organ. remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. Thus begins a series of Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control surprising adventures that lead Zoe Tip: to compete in a Performa- Zoe had a dream of playing an elegant piano, of being a prodigy and of O-Rama performing at Carnegie Hall in New York. But instead, she gets a “wood-grained, competition. vinyl-seated, wheeze-bag organ.”
Talk with your child about what Zoe did to focus on her goal of making music even when there are challenges along the way. For example, she kept thinking of quitting, but then she hears the expert player on the piano and learns from this experience. High-quality books and educational resources from First Skill: Book supporting research-based The skill of Focus and Self Control is driven by goals—and those goals can Life Skills from change over time. It is important to help children understand how goals can affect Mind in the Making motivation and actions. by Ellen Galinsky
Tip: Find more books Learning music involves practice. Ask your child: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource • “What kept Zoe practicing?” available exclusively to • “What kept her father learning to cook new things (from Living Room University)?” educators and programs serving children in need. • “Can you remember a time when you had to practice? What helped you www.fbmarketplace.org. stick to the practice and what made it hard?” You will notice that these tips promote Skill: two child development principles: Practicing requires both focus (being able to screen out distractions) and self control Serve and Return and Executive skills. (sticking with something, even when it’s hard), which call on Executive Function Function skills. Also, this back and forth conversation about practicing is what researchers call Serve and Return, like game of “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) ball, involves a back and forth and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on brain building is a key finding from child development research. and extend what your child says or Tip: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Sam took the hamster on the field trip because he couldn’t resist sharing Make you use to manage your attention, a list together of what you and your child do to stay focused when there are your feelings, your thoughts and your distractions. The list can include simple things, like listening to music or putting behavior to reach your goals. on head phones or shutting the door to have quiet or think about the goal. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work When you list strategies to use to achieve goals, you are promoting the skill of Institute’s Mind in the Making at Focus and Self-Control. www.mindinthemaking.org. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
By Jack Gantos The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this prize-winning book, Joey Pigza is the wonderfully compelling roller-coaster story of a child dealing with being Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control hyper-active amid a lot of other Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that difficult circumstances, from “dud is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, meds” to an abusive grandmother remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. and a father who disappears. He keeps making bad choices, like swallowing his house Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control key, and ends up in a special education program. Determined to make better choices and TIP: armed with some great teachers, The main character in this book, Joey, had a hard time because he was better medical care and a loving mother, so impulsive, couldn’t pay attention and didn’t make good decisions due he begins to turn to ADHD and his family life. He may have struggled more than most of us, things around. but we can learn from his experience.
Ask your child: High-quality books and educational resources from First • “What do you think of some of the advice Joey was given to manage Book supporting research-based his behavior, such as: ‘Whenever you think of something bad, you have Life Skills from to quick think of something good.’ Or ‘You can never, never think of Mind in the Making three things bad in a row or else you will feel awful?’” by Ellen Galinsky SKILL: Find more books and materials on the First Strategies are essential to learning the skill of Focus and Self Control. Book Marketplace, a resource Reframing negative thoughts into positive thoughts is one such strategy. available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. You can talk with your child about how he or she manages when wanting to be impulsive. You can recall positive examples, such as: “I know you You will notice that these tips promote were upset the other day, but you stopped yourself before you slammed two child development principles: the door. What helped you from slamming that door?” You can talk about Serve and Return and Executive the strategies you use to prevent yourself from going on auto-pilot, such Function skills. as, taking a deep breath or exercising. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your SKILL: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or In addition to changing the way you think, other strategies to promote does to promote learning. Focus and Self Control involve changing your behavior, such as taking Executive Function skills are skills deep breaths or exercising before you respond to something. To do so, you use to manage your attention, you need to your feelings, your thoughts and your pay attention to your own behavior and have plans in behavior to reach your goals. place for how to respond if you are tempted to respond negatively. They include being able to pay These strategies call on Executive Function skills. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
By Jack Gantos The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this prize-winning book, Joey Pigza is the wonderfully compelling roller-coaster story of a child dealing with being Executive Function Life Skill: Focus and Self Control hyper-active amid a lot of other Children need this skill in order to achieve their goals, especially in aworld that difficult circumstances, from “dud is filled with distractions and information overload. It involves paying attention, meds” to an abusive grandmother remembering the rules, thinking flexiblyand exercising self control. and a father who disappears. He keeps making bad choices, like swallowing his house key, and ends up in a special Suggestions for Promoting Focus and Self Control education program. Determined to make better choices and This back and forth conversation you have with your child about the armed with some book is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, great teachers, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (re- better medical care turns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is and a loving mother, he begins to turn a key finding from child development research. things around.
TIP: High-quality books and Joey wanted to be able to go back to his regular classroom, get a dog and educational resources from First have people know he was a good kid. He had goals that were important Book supporting research-based to him. Life Skills from Mind in the Making Ask your child: by Ellen Galinsky
• ”How did Joey’s goals contribute to his working on paying better attention Find more books and not behaving impulsively?” and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource SKILL: available exclusively to educators and programs Focus and Self Control—and all life skills—are promoted by working serving children in need. toward a goal. www.fbmarketplace.org.
TIP: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Joey received a lot of help from the Special Education Department, the Serve and Return and Executive medical doctor and his mom in achieving his goals. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Ask your child: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your • “Joey had goals that were important to him. Can you think of goals that child where you listen, then build on are important to you? What help can I or others provide to support you and extend what your child says or in achieving that goal?” does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, SKILL: your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. When we are trying to change our behavior, we all need supportive They include being able to pay people around us. When you involve your child in thinking about an attention, remember information, think important goal and what help you can provide in achieving that goal, you flexibly and exercise self control. are being supportive! Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2
PERSPECTIVE TAKING
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Bill Martin, Jr. Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking and Eric Carle Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring A masterful book and noisy trip out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s to the zoo! Polar Bear says he understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. hears a lion roaring. Lion says Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less he hears a hippo snorting. likely to get involved in conflicts. As the perspective shifts from animal to animal, Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking children chime in, practice animal sounds TIP: and make This book provides a great opportunity to for children to learn that different predictions. animals make different sounds. With very young children, imitate the sounds the animals in the book make, such as roaring, snorting and hissing. When your child learns the words and sounds of this book, ask him or her to make the sound with you. You can also say the word “roaring,” and have your child make the sound. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Perspective Taking involves understanding the perspectives of others, including what they sound like. To take the perspectives of others, you have Mind in the Making to put aside your own thoughts and feelings, which calls on Executive by Ellen Galinsky Function skills. Find more books The back and forth interaction you have with your child in sharing this story is and materials on the First what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says Book Marketplace, a resource or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance available exclusively to of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child educators and programs development research. serving children in need. TIP: www.fbmarketplace.org. On the last page of the book, children pretend to be the animals. Have your child You will notice that these tips promote pretend, too. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. SKILL: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Pretending is an important way children learn to take the perspectives of others. conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or TIP: does to promote learning. After you have read this story, use the refrain in your everyday life, saying to your Executive Function skills are skills child: “[Your child’s name, your child’s name], what do you hear?” you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Have your child listen for all of the different sounds around him or her, like the behavior to reach your goals. sounds of birds, honking horns, etc. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think SKILL: flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Perspective Taking is promoted by asking questions, imitating and repeating. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Five Little Ducks By Raffi The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Illustrated by Jose Aruego Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking and Ariane Dewey Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s A toddler favorite, this understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. colorful board book features Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less a classic counting song likely to get involved in conflicts. in which, one by one, five little ducklings leave their loving duck mother. In the Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking end (hooray!) each returns to her, trailed by TIP: a flock of While reading this book, you can talk about how the Mother Duck might surprises. be feeling and thinking. Talk about the clues you see in the book’s illustrations to understand Mother Duck’s emotions. SKILL: High-quality books and educational resources from First Perspective Taking involves understanding what others think and feel. Book supporting research-based To do so, you have to put aside your own perspectives, which calls on Life Skills from Executive Function skills. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
TIP: Find more books With older children, you can help them be more attuned to the feelings of and materials on the First others by asking such questions as: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to • “How do you think Mother Duck felt when not all of her little ducks educators and programs came back? How do you know?” serving children in need. Have the children look at the Mother Duck’s expressions as fewer and www.fbmarketplace.org. fewer of her little ducks returned, and then look at her expressions in the fall and winter. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive SKILL: Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Looking at the faces and body expressions of the characters in ball, involves a back and forth books is an important way children learn to “read” the feelings and conversation between you and your thoughts of others. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. TIP: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, At the end of the book, ask your child: your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. • “How does Mother Duck feel when all of the little ducks came back? They include being able to pay How do you know?” attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Five Little Ducks By Raffi The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Illustrated by Jose Aruego Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking and Ariane Dewey Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring A toddler favorite, this out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s colorful board book features understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. a classic counting song Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less in which, one by one, five likely to get involved in conflicts. little ducklings leave their loving duck mother. In the Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking end (hooray!) each returns to her, trailed by SKILL: a flock of This back and forth conversation about the book is what researchers surprises. call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. High-quality books and educational resources from First TIP: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from With older children, this book offers many opportunities for looking at the Mind in the Making different colors of the ducks and for counting. On the last page of the book, by Ellen Galinsky have your child count how many baby ducks each little duck now has. Find more books and materials on the First SKILL: Book Marketplace, a resource Paying attention to details promotes Executive Function skills. available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. TIP: www.fbmarketplace.org. You can talk with your child about how he or she might feel if your child was the Mother Duck or the little ducks. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Ask your child: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. • “How do you think you would feel if you couldn’t find someone you Serve and Return, like game of were looking for?” ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your • “How would you feel if you were the little ducks and left home to be on child where you listen, then build on your own?” and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills SKILL: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Perspective Taking is learned through putting yourself in another’s behavior to reach your goals. “shoes.” By talking about the viewpoints of others—in stories and They include being able to pay in their own lives—you are helping children learn the skill of attention, remember information, think Perspective Taking. flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Whoever You Are By Mem Fox The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Whoever You Are shares the Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking way that children all over Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy; it involves figuring out what the world differ and yet are others think and feel, and forms the basis for children’s understanding of the same.and all is far too their parents’, teachers’ and friends’ intentions. Children who can take the quiet until her joyful return. perspectives of others are also much less likely to get involved in conflicts. Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking
Tip: You can ask children questions about the ways the people in the book differ from their own experience. For example, you can say: • “What are their clothes like? How are they different from the clothes you wear?”
• “What are their homes like? How are they different from your home?” High-quality books and • “What else do you see that is different?” educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Skill: Life Skills from Mind in the Making Perspective Taking is being able to understand what others think and feel. by Ellen Galinsky By talking about the differences your child sees in the book, you are helping your child learn about Perspective Taking because your child is learning Find more books about the perspectives and experiences of others. This back and forth and materials on the First conversation you have about this book is what researchers call “serve and Book Marketplace, a resource return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) available exclusively to and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday educators and programs interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development serving children in need. research. www.fbmarketplace.org. Tip: You will notice that these tips promote You can point out the people in the book that might look differently or live two child development principles: differently, but draw attention to how we are all alike. For example, you Serve and Return and Executive can say: Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of • “He cries. I cry. You cry. We all cry sometimes.” ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your • “Even if we look and live differently from others, we all laugh.” child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Skill: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills When you talk about the ways that the children in the book are just like you use to manage your attention, your child, you are helping him or her form a basis of understanding about your feelings, your thoughts and your the deeper similarities among people. By helping your child gain these behavior to reach your goals. understandings, you are promoting Perspective Taking and your child’s They include being able to pay skills. attention, remember information, think Executive Function flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Are You Ready to Play Outside? The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Mo Willems Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring In this hilarious award- out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s winning book, Gerald (an understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. elephant) and Piggie (a pig) Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less think the rain has ruined likely to get involved in conflicts. their plans, until they learn that to others wet weather is Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking big fun.
TIP: You can ask your child questions about the characters: • “Why do you think Piggie doesn’t like rain and Gerald the Elephant does?” SKILL: High-quality books and Perspective Taking includes figuring out what others feel and think. To do so, you have educational resources from First to put aside your own feelings and thoughts, which calls on Executive Function skills. Book supporting research-based Life Skills from TIP: Mind in the Making Ask your child questions about the character’s actions and motivations: by Ellen Galinsky “How did Gerald the Elephant help Piggie? Why did he do so?” Find more books and materials on the First SKILL: Book Marketplace, a resource Perspective Taking includes understanding others. available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. Ask your child about what the characters learned from their experiences in the book. www.fbmarketplace.org. You can talk with your child about how Piggie’s views change: You will notice that these tips promote • “Remember when Piggie first asked, ‘How can anyone play outside with all of this rain!?!’ two child development principles: Then he saw the worms enjoying the rain. What did Piggie learn from the worms? Serve and Return and Executive • “Why do you think the worms were happy about the rain and Piggie wasn’t?” Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth SKILL: conversation between you and your Perspective Taking involves the self control to put aside your own assumptions in order child where you listen, then build on to understand the viewpoints of others and how they change through experience. and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills TIP: you use to manage your attention, The writer and illustrator of this book, Mo Willems, suggests that children can read this your feelings, your thoughts and your book like a play. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think SKILL: flexibly and exercise self control. Pretending to be different characters helps children learn to take the perspectives Find more about Families and Work of others. Children will enjoy opportunities to act out this book. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Fish Is Fish By Leo Lionni The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When Fish’s best friend, Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking Tadpole, sprouts legs, Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring ventures onto land and out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s comes back with glorious understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. descriptions, Fish yearns to Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less see for himself. Quickly, he likely to get involved in conflicts. discovers that “frog is frog and fish is fish,” and as a Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking fish, the pond is the best place for him. TIP: The minnow offers a great illustration of how others have different perspectives when he hears frog’s descriptions of birds, cows and people as fish-like creatures. You can explore this concept with your child by asking:
• “Have you ever had an idea about something before you saw it? What were your ideas?” High-quality books and educational resources from First • “How was the real thing different or the same as your ideas?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from SKILL: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Perspective Taking involves learning that others may have different To learn this, you have to knowledge than you do. put aside what you know Find more books and take the perspectives of others, which calls on Executive Function skills. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource TIP: available exclusively to A central concept of Fish Is Fish is that we sometimes want what other people educators and programs have. The minnow wanted to go on land like the frog, but when he does, he serving children in need. discovers he can’t breathe there. When the minnow returns to the water, he www.fbmarketplace.org. discovers that his world “was certainly the most beautiful of all worlds.” Ask your child if he or she has ever had similar experiences. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive SKILL: Function skills. By talking about wanting what others have, you will help children learn about Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth the perspectives of others. conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or TIP: does to promote learning. You can ask your child: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, • “Why couldn’t the fish breathe on land?” your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. • “Are there things you can do that others can’t? How does that make you feel?” They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think SKILL: flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Perspective Taking includes learning that others can do things that Institute’s Mind in the Making at you can’t. www.mindinthemaking.org. Corduroy By Don Freeman The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Corduroy is a classic story Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking about a bear with a missing Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring button that waits on the out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s shelf in a department store understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. for someone to buy him, but Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less no one comes! Finally, a girl likely to get involved in conflicts. comes along with her own money and takes him home. Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking
Tip: You can talk about how Corduroy might be feeling in different parts of the story. For example, you can say:
• “How do you think Corduroy felt when the mother and daughter walked away from him?” High-quality books and educational resources from First • “How do you think Corduroy felt when he found himself on stairs Book supporting research-based that moved?” Life Skills from Mind in the Making Skill: by Ellen Galinsky Perspective Taking is promoted by talking about the feelings and Find more books thoughts of others. This back and forth interaction you and your child and materials on the First have is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, Book Marketplace, a resource one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds available exclusively to (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building educators and programs is a key finding from child development research. serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. Tip: You will notice that these tips promote You can role play with your child: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “Let’s pretend you are the child who wanted to buy Corduroy, but Function skills. whose mother said, ‘I’ve spent too much already.’” Or, “Let’s pretend Serve and Return, like game of you are the guard who hears a strange noise. What do you suppose ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your they were thinking and feeling? What did they do in the story? What child where you listen, then build on else might they have done?” and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Skill: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your You can enhance your child’s understanding of others’ thoughts and behavior to reach your goals. feelings by pretending to be that person. When your child pretends, he They include being able to pay or she has to put his or her own feelings aside, which calls on Executive attention, remember information, think Function skills. flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Actual Size By Steve Jenkins The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Just how big is a gorilla’s Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking hand or a giant squid’s eye? Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring This superb nonfiction book out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s shows readers the full scale understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. of the animal kingdom, Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less inviting observations and likely to get involved in conflicts. comparisons while sparking curiosity about the natural Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking world.
TIP: You can help children understand the differences between themselves and the animals in this book.
For example, you can ask: High-quality books and • “How do the eyes of a giant squid compare with your eyes? The eyes educational resources from First of a cat?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from • “What difference do you think it would make to have eyes of different Mind in the Making sizes?” by Ellen Galinsky SKILL: Find more books and materials on the First Perspective Taking involves understanding not just others’ thoughts Book Marketplace, a resource and feelings, but also their physical characteristics. available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. You can ask your child:
• “Why do you think that each animal in the book is the size it is?” You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: • “Why do you think we are the size we are?” Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of SKILL: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Perspective Taking includes figuring out why others act the way they child where you listen, then build on do. To do so, you have to put aside what you know and feel and take and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. the perspectives of others, which call on Executive Function skills. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Freedom Summer By Deborah Wiles The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this powerful story, two Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking best friends are thrilled Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring that the Civil Rights Act of out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s 1964 allows them to swim understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. together at their local pool Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less for the first time. When they likely to get involved in conflicts. arrive, they learn the town has decided to fill the pool Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking with asphalt rather than integrate it. TIP: You can ask your child:
• “How are John Henry and Joe different and the same?”
• “Why were people with different color skin not supposed to swim or eat together? How did John Henry and Joe feel about these rules?” High-quality books and educational resources from First • “How do you think you would have felt if you lived at that time?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from SKILL: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Perspective Taking involves being able to understand what others feel and think. To do so, you have to recognize your own views, but also Find more books put them aside so you can take the viewpoint of others, which call on and materials on the First Executive Function skills. Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. This book offers an historical view of racial relationships. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You can ask your child: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: • “Why do you think the town officials filled the pool with asphalt?” Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. • “How did ‘the new law’ change and not change things for the two Serve and Return, like game of best friends?” ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your • “How have things changed and not changed today?” child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or When the town pool is filled with asphalt, Joe says that he didn’t want to does to promote learning. swim there anyway, but John Henry replies: “I wanted to swim in this pool.” Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Ask your child: your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. • “Why did Joe say he didn’t care about swimming in the pool? Was he They include being able to pay telling the truth?” attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. • “Do you sometimes say things that aren’t really true to try to make Find more about Families and Work people feel better? Does it work? Why or why not?” Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Freedom Summer By Deborah Wiles The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this powerful story, two Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking best friends are thrilled Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring that the Civil Rights Act of out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s 1964 allows them to swim understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. together at their local pool Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less for the first time. When they likely to get involved in conflicts. arrive, they learn the town has decided to fill the pool with asphalt rather than Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking integrate it.
SKILL: This book’s story lends itself to great discussions of each boy’s perspectives in the context of a different era.
Studies have found that when people can truly understand the perspectives of others, they are less likely to get into conflicts. High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting research-based TIP: Life Skills from In the beginning of the book, the author, Deborah Wiles, talks about why Mind in the Making she wrote this book. by Ellen Galinsky
You can share her story and ask children to consider her perspective Find more books as a white child who wondered about “what it must be like to be a black and materials on the First child my age.” The author also wondered whether children can bring Book Marketplace, a resource about change. available exclusively to educators and programs You can ask your child: serving children in need. • “Do you think the two boys in the book changed things by going into www.fbmarketplace.org. Mr. Mason’s store together?” You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: SKILL: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Those who bring about change are driven by goals, which involves using Serve and Return, like game of Executive Function skills. ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Button Up! By Alice Schertle The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In Button Up!, the clothes Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking we wear come to life and Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring express themselves in out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s clever verse. understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less likely to get involved in conflicts.
Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking
Tip: You can talk with your child about how it would feel if something he or she wore came to life:
• “What would it feel like if your hat or t-shirt or jammies talked?” High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Skill: Life Skills from You are promoting Perspective Taking when you help your child think Mind in the Making about how it might feel if his or her clothes could talk. This back and by Ellen Galinsky forth conversation between you and your child is what researchers Find more books call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of and materials on the First these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Book Marketplace, a resource development research. available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. Tip: www.fbmarketplace.org. You can use the poems in this book to pretend that familiar objects have thoughts and feelings. You can ask your child what his or her shoes or You will notice that these tips promote swimsuit might say. Turn this into a back and forth conversation between two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive your child’s clothes and your child. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Skill: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Perspective Taking includes understanding how others think and feel, child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or even pretending about everyday objects. When your child pretends, he does to promote learning. or she has to put his or her own feelings aside, which calls on Executive Executive Function skills are skills Function skills. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Glass Slipper Gold Sandal The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Paul Fleischman Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring Glass Slipper Gold Sandal out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s is much-loved Cinderella understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. story told through the Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less traditions likely to get involved in conflicts. of many different lands. Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking
Tip: You can prompt your child to think about how the characters in the book might feel:
• “How do you think the girl felt when the stepmother tricked her by being nice then turned mean once she married her father? Why do you think the stepmother acted that way? Have you ever been tricked? How did that feel?” High-quality books and educational resources from First Skill: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Perspective Taking includes being able to understand why people behave as Mind in the Making they do and how their behavior affects others. Talking about what underlies by Ellen Galinsky the behavior of characters in books promotes Executive Function skills. Find more books Tip: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Ask your child to pay careful attention to how the story changes when it is told available exclusively to in different countries, noticing the details, such as the glass slippers (in France) educators and programs becoming sandals of gold (in Iraq). serving children in need. • “How do the girl’s clothes change in different countries? “ www.fbmarketplace.org.
Despite the fact that the story unfolds in different countries and cultures, the You will notice that these tips promote plot continues. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Ask your child: Function skills. • “How did the girl manage when she didn’t have enough to eat or a good place Serve and Return, like game of to sleep?” ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your • “Why do you think the animals helped her?” child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Skill: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, When you help your child understand others’ attitudes and motivations, you are your feelings, your thoughts and your helping your child learn to see the perspective of others. This back and forth behavior to reach your goals. conversation you have with your child about the book is what researchers call They include being able to pay “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something attention, remember information, think (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday flexibly and exercise self control. interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. The Whipping Boy By Sid Fleischman The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this prize-winning book, Jemmy, an orphan boy was Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking snatched from the streets Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring and kept in the castle to be out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s the “whipping boy,” punished understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. whenever Prince Brat (as he Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less was known) did anything wrong, which was very often. One night, likely to get involved in conflicts. Prince Brat commanded Jemmy to run away with him, because Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking he was bored. Many adventures ensue where the boys learn that Tip: to survive, they have to trust Talk with your child about how Jemmy, the whipping boy, and the Prince learned each other. more about each other by experiencing different things in each other’s lives. You can ask such questions as:
• “Why did the Prince want to run away from a privileged life—a life that others High-quality books and thought would be a great life?” educational resources from First • “The Prince admired Jemmy for not crying out when he was whipped. What Book supporting research-based else did he learn to admire about him when the boys were captured by Life Skills from outlaws? What did he admire about Jemmy when the boys were running away Mind in the Making from the outlaws in the sewers?” by Ellen Galinsky • “Jemmy hadn’t been impressed by the Prince’s character before Find more books they ran away. What happened that began to change his mind about the Prince?” and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Skill: educators and programs Perspective Taking includes being able to step back from your own attitudes, serving children in need. thoughts and feelings in order to understand the perspectives of others. www.fbmarketplace.org. It also includes figuring out why others act and think as they do.The stories in this book offer an ideal opportunity to promote this kind of thinking, which call on Executive Function skills. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Tip: Function skills. , like game of Ask your child about switching places in his or her own life: Serve and Return ball, involves a back and forth • “Who would you most switch places with? Why?” conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on • “Who do you think would like to switch places with you? Why?” and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Skill: you use to manage your attention, Perspective Taking is promoted by thinking and talking about your own feelings your feelings, your thoughts and your and having the opportunity to think about others’ lives in relation to your own. behavior to reach your goals. This back and forth conversation you have with your child about this book is They include being able to pay what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says attention, remember information, think or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance flexibly and exercise self control. of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Find more about Families and Work development research. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Wonder By R. J. Palacio The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Wonder is the wondrous story Executive Function Life Skill: Perspective Taking of a child, August Pullman, who Perspective Taking goes far beyond empathy. It involves figuring was born with rare and serious out what others think and feel and forms the basis for children’s facial deformities. Because he understanding of the intentions of their parents, teachers and friends. endured 27 surgeries, he was home schooled until fifth grade Children who can take the perspectives of others are also much less when he enrolls in school for likely to get involved in conflicts. the first time. Although he feels like an ordinary ten year old, Suggestions for Promoting Perspective Taking he knows that ordinary kids Tip: don’t cause other A child, Jack, who befriends August, says that a “kid like August doesn’t stand a chance ordinary children in middle school.” Ask your child to talk about his or her responses to how the children in to run away the story treat August. screaming when they see them. Skill: Discussing children’s various responses to August—from those who are openly rejecting like Julian to August’s sister, Via, who loves August but doesn’t want him to come to a High-quality books and play at her new school—helps children understand their own reactions to people who educational resources from First seem different. This back and forth conversation you have with your child about this Book supporting research-based book is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says Life Skills from or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
Tip: Find more books In the book, August describes the progression of his own feelings when others stare at him. When he was younger, we wore a helmet to cover his face, but now that he is older, and materials on the First he compares his reaction to living in drizzling rain—he has become used to the fact that Book Marketplace, a resource he freaks some people out. available exclusively to Ask your child: educators and programs • “How do you think it would feel to be stared at in this way? Do think that August’s words serving children in need. reflect his real feeling?” www.fbmarketplace.org.
Skill: You will notice that these tips promote August knows that he is “weird looking,” commenting that if someone different looking—a two child development principles: “Wookie started going to the school all of a sudden, I’d be curious. I’d probably stare a Serve and Return and Executive bit!” By helping your child , you are helping your child learn articulate how August copes Function skills. coping skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Tip: conversation between you and your The story of August’s first year in school is told by him and by five other children. One of child where you listen, then build on the storytellers, Miranda, describes August’s situation like a giant lottery where you get a and extend what your child says or good ticket or a bad ticket, but concludes that, in the end, the universe takes care of even does to promote learning. its most fragile creations. Ask your child if this statement rings true in this story. Is it just Executive Function skills are skills luck that August not only survives, but also thrives? What do others do and what does he you use to manage your attention, do to make this happen? your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. Skill: They include being able to pay By prompting reflections about the perspectives and actions of the characters in attention, remember information, think the book—from the school principal to the teachers, from August’s parents to the other flexibly and exercise self control. children, and to August himself— you are helping your child think about how we can help Find more about Families and Work each other thrive. Reflecting in this way calls onExecutive Function skills. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
COMMUNICATING
Moo, Baa, La La La! By Sandra Boynton The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This rhyming romp is a Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating favorite of countless fami- Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, lies. As expressive barnyard reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to animals make the wrong communicate and realizing how our communications will be sounds, children delight in understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is correcting them. Along the most lacking today. way, they'll quack, moo, neigh, baa, meow and Suggestions for Promoting Communicating giggle!
TIP: This book provides an opportunity to have your child listen to what the animals in the book say. Ask your child: • “What do cows says? What do sheep say?” What do pigs say in this book?” High-quality books and If your child says, “La La La,” you can ask what pigs really say. educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Communicating involves . listening to what others say Mind in the Making by
TIP: Ellen Galinsky Children appreciate a sense of humor. See how your child reacts to the three singing pigs saying, “La La La!” Keep the joke going and ask your Find more books and materials on child to make up other silly things that animals might say. the First Book Marketplace,a resource available exclusively to SKILL: educators and programs serving As your child gets older and if she or he wants to pretend or make jokes children in need. about what animals say, enjoy the humor. www.fbmarketplace.org.
TIP: You will notice that these tips promote You use this story to begin a conversation with your child about what your two child development principles: child wants to say. When your child is younger, repeat the sounds your Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. child makes. When your child is older, you can ask: Serve and Return, like game of ball, • “What do you say when you are hungry? What do you say when you involves a back and forth conversation want me to pick you up?” between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to SKILL: promote learning. Communicating involves thinking about what you want to say. Use Executive Function skills are skills what child development researchers call “serve and return” to have this you use to manage your attention, conversation—you or your child does something (serves) and the other your feelings, your thoughts and your responds (returns), back and forth like a game of ball. Watch your child’s behavior to reach your goals. response to the book and this question and build on what your child says They include being able to pay attention, remember information, (with sounds, with looks, with movements) and extend it. If your baby think flexibly and exercise self control. makes a noise “bbbbb,” you can say “bbbbb” back. When your child Find more about Families and Work uses words, continue the conversation. This is a vitally important Institute’s Mind in the Making at brain-building activity. www.mindinthemaking.org. Baby! Talk! By Penny Gentieu The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs A diverse cast of babies Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating appears on each photo-filled Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, page of this board book. reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to Very young children will love communicate and realizing how our communications will be imitating the babies’ actions, understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is as they clap hands, play most lacking today. peek-a-boo and more, while practicing favorite baby Suggestions for Promoting Communicating expressions like “Uh-oh!” TIP: When the book says: “Where are baby’s toes?” you can point to your baby’s toes as well as to the babies’ toes in the pictures on the pages. SKILL: Communicating centers on conversations—with sounds, with words, High-quality books and with movements and with facial expressions. This book provides an educational resources from First ideal opportunity to have many conversations with your baby. Book supporting research-based The best conversations involve what researchers call “serve and Life Skills from return”—you or your child does something (serves) and the other Mind in the responds (returns), back and forth like a game of ball. Use this Making by book to watch your child’s response to the words and pictures and Ellen Galinsky build on what your child says (with sounds, with looks, with Find more books and materials on movements) and extend it. If your baby says: “Aaahhh,” you can the First Book Marketplace,a say: “Aaahhh” back. This is a vitally important brain-building activity. resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving
TIP: children in need. While you read this book with your child, you can follow the actions www.fbmarketplace.org. (“so big” and “patty-cake,” for example). You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: SKILL: Serve and Return and Executive Using the words and repeating the actions on the pages help Function skills. children connect words to real experience and promote the skill of Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation Communicating. It is a step toward determining what you want to between you and your child where say, an Executive Function skill. you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Penguin By Polly Dunbar The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When Ben receives a Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating penguin as a present, he Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, tries to communicate with reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to him in many different ways. communicate and realizing how our communications will be Ben becomes increasingly understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is frustrated when Penguin most lacking today. doesn’t respond and doesn’t respond. Suggestions for Promoting Communicating Finally Penguin responds Tip: when Ben Act out what Ben is doing in the book. Take turns making faces and needs copying Ben’s gestures with your child. him most! Skill: When you act out the ways Ben is communicating, you are helping your High-quality books and child make connections between words and actions. This will help educational resources from First your child learn new words and to understand how others communicate. Book supporting research-based research. Life Skills from Mind in the Making Tip: by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Ask your child what Penguin is doing: and materials on the First • “Why is Penguin not responding at first? Do you think Ben could have Book Marketplace, a resource done anything to get Penguin to respond? Why or why not?” available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. Skill: www.fbmarketplace.org. The skill of Communicating involves helping your child learn what he or she wants to communicate and how to communicate so others You will notice that these tips promote will understand. When you talk about why Penguin doesn’t respond to two child development principles: Ben at first, it helps your child think about what Penguin is trying to tell Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Ben by turning away. Your child has to put aside what he or she thinks to truly understand the perspective of Penguin, which calls on Serve and Return, like game of Executive ball, involves a back and forth Function skills. Giving your child insight into the perspectives of Penguin conversation between you and your and of Ben helps your child learn to communicate more effectively. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Penguin By Polly Dunbar The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When Ben receives a Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating penguin as a present, he Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, tries to communicate with reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to him in many different ways. communicate and realizing how our communications will be Ben becomes increasingly understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is frustrated when Penguin most lacking today. doesn’t respond and doesn’t respond. Suggestions for Promoting Communicating Finally Penguin responds Tip: when Ben Ben becomes upset because Penguin is not responding. You can needs share a time when you or your child was upset because someone was him most! not listening or responding. Talk about why there was a breakdown in communication.
High-quality books and Skill: educational resources from First By sharing stories, you are helping your child make the book relevant Book supporting research-based in his or her own life. Use what is called “serve and return” in this Life Skills from conversation, where—like a game of ball, you go back and forth, building Mind in the Making on and extending what your child says and does. This conversation can by Ellen Galinsky help your child think about when communicating works and doesn’t work. Find more books and materials on the First Tip: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to At the end of the book, Ben and Penguin are communicating with each other: educators and programs “Penguin said “everything.” Ask your child to talk about what Penguin finally has to say to Ben. serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
Skill: You will notice that these tips promote Communicating includes two child development principles: many different ways of connecting with Serve and Return and Executive others. By talking with your child about different ways of communicating Function skills. (through words, behavior, pictures, etc.), you are helping him or her have a Serve and Return, like game of deeper understanding of this skill. ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Bark, George By Jules Feiffer The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this very funny book, Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating George’s mother asks her Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, puppy to bark, but, instead, reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to he meows, quacks, oinks communicate and realizing how our communications will be and moos. When she takes understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is George to the vet to get most lacking today. behind what is going on, the vet reaches deep inside of Suggestions for Promoting Communicating George and pulls out a cat, a duck, a pig Tip: and a As you read, Bark, George, ask your child: cow.
• “Is George barking now? What animal does he sound like?”
• “How does George’s mother feel when her puppy doesn’t bark? What do the pictures tell you about her reaction?” High-quality books and educational resources from First Talk about a time when you or your child didn’t understand something because the Book supporting research-based other person was speaking in a way that was foreign to you. Talk about what you Life Skills from did to understand that person. Mind in the Making Skill: by Ellen Galinsky Find more books This conversation about misunderstandings will help your child understand and materials on the First how to overcome barriers in how we communicate. This back and forth Book Marketplace, a resource interaction is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of available exclusively to ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds educators and programs (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is serving children in need. a key finding from child development research. www.fbmarketplace.org. Tip: You will notice that these tips promote Act out this story with your child. Shake your head no, laugh or act two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive surprised with each sound George makes. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Skill: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your When you use different voices and facial expressions, you are showing child where you listen, then build on your child different ways to communicate. Pretending calls on and extend what your child says or Executive Function skills, because you have to put aside your own does to promote learning. reaction and “become” someone else. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Tip: behavior to reach your goals. Talk about the end of the story when George doesn’t bark, but says “hello” They include being able to pay to the people. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Skill: Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at This book shares the joy and humor of communicating in different ways! www.mindinthemaking.org. The Cow That Went Oink
By Bernard Most The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this clever picture book, a Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating cow who says “oink” instead Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, of “moo” is teased until he reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to meets a pig who says “moo” communicate and realizing how our communications will be instead of “oink.” By teach- understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is ing one another the proper most lacking today. sounds, the two misfits have the last laugh—and the Suggestions for Promoting Communicating biggest vocabularies!
TIP: In this book, you can imitate how each animal communicates with different sounds. You can ask your child to say the sounds along with you—the sounds the animals make laughing and the funny sounds the Cow and the Pig make when they are learning to say oink and moo. By making this conversation both fun and interactive, you are promoting the skill of Communicating. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Communicating includes listening very carefully to how words sound. Life Skills from Mind in the TIP: Making by As we learn to say new words, we often mispronounce them, just as the Ellen Galinsky Cow and the Pig mispronounce moo and oink. You can make this point to your child as you read this book. Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a SKILL: resource available exclusively to Learning involves making mistakes before getting things right. educators and programs serving children in need. TIP: www.fbmarketplace.org. Children learn Communicating by asking and responding to questions. You will notice that these tips promote While reading this book, you can ask lots of questions. For example, the two child development principles: author, Bernard Most, dedicates this book to “persistence.” Ask your child Serve and Return and Executive if he or she knows what this word means. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, SKILL: involves a back and forth conversation “Persistence” means continuing to try and refusing to give up to between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend achieve a goal—Executive Function skills are driven by goals. Talk what your child says or does to about how both the Pig and the Cow are persistent, even though they are promote learning. sad when the other animals make fun of them. You can relate this to a Executive Function skills are skills real experience either you or your child has had. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. The Lion and the Mouse
By Jerry Pinkney The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This wordless Caldecott Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating Medal winner retells one of Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, Aesop's classic fables. After reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to a lion frees a mouse he'd communicate and realizing how our communications will be planned to eat, the mouse understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is rescues him from a most lacking today. poacher's trap. It's a beauti- ful book about the impor- Suggestions for Promoting Communicating tance of showing kindness.”
TIP: Ask your child to look at the drawings and tell the story that he or she sees. There is no wrong answer here—so listen and talk about why your child is telling this particular story. SKILL: Communicating happens even when there are no words on the page, just drawings and sounds. High-quality books and educational resources from First TIP: Book supporting research-based While you read this book, you can point out the facial expressions of the Life Skills from Lion and the Mouse. You can ask questions about the characters: Mind in the Making by • “How is the Lion feeling? How is the Mouse feeling?” Ellen Galinsky These questions will help children be more attuned to looking at faces and what the faces are saying without words. Find more books and materials on SKILL: the First Book Marketplace,a resource available exclusively to Communicating involves . Communicating with facial expressions educators and programs serving sounds and actions can make reading fun and interactive. You and your children in need. child can make the sounds or even act out the story. www.fbmarketplace.org. TIP: You will notice that these tips promote Ask children why they think the Lion freed the Mouse. How did that affect two child development principles: the Mouse when the Lion was trapped? As the book jacket states: “even Serve and Return and Executive little friends can prove to be great friends.” Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, SKILL: involves a back and forth conversation Communicating includes understanding how others will understand between you and your child where your communications.To understand the perspectives of others and you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to how they will hear what you say, you have to put aside your own thoughts promote learning. and feelings—an skill. Executive Function Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, TIP: your feelings, your thoughts and your Looking up information on the Internet about the artist, Jerry Pinkney, can behavior to reach your goals. make the experience of this book an even deeper one. For example, he They include being able to pay had dyslexia as a child and had trouble reading, so he used drawing as a attention, remember information, way to communicate. think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work SKILL: Institute’s Mind in the Making at There are many ways to communicate—with drawings as well as with words. www.mindinthemaking.org. Not Norman By Kelly Bennett The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When a boy receives a pet gold Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating fish named Norman, he thinks Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, he would rather have a pet that reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to does more than swim around communicate and realizing how our communications will be in the bowl. He says, “I wanted understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is a pet that could run and catch most lacking today. … not Norman.” He plans to return Norman, but the more he realizes Norman is actually Suggestions for Promoting Communicating communicating with him, the more he feels he would rather Tip: have Norman Talk with your child about why he or she thinks the boy would rather have a pet than any other that could run and catch and climb trees and chase strings and sleep in his bed at pet in the night. You can ask your child which type of pet he or she would want and why. whole world. Skill: When you talk with your child about what the boy in the story wants and High-quality books and needs in a pet, you are helping your child understand the thoughts and educational resources from First feelings of others, which is an important part of communicating. This Book supporting research-based back and forth conversation you have with your child is what researchers Life Skills from call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does Mind in the Making something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of by Ellen Galinsky these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. Find more books and materials on the First Tip: Book Marketplace, a resource The boy in the story begins to understand that his fish is, in fact, available exclusively to connecting to him. As you read Not Norman, point out all the ways the educators and programs boy and the fish communicate with each other. For example, the boy serving children in need. realizes that he should clean the “gunky” fish bowl and fill his half empty www.fbmarketplace.org. bowl. And the fish listens to the boy at school when no one else does. You will notice that these tips promote Skill: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive In order to communicate well, we need to take time to understand one Function skills. another—especially when we are as different as a child and a fish. By Serve and Return, like game of drawing attention to how Norman and the boy are learning to understand ball, involves a back and forth each other, you are helping your child see that understanding others is conversation between you and your the basis of good communication. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Tip: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Throughout the story, the boy plans to trade Norman “for a good pet,” but you use to manage your attention, he eventually changes his mind. You can talk with your child about the your feelings, your thoughts and your importance of not making snap judgments of others. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay Skill: attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Effective communication sometimes involves putting aside your immediate reactions and getting to know someone else—whether Find more about Families and Work that someone else is a fish or a person. This process promotes Institute’s Mind in the Making at Executive www.mindinthemaking.org. Function skills. Dear Mr. Blueberry By Simon James The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs During Vacation time, Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating Emily and her teacher, Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, Mr. Blueberry, write letters reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to to each other about the communicate and realizing how our communications will be whale that Emily sees in her understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is small pond. It’s an engaging most lacking today. story with a charming blend Suggestions for Promoting Communicating of reality and fantasy.
Tip: Emily writes her teacher during summer vacation that she thinks she sees a whale in her pond, and she loves whales very much. She asks for information on whales because she thinks this whale might be hurt. Her teacher, while giving her information in a series of letters, tells her again and again that there is no way a whale could live her in pond. High-quality books and Ask your child: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based • “How does Emily react to her teacher’s insistence that a whale couldn’t live in Life Skills from her pond?” Mind in the Making • “How does the teacher deal with Emily’s belief that she is seeing a whale?” by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Skill: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource To understand a disagreement among others, your child has to put aside available exclusively to his or her own ideas and try to see the perspectives of others, an educators and programs Executive Function skill. When you help your child learn how to deal with serving children in need. disagreement, you are helping him or her become a better communicator. www.fbmarketplace.org.
Tip: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Emily uses letters to her teacher as a way of gaining more information about Serve and Return and Executive whales. Ask your child what else Emily does to find out about whales. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Skill: conversation between you and your One of the purposes of communicating is to child where you listen, then build on find answers to questions and extend what your child says or you might have. By asking your child questions and having conversations does to promote learning. about books and characters, you are helping your child think about Executive Function skills are skills communicating in new ways. These back and forth conversations are you use to manage your attention, what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you your feelings, your thoughts and your says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The behavior to reach your goals. importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding They include being able to pay from child development research. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Dear Mr. Blueberry By Simon James The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs During Vacation time, Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating Emily and her teacher, Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, Mr. Blueberry, write letters reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to to each other about the communicate and realizing how our communications will be whale that Emily sees in her understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is small pond. It’s an engaging most lacking today. story with a charming blend Suggestions for Promoting Communicating of reality and fantasy.
Tip: As you read Dear Mr. Blueberry, point out words that may be new to your child, like migratory or shrimplike. You can talk about what they mean. Skill: Using rich and diverse language promotes communicating. High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Tip: Life Skills from You can ask your child whom he or she would like to write a letter to. Mind in the Making Together, plan and write a letter. by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Skill: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Writing letters is fun and helps your child think about what he or she available exclusively to wants to say and thus to practice the skill of Communicating. educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Martin’s Big Words By Doreen Rappaport The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Illustrated By Bryan Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating Collier Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to An inspiring introduction to communicate and realizing how our communications will be an American hero, this understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is picture biography helps most lacking today. readers understand how Martin Luther King, Jr. used Suggestions for Promoting Communicating his words to motivate others and achieve TIP: nonviolent When Martin Luther King, Jr. saw signs that read “WHITE ONLY,” he felt bad until he change remembered the words of his mother: “You are as good as anyone.” Ask your child: during • “Why do you think these words changed the way Martin thought?” troubled Ask them to recall examples from their own lives where words affected them in powerful times. ways.Tell them stories from your own experiences.
SKILL: High-quality books and Communicating includes realizing the power of words to change how we understand educational resources from First our experiences. Book supporting research-based TIP: Life Skills from Martin begins to learn this from his father and makes a commitment to use “big words.” He Mind in the became driven by a goal. Making by Ask your child how Martin’s goal of using big words to change things did affect others’ views. Ellen Galinsky
SKILL: Find more books and materials on Communicating involves realizing the . Martin power of words to change others’ views the First Book Marketplace,a had a goal—Executive Function skills are goal driven. resource available exclusively to TIP: educators and programs serving Ask your child: children in need. • “What actions did Martin’s words affect?” www.fbmarketplace.org. This is a great place for helping them think more deeply about what it takes to bring about changes in our world. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: SKILL: Serve and Return and Executive Communicating involves realizing the power of words to change what others do. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, TIP: involves a back and forth conversation In the book, there are direct quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. Ask your child: between you and your child where • “Did reading or hearing Martin’s own words feel different than reading or hearing words you listen, then build on and extend written about him?” what your child says or does to promote learning. The book ends with the statement that Martin’s “big words are alive for us today.” Ask your child to think of examples where this is true. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, The illustrator of this book, Bryan Collier, writes that the stained glass windows he has painted your feelings, your thoughts and your for the pages of the book tell a story—because they allow you “to look past where you are.” behavior to reach your goals. Ask your child: They include being able to pay • “What do you think the illustrator means by this statement?" attention, remember information, Have your child look at and talk about the other illustrations in the book. think flexibly and exercise self control. SKILL: Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at Communicating comes in many forms, from written to spoken words, from art and dance, www.mindinthemaking.org. and other forms of expression. The Storyteller’s Candle
By Lucia González The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This bilingual Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating English/Spanish picture Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, book tells the story of two reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to cousins who have come to communicate and realizing how our communications will be America from Puerto Rico understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is and assume the local library most lacking today. is off-limits to them until Pura Belpré Suggestions for Promoting Communicating (New York City's first Latina TIP: librarian), The Storyteller’s Candle, a story about Communicating, shares the teaches them experiences of Hildamar and her family who move from Puerto Rico to otherwise. New York City during the Great Depression. Although Hildamar is surrounded by family and friends who speak Spanish, English is the language spoken in the major organizations in New York, like libraries. When Hildamar wants to go into the library, her aunt, Titi Maria, says: “We High-quality books and don’t speak English, and the people in there don’t speak Spanish,” and so educational resources from First they never went inside. Ask your child: Book supporting research-based • “How does it feel to be around people who speak a different language than Life Skills from you do?” Mind in the • “If you and a friend spoke a different language, could you find ways to Making by communicate besides using words?” Ellen Galinsky SKILL: Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a Communicating involves much more than words. resource available exclusively to TIP: educators and programs serving children in need. When the children in the story meet a Puerto Rican librarian, Pura Belpré, www.fbmarketplace.org. everything changes. Ask your child:
• “What did Pura Belpré do to welcome the children and their families into You will notice that these tips promote the library?” two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Talk about how you can make people from different backgrounds who Function skills. speak different languages feel welcome. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation SKILL: between you and your child where Making people feel welcome is a form of Communicating. you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. TIP: Executive Function skills are skills Ask your child: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your • “What does the author of this book, Lucia González, say that makes you feel behavior to reach your goals. as if you are really in Puerto Rico?” They include being able to pay attention, remember information, SKILL: think flexibly and exercise self control. Communicating involves describing experiences in ways that make Find more about Families and Work you feel that you are there. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 The Storyteller’s Candle
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Lucia González This bilingual Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating English/Spanish picture Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, book tells the story of two reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to cousins who have come to and communicate realizing how our communications will be America from Puerto Rico understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is and assume the local library most lacking today. is off-limits to them until Pura Belpré Suggestions for Promoting Communicating (New York City's first Latina Tip: librarian), Ask your child: teaches them • “What did the children learn from being in this play?” otherwise. SKILL: Communicating includes pretending and putting on plays. To do so, you have to put aside what you think and know and pretend to become High-quality books and someone else, which calls on Executive Function skills. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based TIP: Life Skills from While reading the book, you can ask questions and imitate what the Mind in the characters do. For example, you can close your eyes and make a wish Making by with your child when the characters do. Ellen Galinsky SKILL: Find more books and materials on Communicating is effective when it is relevant and experiential. the First Book Marketplace,a resource available exclusively to TIP: educators and programs serving children in need. You can tell a story about your family history, or you can ask your child to share a story. www.fbmarketplace.org. SKILL: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: We learn Communicating through storytelling. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. TIP: Serve and Return, like game of ball, The illustrations in this book extend the story told in words. Ask your child: involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where • “Did you notice the collages in the illustrations?” you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to The illustrations include clips of newspaper from The New York Times of promote learning. January 6, 1930—just when the story in the book took place. You can Executive Function skills are skills read some of these words from the newspaper clippings to your child and you use to manage your attention, discuss them. your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. SKILL: They include being able to pay Understanding how people communicated in the past is an important attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. aspect of understanding communicating. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Emma’s Poem By Linda Glaser The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Emma’s Poem is the Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating compassionate and Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, inspiring story behind the reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to famous poem engraved on communicate and realizing how our communications will be a plaque at the entrance understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is to the Statue of Liberty. most lacking today. Suggestions for Promoting Communicating
Tip: Talk with your child about how different Emma Lazarus’ life was from the immigrants who came to the United States—they were sick, hungry and very poor, yet hoping for a better life.
Ask your child: High-quality books and • “Why do you think that Emma was drawn to the immigrants?” educational resources from First Book supporting research-based • “Why did others not care and think these people would ruin our country?” Life Skills from Mind in the Making Skill: by Ellen Galinsky When you have conversations about characters in books, you are helping Find more books your child understand the perspectives of others, which is a very and materials on the First important aspect of learning to communicate well with others. Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to educators and programs Emma used her ability as a writer to try to change other people’s views about serving children in need. immigrants. Talk with your child about how Emma’s words have made a difference www.fbmarketplace.org. over time. Ask your child if she or he has ever read something that changed his or her views. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Skill: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. The essence of communicating is sharing your own point of view in Serve and Return, like game of ways that affect others’ feelings and thoughts. This back and forth ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your conversation you have with your child about this issue is what researchers child where you listen, then build on call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does and extend what your child says or something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of does to promote learning. these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Executive Function skills are skills development research. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Tip: behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay When Emma prepared to write the poem, she put herself in the “shoes” of attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. the immigrants and even of the Statue of Liberty. She asked herself: what if Find more about Families and Work the statue was a real woman? What might she think and feel if she saw the Institute’s Mind in the Making at immigrants “arriving hungry and in rags?” www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Emma’s Poem By Linda Glaser The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Emma’s Poem is the Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating compassionate and Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, inspiring story behind the reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to famous poem engraved on communicate and realizing how our communications will be a plaque at the entrance understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is to the Statue of Liberty. most lacking today. Suggestions for Promoting Communicating
Tip: (continued) Ask your child to talk about the questions that Emma was asking herself.
• “What might the immigrants be thinking and feeling when they arrived in this country?”
• “If the statue was a real woman, what might she say?” High-quality books and educational resources from First Skill: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Communicating includes stepping back from our own thoughts and Mind in the Making and , which feelings thinking about those we want to communicate with by Ellen Galinsky call on Executive Function skills. Asking questions helps your child practice this skill. Find more books and materials on the First Tip: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to At the end of the book, there are stories about the author and the artist. Both educators and programs have had immigrant experiences in their families. Ask your child if he or she serving children in need. thinks these experiences made a difference in the book they created. . www.fbmarketplace.org.
Skill: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Sharing the background of this book helps your child understand that Serve and Return and Executive books are written from the experiences and the passions of the Function skills. author and artist. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Tip: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Write a poem or make up a story with your child about something that is does to promote learning. important to him or her. You can talk about whom your child hopes will Executive Function skills are skills read this poem or story and how it will affect them. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. Skill: They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think There are many ways to communicate; writing poems and telling flexibly and exercise self control. stories are beautiful ways to convey messages. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 At the Beach By Anne Rockwell The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs A boy and his mother go to Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating the beach where she teaches Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, him how to draw Chinese reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to words in the sand by showing communicate and realizing how our communications will be him how the words look like understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is pictures of what they represent. most lacking today. A charming portrayal of the connections between written Suggestions for Promoting Communicating words and their meanings.
Tip: Show your child each of the Chinese symbols, asking your child to guess what it represents. Skill:
Helping your child understand how symbols can represent words is High-quality books and an important aspect of understanding how people communicate. This educational resources from First back and forth conversation you have with your child about this book is Book supporting research-based what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you Life Skills from says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The Mind in the Making importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding by Ellen Galinsky from child development research. Find more books Tip: and materials on the First In Chinese, some symbols go together to create words. For example, the Book Marketplace, a resource word “good” comes from the symbol of a woman and a child together. Talk available exclusively to with your child about words in your own language that come from putting educators and programs other words together (in English “breakfast” comes from breaking the fast—or serving children in need. not eating during the night before). www.fbmarketplace.org.
Ask your child: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: • “Can you think of words that have been created by putting words together?” Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Skill: Serve and Return, like game of Sharing information about how ball, involves a back and forth language has been created to express conversation between you and your ideas helps your child learn to think about communicating in new ways. To child where you listen, then build on think about language in this new way helps you child pay attention to the and extend what your child says or details of the words he or she used on an everyday basis, which calls on does to promote learning. Executive Function skills. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Tip: your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. Ask your child to draw pictures that represent things in his or her life. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work When your child practices expressing himself or herself through pictures or Institute’s Mind in the Making at through words, your child is increasing his or her ability to communicate. www.mindinthemaking.org. No Talking By Andrew Clements
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs The fifth graders at Lakewood Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating Elementary School are so noisy Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, that they are known as “The reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to Unshushables.” When Dave communicate and realizing how our communications will be learns that Mahatma Gandhi understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is practiced silence one day a most lacking today. week to bring order to his mind, it triggers a clever two- Suggestions for Promoting Communicating day, no-talking contest between the Tip: boys and girls that results in No Talking is based upon Dave’s learning about Gandhi’s experience of many lessons not talking one day a week to “bring order to his mind.” learned for all. Ask your child:
• “How did not talking affect the children’s thinking and learning? What High-quality books and are some specific examples of this?” educational resources from First Book supporting research-based • “How did not talking affect the teachers’ thinking and learning, especially the Principal, Mrs. Hiatt?” Life Skills from Mind in the Making • “If you were Mr. Burton and writing a paper on this experiment for a by Ellen Galinsky human development class, what would you write about? What would you conclude from this experiment?” Find more books and materials on the First Skill: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Communicating includes being able to reflect about what you want to educators and programs communicate. By talking with your child about what the children and serving children in need. adults learned about learning, you are helping your child reflect on his www.fbmarketplace.org. or her experiences with this book. This back and forth interaction is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you You will notice that these tips promote says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The two child development principles: importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding Serve and Return and Executive from child development research. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Tip: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your When they couldn’t talk as they usually did and had to stick to a three- child where you listen, then build on word limit, Dave, Lynsey and their classmates learned to use many new and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. ways of communicating. Ask your child how the children communicated Executive Function skills are skills without using words. You can talk with him or her about all of the different you use to manage your attention, ways we communicate—such as by using facial expressions, body your feelings, your thoughts and your movements and signals. Ask your child why these are important. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay Skill: attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. . When you Effective communication includes much more than talking Find more about Families and Work talk with your child about the others’ ways, it builds a deeper understanding Institute’s Mind in the Making at of effective communication. www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 No Talking By Andrew Clements
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs The fifth graders at Lakewood Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating Elementary School are so noisy Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, that they are known as “The reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to Unshushables.” When Dave communicate and realizing how our communications will be learns that Mahatma Gandhi understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is practiced silence one day a most lacking today. week to bring order to his mind, it triggers a clever two- Suggestions for Promoting Communicating day, no-talking contest between the Tip: boys and girls that results in Before their experiment, the children and the teachers used words as a way many lessons of being in control. But they learned that not talking actually required more learned for all. self control than talking all of the time. Ask your child why not talking helped them have more control than talking all of the time.
High-quality books and Skill: educational resources from First Communicating requires self control, which develops over time and with Book supporting research-based practice and calls on Executive Function skills. Life Skills from Mind in the Making Tip: by Ellen Galinsky Find more books The fifth grade boys think girls have “cooties,” and the girls think the boys and materials on the First have “cooties.” Dave and Lynsey are described as the king and queen of Book Marketplace, a resource the “cootie-clingers”—they have zero tolerance for the other sex. At the available exclusively to end of the book, there is a “new normal” in their feelings about each other. educators and programs Ask your child to talk about what led to these changed views. serving children in need. Skill: www.fbmarketplace.org. The skill of communicating requires an understanding of the other person; You will notice that these tips promote it requires two child development principles: moving beyond stereotypes to be able to figure out what Serve and Return and Executive someone else might think and feel. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Liar & Spy By Rebecca Stead
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Seventh-grader Georges moves Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating into a new apartment building Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, in Brooklyn and meets 12-year- reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to old Safer, a coffee-drinking spy. Georges becomes his recruit to and communicate realizing how our communications will be track a mysterious man, Mr. X, understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is dressed all in black, who lives in most lacking today. the apartment above Georges. From there, many exciting Suggestions for Promoting Communicating adventures ensue. Through misunderstanding Tip: and communication, It becomes clear as the story unfolds that Safer and Georges misunderstand the friendship each other’s view of the Spy Club. For Safer, it is about pretending to be endures. courageous, and for Georges, it is a real life mystery, though he has to learn to be courageous, too. Ask your child whether or not he or she thinks it would have been possible to communicate their differences in the purpose of the Spy Club before Georges and Safer grew to trust each other. High-quality books and Skill: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Honest and open communication has to be built on trust. Life Skills from Mind in the Making Tip: by Ellen Galinsky Georges’ father always wants Georges to open up. He says, “So? Tell me things.” Find more books According to Georges, this is his father’s way of “asking me to pour my heart out.” and materials on the First But Georges holds things in for a long time, until he finally opens up and tells his father what’s going on at school and in his relationship with Safer. Ask your child Book Marketplace, a resource how he or she feels that Georges’ father handled this situation. available exclusively to educators and programs Skill: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. In your own back and forth conversation about Georges’ relationship with his father, you can be a good role model for open communication between You will notice that these tips promote an adult and a child. This back and forth interaction is what researchers two child development principles: call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does Serve and Return and Executive something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of Function skills. these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Serve and Return, like game of development research. ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Tip: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Georges and his mother communicate to each other through scrabble letter does to promote learning. messages. Toward the end of the book, we find out that Georges’ mother is Executive Function skills are skills actually ill and in the hospital. The scrabble communication between Georges and you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your his mother was brief, but kept their connection strong. Ask your child what other behavior to reach your goals. ways we can communicate besides talking. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. Communicating includes body movements, reading, writing and Find more about Families and Work symbols. Being able to interpret other forms of communication helps your Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. child become a better communicator.
Page 1 Liar & Spy By Rebecca Stead
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Seventh-grader Georges moves Executive Function Life Skill: Communicating into a new apartment building Communicating is much more than understanding language, speaking, in Brooklyn and meets 12-year- reading and writing. It is the skill of determining what you want to old Safer, a coffee-drinking spy. Georges becomes his recruit to and communicate realizing how our communications will be track a mysterious man, Mr. X, understood by others. It is the skill that teachers and employers feel is dressed all in black, who lives in most lacking today. the apartment above Georges. From there, many exciting Suggestions for Promoting Communicating adventures ensue. Through misunderstanding Tip: and communication, The symbol of dots appears in this book in many ways. This symbolism the friendship includes a museum poster by Georges Seurat (for whom Georges is named) endures. that hangs in their living room. George’s mother says a million different dots make up one gigantic picture, stressing that it is important to step back and look from afar at the big picture. His father counters that everyday details are important, too. In addition, Georges’ mother tells the story of her first plane High-quality books and trip using the analogy of dots. In addition, dots are part of the study of taste in educational resources from First school, and blue dots represent Georges’ sports team. Ask your child: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from • “What do you think ‘dots’ mean in Liar & Spy? Why are they such an Mind in the Making important part of the story?” by Ellen Galinsky
The names of the people in the story also reveal important aspects of their Find more books characters—from Georges to Candy to Safer to Pigeon to Dallas to Bob and materials on the First English Who Draws (who becomes Bob as the story continues). Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Ask your child: educators and programs • “Why do you think the author has chosen these names for the serving children in need. characters? What kind of feeling do these names elicit?” www.fbmarketplace.org.
Skill: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Communicating includes the use of symbols, which adds depth to what Serve and Return and Executive we want to say. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Tip: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Safer projects bravery when he is really scared. Talk with your child about child where you listen, then build on a time when he or she misunderstood a situation because he or she didn’t and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. have all of the information. Ask your child what could have been done to find out more. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Skill: behavior to reach your goals. Understanding what others are communicating requires self control— They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think you have to set your own thoughts and feelings aside to truly understand flexibly and exercise self control. others, which calls on Executive Function skills. By talking about similar Find more about Families and Work situations with your child, you are offering him or her an opportunity to Institute’s Mind in the Making at reflect and analyze and learn from past experiences. www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Mem Fox and Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and Helen Oxenbury what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual In this sweet book, young connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for children meet a cast of smiling, information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond round-cheeked babies from knowing information to using this information well. around the world as they’re told about a universal trait that Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections (almost) all babies have in common. Bouncy rhymes and repetition TIP: make this a wonderful While you read this book, you can interact with your child by asking: read-aloud for babies • “Where is the baby who was born far away?” and toddlers. Point to the baby in the book, and then ask: “Where is my baby?” and point to your child. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Making Connections includes figuring out what’s the same and what’s Life Skills from different, which calls on Executive Function skills. These back and Mind in the Making forth conversations with and without words that are triggered by this by Ellen Galinsky book involve what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of Find more books ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds and materials on the First (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building Book Marketplace, a resource is a key finding from child development research. available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. You can count or touch your child’s toes and fingers. Point to the book www.fbmarketplace.org. and then to your child. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: SKILL: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Making Connections is promoted by repetition and interaction. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your TIP: child where you listen, then build on You can give your child three little kisses on the nose, just like in the book. and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. This book is an ideal one to use in your everyday interactions with your Executive Function skills are skills child. When you are dressing him or her, you can say: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your • “I see ten little fingers and ten little toes.” behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think SKILL: flexibly and exercise self control. Making Connections among words, pictures and objects promotes Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at this skill. www.mindinthemaking.org. The Very Hungry Caterpillar The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Eric Carle Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and This must-read book tells what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual the story of one caterpillar’s connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for metamorphosis as he eats information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond many foods, spins a cocoon knowing information to using this information well. and emerges as a butterfly. It’s perfect for practicing counting and colors, and it’s Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections available in a bilingual board book edition. TIP: You can point to the moon and to the egg as you read the first page. SKILL: High-quality books and Studies show that children are more likely to learn words when you point educational resources from First to an object as well as say its name. Making Connections among words, Book supporting research-based pictures and objects promotes this Executive Function skill. Life Skills from Mind in the Making TIP: by Ellen Galinsky You can count the number of pieces of fruit the hungry caterpillar ate Find more books each day, pointing to the fruit and using your fingers while you read. Invite and materials on the First your older child to point and count with you. This helps make connections Book Marketplace, a resource among numbers, days and counting. available exclusively to educators and programs SKILL: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. Making Connections involves learning what symbols represent. You will notice that these tips promote TIP: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Ask your older child to think about the difference between the foods the Function skills. caterpillar ate from Monday through Friday (all plain fruit) and on Saturday Serve and Return, like game of (mostly cooked food). ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or SKILL: does to promote learning. Making Connections involves putting things into categories. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Eric Carle Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and This must-read book tells what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual the story of one caterpillar’s connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for metamorphosis as he eats information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond many foods, spins a cocoon knowing information to using this information well. and emerges as a butterfly. It’s perfect for practicing counting and colors, and it’s Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections available in a bilingual board book edition. TIP: You can ask your child:
• “Have you ever had a stomachache after eating lots of food?”
You can share a time when you had a stomachache, too. High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting research-based SKILL: Life Skills from Have this conversation in a way that promotes “serve and return”—you Mind in the Making or your child does or says something (serves) and the other responds by Ellen Galinsky (returns), back and forth like a game of ball. Use this book to watch your Find more books child’s response to the words and pictures and build on what your child and materials on the First says and extend it. Book Marketplace, a resource Making Connections involves seeing the similarities and differences available exclusively to between your own and the experiences of others. You can promote educators and programs this kind of thinking by asking questions. serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. TIP: You will notice that these tips promote At the end of the book, the caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly. You two child development principles: can have a discussion with your child about how things change when they Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. grow—and point out examples from his or her everyday life. If your child is interested in finding out more, you can look up pictures of caterpillars Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth and butterflies in books or on the Internet. conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or SKILL: does to promote learning. When you help children look up information, you are helping them Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, deepen and extend their knowledge. your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 It Looked Like Spilt Milk By Charles G. Shaw The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs It Looked Like Split Milk Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections is a book full of white Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same images against a royal blue and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making background that look like unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people spilt milk, a bird or a tree, can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are but aren’t any of these able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. objects. This book will keep children Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections guessing and then coming up with their Tip: own creative As you read It Looked Like Spilt Milk, point to the pictures and ask your games. child to name the picture:
• “What’s that? Is it a squirrel?” Skill: High-quality books and educational resources from First When you ask your child to think about what he or she sees, you are Book supporting research-based helping build connections between words and objects. These Life Skills from connections are important in understanding what the world looks like—a Mind in the Making foundation for learning in school and in life. by Ellen Galinsky Tip: Find more books and materials on the First Ask your child: Book Marketplace, a resource • “What else could this picture be? I think it could also be a piece of a puzzle? available exclusively to educators and programs What else do you think it could be?” serving children in need. Skill: www.fbmarketplace.org.
When you and your child imagine what else the white images could be, you You will notice that these tips promote are helping your child learn to make unusual connections, which is the two child development principles: basis of creativity. This back and forth conversation you have with your Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. child is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one Serve and Return, like game of of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). ball, involves a back and forth The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key conversation between you and your finding from child development research. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Tip: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills You can talk about what other shapes around you look like. This can include you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your shadows, clouds or anything else.” behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay Skill attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. When you offer your child the chance to see things in different ways, you Find more about Families and Work are helping your child sort and classify information as well as think Institute’s Mind in the Making at flexibly, both important aspects of Executive Functions. www.mindinthemaking.org. Not a Box By Antoinette Portis The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs A box is just a box, or is Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections it? There are no limits Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same to what a box can be in and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making a rabbit’s imagination unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people in this creative book. can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections
Tip: As you read, Not a Box, point to the outline of the box in each picture showing your child how the shape becomes part of something different. Skill: When you point out the box shape (outlined in black) within the other High-quality books and objects that the rabbit imagines, you are helping your child see an educational resources from First object in many new ways. This builds connections between new and old Book supporting research-based information, which promote sorting, classifying and seeing that one thing Life Skills from can represent something else—a basic skill in learning about reading, Mind in the Making writing, science and math in the future. All of these ways of thinking call on by Ellen Galinsky Executive Functions of the brain. Find more books and materials on the First Tip: Book Marketplace, a resource On each black and white page with the rabbit and the box, ask your child to guess available exclusively to what the box is going become. There are no wrong answers here. educators and programs serving children in need. Skill: www.fbmarketplace.org. When your child guesses what will happen next, he or she is developing You will notice that these tips promote a hypothesis, as scientists do when they create experiments. This back two child development principles: and forth conversation you have with your child is what researchers Serve and Return and Executive call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does Function skills. something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child conversation between you and your development research. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Caps for Sale By Esphyr Slobodkina The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This funny folk tale has Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections entertained readers for Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and more than 70 years. Unable what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual to sell his caps, a peddler connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for falls asleep under a tree information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond and awakens to find that knowing information to using this information well. monkeys have taken his caps! When they imitate him, he Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections finds a way to get his TIP: caps back. You can point out that the peddler always wore his caps in the same or- der—on top of his own checked cap, he wore gray caps, brown caps, blue caps and then red caps. Have your child check this order on the different pages of the book. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Making Connections involves putting things into categories. Mind in the Making TIP: by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Besides his own checked cap, the peddler had the same number of and materials on the First caps of each color. Ask your child to count them—there are four caps in Book Marketplace, a resource each group—and then check that there are still four as the peddler walks available exclusively to through town and then out to the country for a nap. It should be especially educators and programs fun to check these numbers when the monkeys are wearing the caps. serving children in need. You can ask your child: www.fbmarketplace.org.
• “How many red caps do you see? How many blue caps?” You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive SKILL: Function skills. Making Connections involves seeing that symbols stand for Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth real things. conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Caps for Sale By Esphyr Slobodkina The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This funny folk tale has Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections entertained readers for Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and more than 70 years. Unable what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual to sell his caps, a peddler connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for falls asleep under a tree information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond and awakens to find that knowing information to using this information well. monkeys have taken his caps! When they imitate him, he Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections finds a way to get his TIP: caps back. When the caps disappear after the peddler’s nap, you can ask your child:
• “Where do you think the caps went?”
Even if your child knows the answer because he or she had heard the High-quality books and story before, it is still fun to play this game. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Caps for Sale is a great illustration of Making Connections: the monkeys Life Skills from imitate or make connections between what the peddler does and what Mind in the Making the monkeys do. You can ask your child to guess what the monkeys are going to do next when the peddler shakes his hands or stamps his feet. by Ellen Galinsky Find more books SKILL: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Making Connections involves making guesses about the future. available exclusively to educators and programs TIP: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. The peddler becomes so angry that he doesn’t use the experience of seeing that the monkeys are imitating him to figure out how to get his You will notice that these tips promote caps back. He stumbles on the solution: when he throws his own cap on two child development principles: the ground, all of the monkeys throw their caps on the ground too. You Serve and Return and Executive can ask children if they ever became so angry that they couldn’t figure out Function skills. what to do to solve a problem? Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Ask them: conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on • “What do you do to manage feeling angry?” and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills SKILL: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Making Connections between your own and others’ experiences can pro- behavior to reach your goals. vide a powerful learning opportunity. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Harold and the Purple Crayon The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Crockett Johnson Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections This heartwarming classic Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual has enchanted generations connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for of readers. With his magical information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond purple crayon, Harold is able knowing information to using this information well. to draw anything he’d like and watch it come to life. The book is Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections a wonderful celebration of art TIP: and the imagination! At every decision point—the long straight path, leading nowhere; the apple tree that needed guarding; and Harold being over his head in an ocean—Harold draws the solution.
Ask your child: High-quality books and educational resources from First • “What would you draw if you were in Harold’s situation?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from There are no right answers here—what you want to do is promote your Mind in the Making child’s imagination. You can offer your child a crayon and paper to create by Ellen Galinsky his or her own journey. Find more books SKILL: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Harold and the Purple Crayon is a great illustration of creativity, which is available exclusively to making unusual connections, which calls on Executive Function skills. educators and programs serving children in need. TIP: www.fbmarketplace.org. At the end of the book, Harold is lost and, despite his ability to draw You will notice that these tips promote solutions, he can’t find his way to his room. Harold is finally able to make two child development principles: a connection that helped him find his way. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. You can ask: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth • “Why do you think Harold remembered his window with the moon?” conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on • “What would you remember about your room?” and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills SKILL: you use to manage your attention, Making Connections between your feelings, your thoughts and your your own experiences and others’ behavior to reach your goals. experiences can provide a powerful learning opportunity. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Alphabet City By Stephen T. Johnson The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Alphabet City is a stunning Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections series of paintings from Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same city landscapes. The artist and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making has captured each letter of unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people the alphabet as it naturally can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are occurs in city surroundings. able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections Tip: As you look at the pictures in Alphabet City, ask your child: • “What are all of the things you see in this painting?” Skill:
When you ask your child to respond first and name all of the things he or High-quality books and she sees, you are helping your child pay attention to details as well as educational resources from First promoting creativity. This back and forth conversation you have with your Book supporting research-based child about these paintings is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the Life Skills from other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to Mind in the Making brain building is a key finding from child development research. by Ellen Galinsky Tip: Find more books and materials on the First You can share all of the things you see in the paintings. Book Marketplace, a resource Skill: available exclusively to educators and programs When you share what you see and then compare what your child saw with your serving children in need. observations, you are increasing the connections between each of your views. www.fbmarketplace.org. Tip: You will notice that these tips promote If your child hasn’t included a letter of the alphabet in his or her list, ask: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “Do you see a letter here?” Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Enjoy finding the letter together and talk about all of the words you can think of that ball, involves a back and forth begin with that letter. conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on Next look for letters in the landscapes around you—in your home and outside. and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Skill: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Making Connections between letters, landscapes, sounds and words helps your feelings, your thoughts and your your child understand more about his or her language. In fact, researchers behavior to reach your goals. have recently found that the world’s written languages are all based on They include being able to pay the same patterns of lines and angles and are based on these patterns attention, remember information, think in landscapes. This is fascinating because, on the surface, it seems so flexibly and exercise self control. implausible—for instance, written languages in different parts of the world Find more about Families and Work look so different, but it is true. When you ask your child to see things in Institute’s Mind in the Making at different ways, you are promoting Executive Function skills. www.mindinthemaking.org. Same, Same but Different
By Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Elliot from the United Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections States and Kailash from Making connections is at the heart of learning— figuring out what’s the same India become pen pals and and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making explore their similarities In a world where people unusual connections is at the core of creativity. and differences through can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are imaginative drawings able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. and letters to each other. Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections
Tip: Ask your child:
• “What are the ways that Kailash and Elliot are the same?”
• “Look for clues in the pictures and in their letters to each other.” High-quality books and Skill: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based When your child looks for similarities, she or he is Making Connections; Life Skills from that is, creating categories of things that are alike. Some of these are Mind in the Making talked about in the story, but some you have to search for. For example, by Ellen Galinsky there is a bird on top of the buses that each of them takes to school. To find these less obvious similarities, your child will have to pay careful Find more books attention to details. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to educators and programs Ask your child: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. • “What are the ways that Elliot and Kailash are different?”
• “What do you think it would be like to live in India, compared with You will notice that these tips promote where you live?” two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Skill: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth In looking for differences, your child is paying attention to details. For conversation between you and your example, Elliot wears the same striped shirt in all of the pictures, but child where you listen, then build on Kailash wears different shirts. Your child is remembering what is alike and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. and different, and thinking flexibly. All of these call onExecutive Function skills. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Same, Same but Different
By Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Elliot from the United Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections States and Kailash from Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same India become pen pals and and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making explore their similarities unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people and differences through can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are imaginative drawings able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. and letters to each other. Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections
Tip: You can ask your child:
• “Why do think that these boys become best friends, even though they have never met?”
• “Think about your own friends. In what ways are you ‘same, same, but High-quality books and different?’ How do you think these similarities and differences affect educational resources from First your friendship?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Skill: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Making Connections between letters, landscapes, sounds and words helps your child understand more about his or her language. In fact, Find more books researchers have recently found that the world’s written languages are all and materials on the First based on the same patterns of lines and angles and are based on these Book Marketplace, a resource patterns in landscapes. This is fascinating because, on the surface, it available exclusively to seems so implausible—for instance, written languages in different parts of educators and programs the world look so different, but it is true. When you ask your child to see serving children in need. things in different ways, you are promoting Executive Function skills. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 I Am Different! Can You Find Me? The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Manjula Padmanabhan Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections This inventive, interactive Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual book is a global celebration connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for of differences! Children learn information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond to say “Can you find me?” knowing information to using this information well. in 16 different languages as they hunt for the object in each picture that is different Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections from the others.
TIP: Help your child look for clues to find the one picture that is different: is it a different color, a different shape or a picture that is reversed? The answers are in the back—but don’t look too quickly. Struggling a little makes this game more fun. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from I Am Different! Can You Find Me? offers many different opportunities to Mind in the Making make connections. Making Connections involves finding out what is by Ellen Galinsky different and what is the same in each of the pictures, which calls on Executive Function skills. Find more books and materials on the First TIP: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to On each page, read the question: “Can you find me?” in English or in your educators and programs native language. Then read it in the language on the page. serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. SKILL: You will notice that these tips promote Your child is learning to make connections between words in his or her two child development principles: native language and the other languages in the book. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of TIP: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Ask your child: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or • “Why do you think that there are pictures of stars on the page when the does to promote learning. language is Hebrew?” Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your SKILL: behavior to reach your goals. Making Connections includes learning what symbols represent. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 I Am Different! Can You Find Me? The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Manjula Padmanabhan Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections This inventive, interactive Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and book is a global celebration what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for of differences! Children learn information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond to say “Can you find me?” knowing information to using this information well. in 16 different languages as they hunt for the object in each picture that is different Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections from the others.
TIP: Explain that many words that have become part of the English language originate from activities or objects that are important in other countries, such as the words “hula” or “ukulele” in Hawaiian. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from The book helps children make connections between words from different languages that are used in English. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky TIP: Find more books and materials on the First Find a map so you can show children where each of the countries Book Marketplace, a resource mentioned is located. At the back of the book, there are also a few available exclusively to gestures from sign language that your child might like to learn. educators and programs serving children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. Making Connections between your own and others’ experiences can provide a powerful learning opportunity. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 On the Same Day in March The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Marilyn Singer Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and Journey to the Arctic, India, what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual Kenya and beyond with this rich connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for picture book. It helps children information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond see that the weather in one knowing information to using this information well. part of the world might be very different from that in another part of the Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections world—even on the same day. Great for comparing TIP: and Help your child talk about what the weather is like in each community in contrasting! this book.
SKILL: High-quality books and On the Same Day in March offers many different opportunities to make educational resources from First connections. Making Connections can involve finding out what is Book supporting research-based different and what is the same in the weather in different parts of the Life Skills from world, which call on Executive Function skills. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
TIP: Find more books Ask your child to compare “the sun’s sly smile” in Paris with the sunlight and materials on the First sparkling on the market in Dakar and the sunlight dazzling on the sand in Book Marketplace, a resource Barbados. Have him or her look at and discuss the sun, the clouds, the available exclusively to rain and the wind in various parts of the world on the same day. educators and programs serving children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org.
On each page, there are words and pictures that describe the weather. You will notice that these tips promote Making Connections involves helping children figure out what is going on two child development principles: in these pictures. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of TIP: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Ask children to connect their own experiences to some of these child where you listen, then build on descriptions, such as a snow fort in Alberta, Canada that has melted into and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. a “dragon-shaped patch in someone’s backyard.” Ask them to describe what melting snow or fog looks like. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your SKILL: behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay The language in this book uses poetic images to describe the weather, attention, remember information, think which exemplify beautiful ways of Making Connections. flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 On the Same Day in March The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Marilyn Singer Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections Making Connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same and Journey to the Arctic, India, what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making unusual Kenya and beyond with this rich connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can Google for picture book. It helps children information, it is the people who can see connections who are able togo beyond see that the weather in one part of the world might be very knowing information to using this information well. different from that in another part of the Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections world—even on the same day. Great for comparing TIP: and Ask your child to think of images that describe the weather he or she is contrasting! experiencing now—what does it remind your child of?
SKILL: High-quality books and By having this conversation, you will help children make connections. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Life Skills from TIP: Mind in the Making Use the map to trace the weather across the world. A “Note from the by Ellen Galinsky Author” in the back of the book provides further information. Find more books and materials on the First SKILL: Book Marketplace, a resource Making Connections between the map and the descriptions can provide a available exclusively to powerful learning opportunity. educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 The Pot That Juan Built
By Nancy Andrews-Goebel The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs The Pot that Juan Built Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections is a beautiful biography Making connections is at the heart of learning— figuring out what’s the same of a Mexican artist who and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making rediscovers the ancient In a world where people unusual connections is at the core of creativity. processes for making can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are pottery used by the long- able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. vanished Casas Grandes Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections Indians in Northern Mexico.
Tip: As your read The Pot That Juan Built, take the time to talk with your child about the natural materials Juan uses and how one thing can turn into something else. Skill: High-quality books and When you observe and discuss the different materials used in creating educational resources from First pottery, your child is making connections between old and new Book supporting research-based information. These connections help your child classify information in Life Skills from new ways, which is important to learning. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Tip: Find more books Talk with your child about things in the world that were created from other and materials on the First things. It could be the cereal that comes from corn or a wooden chair that Book Marketplace, a resource comes from a tree. available exclusively to educators and programs Skill: serving children in need. When you help your child discover what the everyday objects in the world www.fbmarketplace.org. are made from, you are giving him or her a deeper understanding of the environment and how natural materials are used. These connections can You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: spur more questions about what’s the same and what’s different in the Serve and Return and Executive original object and what it becomes. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Tip: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Reminiscent of This Is The House That Jack Built, this book begins with child where you listen, then build on the pot that Juan built and works backwards to share the steps in natural and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. pottery making. Before you turn each page to reveal the next step, you Executive Function skills are skills can ask your child: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your • “What do you think is going to come next in the book?” behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay After you or your child read the poem, look at the text on the facing pace attention, remember information, think to learn more about the process of pottery making. flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Because the poem is repeated and elaborated upon in the book, see if Institute’s Mind in the Making at your child can remember the words. www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 The Pot That Juan Built
By Nancy Andrews-Goebel The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs The Pot that Juan Built Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections is a beautiful biography Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same of a Mexican artist who and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making rediscovers the ancient unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people processes for making can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are pottery used by the long- able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. vanished Casas Grandes Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections Indians in Northern Mexico.
Skill: Predicting what comes next and asking your child to repeat and remember the words of the poem promote paying attention to detail, remembering, analyzing information and anticipating, all of which call on Executive Function skills.
High-quality books and Tip: educational resources from First At the end of the book, there is an historical “Afterword,” which discusses Book supporting research-based the impact of Juan’s discovery on his village of Mata Ortiz, transforming it Life Skills from from an impoverished community to a community of world famous artists. Mind in the Making Share stories you know about how people have transformed communities by Ellen Galinsky and helped them thrive. Find more books and materials on the First Skill: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to This back and forth conversation is what researchers call “serve and educators and programs return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday serving children in need. interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development www.fbmarketplace.org. research. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? By Steve Jenkins The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? is an Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same interactive book exploring and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making the amazing things animals unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can do with their ears, eyes, can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are mouths, noses and tails. able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections
Tip: As you read What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?, ask your child to guess what each body part does and match it to the animal before you turn the page. Skill: When you ask children to come up with their own ideas, they are creating High-quality books and new connections between new and old information. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Tip: Mind in the Making Ask your child: by Ellen Galinsky
• “In what ways do animals use their noses in similar and in different Find more books ways?” Their ears? Their eyes? Their mouths? Their tails?” and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Skill: educators and programs In asking your child to look for similarities and differences, you are asking serving children in need. him or her to form larger categories, looking at information in new and www.fbmarketplace.org. creative ways, which promotes Executive Function skills. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Tip: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Ask your child: Serve and Return, like game of • “In what ways do animals use their noses in similar and in different ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your ways? Their ears? Their eyes? Their mouths? Their tails?” child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Skill: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills In asking your child to look for similarities and differences, you are asking you use to manage your attention, him or her to form , looking at information in new and your feelings, your thoughts and your larger categories behavior to reach your goals. creative ways, which promotes Executive Function skills. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? By Steve Jenkins The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? is an Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same interactive book exploring and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making the amazing things animals unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people can do with their ears, eyes, can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are mouths, noses and tails. able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections
Tip: Ask your child:
• “How do some of the other animals you know use their noses and other parts of their bodies?” Skill: High-quality books and educational resources from First When you expand the conversation, it is an opportunity to make Book supporting research-based connections for your child, promoting thinking about his or her experiences Life Skills from in new ways. This back and forth interaction is what researchers call Mind in the Making “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does by Ellen Galinsky something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Find more books development research. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Lowji Discovers America By Candace Fleming The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When Lowji discovers that Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections he and his family are moving Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same to America from India, the and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making one silver lining is his dream unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people of becoming a pet owner. can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are But his new apartment has able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. a rule: “No Pets”—that Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections is, until Lowji convinces his overworked Tip: landlady that pets could Lowji convinces the exhausted Landlady Crisp to get a cat because a cat help her get will keep mice out of the apartment house; to get goats because goats her work will eat the grass that needs mowing; and to get a dog because a dog will done. keep burglars away. How did this happen—since Landlady Crisp was very opposed to pets? Lowji made connections between pets and helping get work done from his experiences in Bombay. High-quality books and educational resources from First Talk with your child about other animals that can help us rather than Book supporting research-based create more work for us. Ask your child. Life Skills from Mind in the Making • “If you had been Landlady Crisp, do you think you would have been by Ellen Galinsky convinced by Lowji’s arguments for getting animals to help her? What other reasons might she had wanted animals?” Find more books and materials on the First Skill: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to When you ask your child to analyze a character’s motivations and actions, educators and programs you are helping your child see connections between feelings and serving children in need. behavior. For example, you might point out that the landlady was lonely www.fbmarketplace.org. since the death of her husband. This back and forth conversation about Lowji’s arguments and Landlady Crisp’s motivations is what researchers You will notice that these tips promote call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does two child development principles: something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of Serve and Return and Executive these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Function skills. development research. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Tip: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Even though Lowji has learned English in his Bombay school, he makes does to promote learning. new connections to slang expressions as he discovers America, such as Executive Function skills are skills “lemony fresh” for smelling clean; “on the house” for not costing anything; you use to manage your attention, and “on the fritz” for being broken. These expressions may or may not be your feelings, your thoughts and your familiar to your child. Ask your child: behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay • “What are some other slang expressions we use that someone attention, remember information, think coming to America might not understand?” flexibly and exercise self control. • “What else does Lowji learn that is different? For example, the school Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at schedule is different, as is shopping (no stalls, no one is haggling over www.mindinthemaking.org. prices at All-Mart)?”
Page 1 Lowji Discovers America By Candace Fleming The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When Lowji discovers that Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections he and his family are moving Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same to America from India, the and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making one silver lining is his dream unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people of becoming a pet owner. can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are But his new apartment has able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. a rule: “No Pets”—that Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections is, until Lowji convinces his overworked Skill: landlady that pets could When you help your child think about others’ experiences with American help her get everyday life, you are helping your child think about others’ perspectives her work and helping your child make new connections in how we express done. ourselves and live.
High-quality books and Tip: educational resources from First Lowji misses his best friend in India, Jamshed, and it is hard at first, Book supporting research-based especially during the long summer vacation. Talk with your child about Life Skills from Lowji’s efforts to make friends, including the fact that some of them are Mind in the Making adults (Ironman), some are kids who make fun of him, and one is a by Ellen Galinsky mysterious person in the park. Ask your child: Find more books • “What are the most effective things that Lowji does in making new friends?” and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Skill: educators and programs When you ask your child to analyze a character’s motivations and Many serving children in need. of the strategies Lowji uses to make friends call on Executive Function www.fbmarketplace.org. skills—such as being patient, trying to put himself in the shoes of the boys who tease him to see what might impress them, and focusing on You will notice that these tips promote clues in the park to see who is leaving handprints and footprints. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 When You Reach Me By Rebecca Stead The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs The prize-winning book, Executive Function Life Skill: Making Connections When You Reach Me is Making connections is at the heart of learning—figuring out what’s the same a suspenseful and clever and what’s different, and sorting these things into categories. Making story about a girl trying to prevent what appears unusual connections is at the core of creativity. In a world where people to be a tragic death. can Google for information, it is the people who can see connections who are able to go beyond knowing information to using this information well. Suggestions for Promoting Making Connections
Tip: Miranda and Marcus have a conversation about time travel and common sense. Talk with your child about these statements, “Einstein says common sense is just habit of thought. It’s how we’re used to thinking about things, but a lot of the time it just gets in the way.” Ask your child if he or she can think of a time that he or she saw a different way or if this book helped him or her see things differently as the story unfolded. High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Skill: Life Skills from When you talk about different views and new ideas you are helping your Mind in the Making child make connections between new information and old information; this by Ellen Galinsky promotes learning. When your child can make unusual connections, this Find more books promotes creativity. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to educators and programs There are many instances throughout the book that Miranda makes new connections between what she thought and what actually happened as serving children in need. well as what she thought was or was not possible. The laughing man www.fbmarketplace.org. actually was a time traveler to save her friend Sal from getting killed by the car; the notes were actually the laughing man, not a bad guy; and all You will notice that these tips promote of the clues in the notes lead up to the ending. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Talk with your child about who he or she thought were writing the notes and what the notes meant. Did he or she suspect the laughing man? Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on Skill: and extend what your child says or When you have conversations with your child about initial thoughts and does to promote learning. new thoughts based on new information, you are helping him or her be Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, aware of the learning process and how connections are made. When your feelings, your thoughts and your we are aware of how we are thinking, we can learn additional ways to behavior to reach your goals. process information. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Note: Since A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline D’Engle is so important in flexibly and exercise self control. When You Reach Me, your child might enjoy reading it and talking with Find more about Families and Work you about the connections between the two books. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
CRITICAL THINKING
Blue Hat, Green Hat By Sandra Boynton The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Most of the animals are wearing Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking clothes the proper way, but— Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to oops! —the turkey cannot figure guide beliefs, decisions and actions. out where his clothes should go. Toddlers adore this fresh and funny introduction to colors, Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking clothes and very silly mistakes.. Tip: This story invites children to figure out what things go together or to categorize, such as hats go on heads. The clues to figure out where things go or to categorize are in both the drawings and the word “oops.” When the turkey puts the clothes on in the wrong way, you can ask your child: • “Where should the hat go?” With a very young child, you can answer the question yourself; with an older child, he or she can answer. If your child wants to have fun and play with where the clothing should go, that’s fine. You can say: High-quality books and educational resources from First • “Hats should go on heads, but you can put them in other places for fun.” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Skill: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky This back and forth interaction is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) Find more books and the other responds (returns). The importance of these back and and materials on the First forth everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Book Marketplace, a resource development research. available exclusively to educators and programs Tip: serving children in need. You can ask your child: www.fbmarketplace.org.
• “What happens when the turkey puts the coat on his face?” You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: • “Will the turkey be able to see, to walk, to keep his tail feathers warm?” Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Skill: ball, involves a back and forth Critical thinking promotes the search for valid and reliable knowledge. conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Tip: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Once your child knows the rhythm of the story, ask your child to search for you use to manage your attention, answers with you. Show the picture and ask: “Where should the ‘oops’ go?” your feelings, your thoughts and your Then you can point to picture of the turkey as a source of information. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. In order to think critically, children need to be observant. This story Find more about Families and Work invites children to figure out where things go or to categorize them, which Institute’s Mind in the Making at . calls on Executive Function skills. www.mindinthemaking.org High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs research-based Life Skills from Mind in the Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to guide Making by beliefs, decisions and actions. Ellen Galinsky
Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking
The Runaway Bunny can be read on many different levels. With a The Runaway Bunny young child, you can tell the story in your own words, pointing out how the Mother Rabbit has to keep problem solving—figuring out ways to find her runaway bunny. We use Critical Thinking in By Margaret Wise Brown problem solving, which is an Executive Function skill. In this reassuring classic, a loving mother tells her With older children, Critical Thinking can be promoted by little bunny that no matter encouraging your child to be curious and think about what they where he goes, she will think and believe. You can ask questions that promote Critical always find him again. Thinking about the rabbit’s decisions and actions. For example: You can ask questions about: Children relate to the little How much the Mother Rabbit cares: “Why do you think the Mother bunny’s desire for Rabbit will do anything to find her bunny?” independence and enjoy Imagination: “Can rabbits really fly? How do you know?” the story's pattern of cause This back and forth interaction is what researchers call “serve and and effect. return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research.
Critical thinking involves being observant. Ask your child to find the bunny in all of the color pictures, such as in the flowers. For those children who know the author Margaret Wise Brown’s book, Goodnight Moon, ask if they recognize the cow jumping over the moon drawing in the room with the fireplace.
Find more books You will notice that this tip promotes two brain development and materials principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. supporting Mind in the Making’s Life Serve and Return involves a back and forth interaction between you and Skills on the First your child. Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the Book Marketplace, a resource other responds (returns). It is important to listen and then to build on and extend what available exclusively to educators
your child says or does and to keep this going for as long as your child is interested. Illustration by Devon Meyer and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your emotions, Find more about Families and Work your intellect and your behavior to reach your goals. They are at the core of the Seven Institute’s Mind in the Making at Essential Life Skills. They include focus, working memory, cognitive flexibility and self www.mindinthemaking.org. control. When children are older, these skills include reflecting, analyzing, reasoning, planning, problem solving and evaluating. Where’s My Teddy? By Jez Alborough The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Where’s My Teddy? is a story Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking about a little boy looking for Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to his lost Teddy in the dark and guide beliefs, decisions and actions. scary woods and meeting up with a big Bear, who has his Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking own Teddy. Tip:
Ask your child:
• “Do you think the Ted that Eddie finds in the woods would fit in Eddie’s bed? Would he fit in your bed? Why do you think that?”
• “Would Eddie’s bear Freddie fit in Eddie’s bed? Would he fit in your bed? Why do you think that?”
You can use an exaggerated and dramatic voice when you ask these High-quality books and questions and ask your child what clues he or she is using to respond to educational resources from First you? Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Skill: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
You are asking your child to think about size when you ask these Find more books questions—how big or small the bears Ted and Freddie are compared and materials on the First with child and the alive bear. You are promoting your child’s curiosity, Book Marketplace, a resource skill in making predictions, and thinking carefully about information available exclusively to to test those predictions, all aspects of Critical Thinking, an Executive educators and programs Function skill. serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. Tip: You will notice that these tips promote After your child has read Where’s My Teddy? several times with you, two child development principles: you can ask what comes next before you turn the page. You can use the Serve and Return and Executive rhymes in the book as prompts for guessing. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Skill: conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on When you ask your child to recall what comes next, he or she is using and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. his or her working memory. Critical Thinking involves being able to remember previous experiences and information and apply it to the Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, current situation. your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Where’s My Teddy? By Jez Alborough The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Where’s My Teddy? is a story Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking about a little boy looking for Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to his lost Teddy in the dark and guide beliefs, decisions and actions. scary woods and meeting up with a big Bear, who has his Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking own Teddy. Tip:
Both the big bear and Eddie are sad when they loose their Teddy and scared when they come upon each other. Ask your child to recall losing something and think about how that made him or her feel. Skill: How we feel affects how we think. Helping your child identify feelings, helps in Critical Thinking. It also make it clear that pursuing something High-quality books and you want can make children feel afraid. This back and forth conversa- educational resources from First tion you have about feelings is what researchers call “serve and return.” Book supporting research-based Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the Life Skills from other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions Mind in the Making to brain building is a key finding from child development research. by Ellen Galinsky
Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
By Laura Numeroff The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This wildly popular lesson in Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking cause and effect stars a very Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to bossy mouse! First he wants a guide beliefs, decisions and actions. cookie, then some milk, next a straw—what’s a boy to do?? The giggle-worthy story eventually Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking comes full circle, Tip: making kids Have your child predict what will happen each time the mouse asks for say, something new. “Read it Skill: again!”. Critical thinking centers on being curious and seeking to understand cause and effect, which call on Executive Function skills. High-quality books and educational resources from First Tip: Book supporting research-based Life Skills from The boy in the story has to figure out how to find what the mouse needs Mind in the Making and how to clean up the mess this search is causing. by Ellen Galinsky Ask your child: Find more books • “What would you do if you were this child?” and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Skill: educators and programs Even though this book is imaginary, it promotes problem solving, which serving children in need. is key to Critical Thinking. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote Tip: two child development principles: Once your child knows the story, you can ask what comes next when you Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. re-read the book. Your child will use his or her memory to recall the order Serve and Return, like game of and the items the mouse requests, while having fun! And adults will enjoy ball, involves a back and forth this story where the energetic and enthusiastic mouse wears out the child conversation between you and your (just like energetic and enthusiastic children can wear out adults). child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Skill: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Critical Thinking includes being able to remember previous experiences your feelings, your thoughts and your and information and apply this knowledge to the present. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs After he falls from his nest, Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking a confused baby bird asks Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to everyone he meets (dog, plow, guide beliefs, decisions and actions. airplane and more) if they’re his mother until (hooray!) he finds her. This charming story Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking of identity and belonging is also available in a bilingual edition.. Tip: You can ask questions that will help your child make predictions or come up with theories to predict what causes different things to happen. For example, you can ask:
• “What do you think it means when the egg jumps?”
• “What do you think will happen if the baby bird leaves the nest without his mother?” High-quality books and educational resources from First Skill: Book supporting research-based Critical Thinking promotes cause and effect thinking, which calls on Life Skills from Executive Function skills. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
Tip: Find more books and materials on the First As the baby bird encounters each animal and object, you can ask your child Book Marketplace, a resource if he or she thinks that’s the baby bird’s mother, and ask why or why not. available exclusively to educators and programs Skill: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. The baby bird uses problem solving—an aspect of Critical Thinking—to try to find his mother, but because he has just hatched, he doesn’t have very much prior knowledge and has to rely on information from the other You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: animals and objects. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Tip: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth Ask children to share an experience of losing something and trying to find conversation between you and your it. Once they tell their story, ask them what clues they used. What worked child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or for them in finding the lost person or object? does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Skill: your feelings, your thoughts and your Helping children analyze their problem-solving process and how well it behavior to reach your goals. worked helps them become more adept at Critical Thinking. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Seven Blind Mice By Ed Young The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs One day, a strange Something Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking appears by their pond. Each Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to day, a different blind mouse guide beliefs, decisions and actions. runs to the pond to find out and report the findings to the other mice. They disagree, until Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking finally one of the mice explores the whole Something and comes back Tip: to report the truth. As each mouse, in turn, tries to find out what the strange Something is, This book ask your child: is a visual delight and • “What do YOU think the strange Something is?” Why?” a page turner. Be sure to help your child look for clues in the pictures to help him or her think through answers to your questions.
High-quality books and Skill: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Asking questions and pursuing clues involves looking carefully at Life Skills from details and making predictions from the information in the book and Mind in the Making what your child already knows, all aspects of Critical Thinking. This by Ellen Galinsky back and forth conversation you have is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) Find more books and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday and materials on the First interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development Book Marketplace, a resource research. available exclusively to educators and programs Tip: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. There is so much information in the pictures and the words that you can explore with your child. For example, the mice who have already explored You will notice that these tips promote the strange Something all group together on the left and the returning two child development principles: mouse explains his or her findings only to those who haven’t looked Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. themselves. You can ask your child: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your • What colored mice have already explored the Something? What mice child where you listen, then build on haven’t?” and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. • “In this picture, how many mice still have to look?” Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, • “What day of the week will the next mouse go out to try to find the your feelings, your thoughts and your answer to what the strange Something is?” behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Seven Blind Mice By Ed Young The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs One day, a strange Something Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking appears by their pond. Each Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to day, a different blind mouse guide beliefs, decisions and actions. runs to the pond to find out and report the findings to the other mice. They disagree, until Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking finally one of the mice explores the whole Something and comes back Skill: to report the truth. In this conversation, you are helping your child pay attention to many This book details–color, number, days of the week, etc. Paying careful attention to is a visual clues is important in finding answers to something you don’t know. delight and a page Tip: turner.
At the end of the book, there is a Mouse Moral: “Knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole.” Ask your High-quality books and child: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based • “What do you think the Mouse Moral means? Did you ever think you Life Skills from knew something, but it was only part of the answer?” Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Share a time when you had a similar experience of thinking you knew something because you only had partial information. Find more books and materials on the First Skill: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to The Mouse Moral is a great description of Critical Thinking—of making educators and programs sure that you are searching for valid and accurate information by serving children in need. seeing the whole picture. This process calls on Executive Function www.fbmarketplace.org. skills. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at .
Page 2 What Can You Do with a Paleta? By Carmen Tafolla The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs What Can You Do With a Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Paleta? is the fanciful story of Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to all of the things you can do with guide beliefs, decisions and actions. an icy-cold pop made from all natural ingredients—you can paint your tongue and scare Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking your brother, you can make new friends or use it to cool off, and “you Tip: can lick it and slurp it As you read What Can You Do with a Paleta?, ask your child: and…gobble it all down.” A wonderful • “What else do you think the children are going to do with their paleta? story of a What would you do? Why?” Mexican tradition. Share what you would do and why.
High-quality books and Skill: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Asking questions and thinking about answers is a good way to promote Life Skills from Critical Thinking. Exploring the reasons behind what you do helps Mind in the Making your child use and synthesize information. This back and forth by Ellen Galinsky conversation is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds Find more books (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building and materials on the First is a key finding from child development research. Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Tip: educators and programs serving children in need. This book presents a great deal of information about life in the barrio and www.fbmarketplace.org. includes Spanish words interspersed in the English section. Ask your child: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “What do you know about life in the barrio from reading this book? How Function skills. do you know that? How is life there different or the same as life where Serve and Return, like game of you live?” ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Skill: does to promote learning. Asking your child to gather information about the context of a story helps Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, her look at what is around her more carefully—how adults and children your feelings, your thoughts and your dress, what they do during the day, what their relationships are like. behavior to reach your goals. This process of careful observation is an important aspect of Critical They include being able to pay Thinking. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 What Can You Do with a Paleta? By Carmen Tafolla The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs What Can You Do with a Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Paleta? is the fanciful story Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to of all of the things one can do guide beliefs, decisions and actions. with an icy-cold pop made from all natural ingredients—you can paint your tongue and scare Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking your brother, you can make new friends or use it to cool off, and “you Tip: can lick it and slurp it and Ask your child why it might be a hard decision for the girl to choose … gobble it between strawberry and coconut paleta. Talk about a time when your all down.” child and/or you had a hard decision and the steps used to make a A wonderful decision. story of a Mexican tradition. Skill: High-quality books and Calling attention to the decision-making process and helping children educational resources from First apply it in their everyday lives promote an understanding of the steps we Book supporting research-based use to solve problems, all important aspects of Executive Function skills. Life Skills from Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Grace for President By Kelly DiPucchio The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When Grace runs for Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking President in her school’s Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to mock election, she learns guide beliefs, decisions and actions.. she can only win if some of the boys vote for her. Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking This is an empowering and fun story about the electoral system, hard work, TIP: independent Grace for President begins with Grace’s observation that there are no thinking and women on the poster of Presidents and asks: “Where are the girls?” using fair judgment. Ask your child:
• “Why do you think that Grace noticed that there has never been a woman President and others didn’t bring it up?”
• “Have you ever noticed something that no one else has mentioned?” High-quality books and Ask your child to share his or her stories and point out how important it is educational resources from First to pay close attention to what is going on. Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Mind in the Making SKILL: by Ellen Galinsky In order to think critically, children need to be observant. Find more books and materials on the First TIP: Book Marketplace, a resource Grace and Thomas select very different slogans, promises and strategies available exclusively to to try to win this election. Ask your child to compare these slogans, prom- educators and programs ises and strategies and to guess which would work and which wouldn’t serving children in need. and why. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote SKILL: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Critical Thinking centers on understanding cause and effect, which Function skills. draws on Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your TIP: child where you listen, then build on Thomas calculated that all of the girls would vote for Grace and all of the and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. boys would vote for him. If he had been paying closer attention, he might Executive Function skills are skills not have made this assumption. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Ask your child to look for clues in the book’s illustrations that indicate behavior to reach your goals. Thomas’ theory might have been wrong. Here’s a hint: ask your child to They include being able to pay look for Sam in the illustrations. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Grace for President By Kelly DiPucchio The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs When Grace runs for Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking President in her school’s Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to mock election, she learns guide beliefs, decisions and actions. she can only win if some of the boys vote for her. Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking This is an empowering and fun story about the electoral system, hard work, SKILL: independent thinking and Critical Thinking involves testing your theories or hypotheses about using fair cause and effect to see if they are valid and accurate. judgment. TIP: Ask your child:
• “What problems did Grace and Thomas encounter in running for President? How did they solve them? What do you think of their solutions?” High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting research-based SKILL: Life Skills from Problem solving is key to Critical Thinking. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
TIP: Find more books and materials on the First This book presents a great opportunity to understand the electoral system Book Marketplace, a resource in the United States. Comparing the story in this book to children’s mem- available exclusively to ories of recent or current elections will help them think critically about the educators and programs history they are experiencing. serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. SKILL: Critical Thinking includes being able to remember previous experienc- You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: es and information and apply this knowledge to the present. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Nate the Great By Marjorie Weinman The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Sharmat Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Nate the Great is on the Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to case! With dry humor, this guide beliefs, decisions and actions. classic early chapter book introduces readers to a boy Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking detective, tracking clues, interviewing suspects and finding TIP: whatever’s Nate the Great understands that to be a detective, everything counts, and missing. It’s he has to look for clues everywhere. For example, he notices that Annie a delightful likes yellow. introduction to noir for Ask your child: growing readers. • “What else does Nate the Great notice?”
SKILL: High-quality books and educational resources from First In order to think critically, children need to be observant. Book supporting research-based Life Skills from TIP: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Ask your child: Find more books • “What theories does Nate the Great develop to find the missing ainting?p and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource SKILL: available exclusively to educators and programs Critical Thinking centers on developing theories or hypotheses—pro- serving children in need. posed explanations based on evidence that can be tested. www.fbmarketplace.org.
TIP: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Ask your child how Nate the Great tests his theories or hypotheses. In- Serve and Return and Executive clude what questions he asks (such as if there are any trapdoors or secret Function skills. passages in Annie’s house) and how he conducts experiments to test his Serve and Return, like game of theories (such as digging for the picture in Annie’s yard). ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on SKILL: and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Critical thinking involves testing theories by asking questions and Executive Function skills are skills conducting experiments. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Nate the Great By Marjorie Weinman The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Sharmat Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Nate the Great is on the Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to case! With dry humor, this guide beliefs, decisions and actions. classic early chapter book introduces readers to a boy Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking detective, tracking clues, interviewing suspects and finding TIP: whatever’s missing. It’s Ask your child: a delightful introduction • “What problems did Nate the Great encounter as he tried to solve the to noir for mystery? How did he solve these problems?”” growing readers. SKILL: Problem solving is key to Critical Thinking, which calls on Executive High-quality books and Function skills. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based TIP: Life Skills from Mind in the Making Nate the Great finally solves the mystery by remembering what happens by Ellen Galinsky when you mix colors. Find more books Ask your child if they have ever solved a mystery by remembering valid and materials on the First and accurate information. Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to SKILL: educators and programs serving children in need. Critical Thinking includes being able to remember previous experienc- www.fbmarketplace.org. es and information and apply this knowledge to the present. At the end of the book, there are a number of suggested activities. Your You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: child might enjoy some of these. Remember to point out the times he or Serve and Return and Executive she is using Critical Thinking skills in these activities or in other things Function skills. your child does. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Mary Amato Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to Edgar Allan’s Official Crime guide beliefs, decisions and actions. Investigation Notebook begins with the theft of a fish in his fifth grade classroom and a Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking poem left as a clue. Other thefts and mysterious clues follow, that Tip: Edgar, often in competition, Edgar is careful about how he gathers information about the sometimes in disappearance of Slurpy (the fish) and other stolen items. He observes, cooperation with interviews people, asks questions, takes notes, and develops theories. his classmates, Talk with your child about the process Edgar used to try to solve the become mystery: passionate about solving. • “What clues did Edgar use to try solve the mysterious disappearance of so many things from his classroom? What clues did his classmates High-quality books and use?” educational resources from First • “Their teacher Mrs. Herschel reminds the children that a shoe print Book supporting research-based near the crime doesn’t mean that the shoe print belongs to the criminal. Life Skills from Which clues were most effective? How about Edgar’s conclusion that Mind in the Making eyeballs never lie?” by Ellen Galinsky
• “Can you step back and describe the process the children used to Find more books solve the crime? and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource • “Who did you think the thief was as you read this book? Why?” available exclusively to educators and programs Skill: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. When you talk about the character’s actions in solving the mystery, you are pointing out the decision-making process used to gather You will notice that these tips promote information to think critically, including creating and testing theories, two child development principles: which call on Executive Function skills. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Tip: ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Mrs. Herschel says. “I suggest we keep our minds open. Use your child where you listen, then build on powers of observation. Consider all of the possibilities. Remember the and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. culprit is sometimes the opposite of who you’d expect.” Talk with your child about a time he or she thought something was one way and then— Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, after getting more information—came to a new conclusion. your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Edgar Allan’s Official Crime Investigation Notebook
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Mary Amato Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to Edgar Allan’s Official Crime guide beliefs, decisions and actions. Investigation Notebook begins with the theft of a fish in his fifth grade classroom and a Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking poem left as a clue. Other thefts and mysterious clues follow, that Skill: Edgar, often By connecting your child’s personal experience to the lessons from this in competition, book, you are reinforcing the importance of seeking more information to sometimes in get the best results This is very important in Critical Thinking, which is the cooperation with search for valid and accurate information. The back and forth conversa- his classmates, tion you have with your child is what researchers call “serve and return.” become Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the passionate other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to about solving. brain building is a key finding from child development research. High-quality books and Tip: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based In the beginning of the book, Edgar doesn’t feel very good about himself. Life Skills from He writes, “I am a failure. I am giving up.” By the end of the book, much Mind in the Making has changed—he feels, “THIS IS THE LIFE!” And he writes that even his by Ellen Galinsky older brother looked at him with respect. Ask your child: Find more books • “What led to Edgar’s changed feelings?” How do you feel when you try something really hard and keep going?” and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Skill: educators and programs serving children in need. The pursuit of knowledge can affect our feelings about ourselves. Talking www.fbmarketplace.org. with your child about why self-directed learning can be so powerful broadens his or her understanding of learning. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Tip: Function skills. The teacher Mr. Crew writes, “A Poem is a Gift.” He also makes the point Serve and Return, like game of that “every poem is a mystery waiting to be solved.” By the end of the ball, involves a back and forth book, the children are writing and appreciating poetry more. Ask your conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on child: and extend what your child says or • “Did this book affect your views about poetry?” does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills This book is written on many different levels. The names of the characters you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your have meaning, for example Edgar Allen is named after a famous poet. behavior to reach your goals. Take a look at the bonus mystery questions at the end of the book and enjoy them with your child. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Answering one question often leads to pursuing other questions. Institute’s Mind in the Making at You are helping your child understand this through your discussion with www.mindinthemaking.org. him or her.
Page 2 Hana’s Suitcase
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Karen Levine Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Hana’s Suitcase is a true, sad, Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to yet joyful story that spans 70 guide beliefs, decisions and actions. years and three continents. Told in alternating chapters. Fumiko Ishioka, the director of a newly Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking established Holocaust center in Tokyo, acquires Hana’s suitcase from a concentration camp and then relentlessly pursues Hana’s Tip: story to find out who Hana was and what became of her. Her The search for clues about the suitcase was partly prompted by questions goal is to share from the children at the Tokyo center, such as what it would be like to be Hana’s story so an orphan or to be sent away from your friends. Ask your child: that every child in Japan can • “When you first heard about Hana, what questions did you have about learn about the her and her experiences?” Holocaust. Skill: High-quality books and educational resources from First Critical Thinking is promoted by asking questions and then seeking the Book supporting research-based answers. This back and forth conversation you have with your child is Life Skills from what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you Mind in the Making says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The by Ellen Galinsky importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to There were many times when Fumiko Ishioka, the museum director, faced educators and programs obstacles in her search for Hana’s story. She didn’t know where to turn serving children in need. next for clues or whom to ask when so many were unable to help her. She www.fbmarketplace.org. was concerned that she didn’t have enough time in Hana’s hometown, Nove Mesto and in Prague. Ask your child: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: • “What kept the museum director going, even when she faced challenges? Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Why was it so important for her to pursue this goal?” Serve and Return, like game of • “Have you ever had a goal that seems unreachable and yet you ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your succeeded? What did you do and what did others do to help you?” child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Skill: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, When you talk with your child about what it takes for the museum director your feelings, your thoughts and your to find answers to her questions, you are helping your child understand behavior to reach your goals. that Critical Thinking requires the ability to pursue clues by thinking They include being able to pay differently, be focused and not go automatic to get the answers. attention, remember information, think Executive Function skills are driven by goals. flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Hana’s Suitcase
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By Karen Levine Executive Function Life Skill: Critical Thinking Hana’s Suitcase is a true, sad, Critical Thinking is the ongoing search for valid and reliable knowledge to yet joyful story that spans 70 guide beliefs, decisions and actions. years and three continents. Told in alternating chapters. Fumiko Ishioka, the director of a newly Suggestions for Promoting Critical Thinking established Holocaust center in Tokyo, acquires Hana’s suitcase from a concentration camp and then relentlessly pursues Hana’s Tip: story to find out who Hana was and what became of her. Her The Museum Director took a chance in writing Hana’s brother in goal is to share Canada. As she wrote to him,” Please forgive me if my letter hurts you Hana’s story so by reminding you of difficult past experiences.” In doing so, she shared that every child her larger purpose of letting the children in Japan know about Hana as in Japan can learn about the a person by his sharing “anything that feel close to you and Hana, to Holocaust. understand what prejudice, intolerance, and hatred did to young Jewish children.” She told him that she wants all children in Japan to learn about the Holocaust. Ask your child: High-quality books and educational resources from First • “What the Museum Director’s approach a good one?” Why or why not? Book supporting research-based What would you have done to raise a painful issue with someone in the Life Skills from hopes of uncovering the truth?” Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Hana’s Suitcase contains many original photographs and documents, including the Museum Director’s letter to Hana’s brother. Ask your child: Find more books and materials on the First • “Did seeing what happened many, many year ago through these Book Marketplace, a resource documents and photographs make a difference in your feelings and available exclusively to thoughts about this story?” educators and programs serving children in need. Skill: www.fbmarketplace.org.
Sometimes the pursuit of valid and reliable information leads people You will notice that these tips promote to deal with difficult emotional issues (think of the detective shows two child development principles: children may have watched). Understanding how to manage those Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. situations is a part of pursuing Critical Thinking—just as it was for the author of this book to tell Hana’s story in a way that makes it come alive. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2
TAKING ON CHALLENGES
My Truck Is Stuck! By Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs With rhyming text and Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges bright illustrations, young Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on children and their caregiv- challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school ers will enjoy finding out and in life. just how stuck one big red dump truck is. As more Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges and more passerby travelers pitch in to help out, readers will appreciate the subtle TIP: plot twists and counting It is important to be able to ask for help when we need it. You can comment on lessons. this to your child: • “That was a good idea for the truck driver to ask for help.” SKILL: Taking on Challenges often involves asking for help. High-quality books and TIP: educational resources from First You can point out that the truck driver and all of the other helpers keep trying Book supporting research-based to reach their goal of getting the truck unstuck. Life Skills from SKILL: Mind in the Making by Taking on Challenges includes believing that we can do things even Ellen Galinsky when they are hard. Executive Function skills are driven by goals. Find more books and materials on TIP: the First Book Marketplace,a You can acknowledge the helpful characters in the story by saying to your child: resource available exclusively to • “Wow, they are really trying to help the stuck truck go.” educators and programs serving children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. Taking on Challenges involves having others be helpful to us. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: TIP: Serve and Return and Executive The book concludes with the truck getting unstuck—being pulled out of the Function skills. hole. Ask your child: Serve and Return, like game of ball, • “What happened to the bones the truck was trying to deliver?” involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where You can go back and look at the pictures of the bones to answer that question. you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to SKILL: promote learning. This back and forth conversation between you and your child about this book Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you your feelings, your thoughts and your says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The behavior to reach your goals. importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding They include being able to pay from child development research. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 My Truck Is Stuck! By Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs With rhyming text and Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges bright illustrations, young Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on children and their caregiv- challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school ers will enjoy finding out and in life. just how stuck one big red dump truck is. As more Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges and more passerby travelers pitch in to help out, readers will appreciate the subtle TIP: plot twists and counting You may want to share a time you asked for help or recall a time when your lessons. child needed help to do something challenging. SKILL: This gives young children ideas about how to take on challenges and promotes this skill. TIP: High-quality books and As you read the story, enjoy the rhymes. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based SKILL: Life Skills from Rhyming promotes the skill of Communication. Thinking of words that sound Mind in the like other words promotes the skill of Making Connections. Making by Ellen Galinsky
Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Llama Llama Red Pajama By Anna Dewdney The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Anna Dewdney’s adorable Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges llama toddler and mother Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on face bedtime worries and challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school separation anxiety in this and in life. well-loved picture book. Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges Told in rhyme, this story offers the reassurance that a loved one is “always TIP: near … even Children can learn from the characters in this book. For example, ask your child about all the things that Baby Llama does to try to wait for his Llama when Mama. You can point out that Baby Llama has a comfort toy, a little llama. she’s not right here.” SKILL:: Taking on Challenges involves finding ways to deal with challenging times or problem solving, which calls on Executive Function skills. High-quality books and educational resources from First TIP: Book supporting research-based Baby Llama goes from being lonely to fretting to being sad to being angry and, Life Skills from finally, to being scared. Mind in the Making by Ask your child to recall times when he or she experienced any of these Ellen Galinsky feeling. You can ask your child: • “What do you do when you are scared or doing something difficult?” Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a SKILL: resource available exclusively to Taking on Challenges elicits many different emotions and provides educators and programs serving opportunities to learn how to master them. When you talk with your child children in need. about this book, your back and forth conversation is what researchers call www.fbmarketplace.org. “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday You will notice that these tips promote interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive TIP: Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, At the end of the book, the Mama gives Baby Llama a message: “Mama involves a back and forth conversation Llama’s always near, even if she’s not right here.” This is a message you can between you and your child where use with your child at naptime, at bedtime or other times when you are apart. you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to SKILL: promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Knowing that others are there for you is very important in learning the skill you use to manage your attention, of Taking on Challenges. your feelings, your thoughts and your When your child tries something hard, point this out to him or her, reminding behavior to reach your goals. your child about the book: “You were scared just like Baby Llama, but you They include being able to pay attention, remember information, managed it!” think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Owen By Kevin Henkes The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Owen loves his blankie. He Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges loves it outside or inside, Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on during the day or the night. challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school How will Owen go to school and in life. without his blankie? Kevin Henkes’ lovable mouse Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges illustrations and trademark tender humor are plentiful in this picture
TIP: book about Ask your child how Owen feels when his family (pushed by the nosy gaining neighbor) tries to get him to give up his beloved comfort blanket, Fuzzy. independence, one step SKILL: at a time.” Taking on Challenges elicits many different emotions and provides opportunities to learn how to master them.
TIP: High-quality books and Owen comes up with his own strategies for coping with the neighbor’s educational resources from First advice: he hides his blanket at night to escape from the Blanket Fairy, Book supporting research-based and he rubs his blanket in the sandbox and dirt to get rid of the vinegar Life Skills from smell. Ask your child: Mind in the Making by • “What other ideas do you have about how Owen might have dealt Ellen Galinsky with these efforts to get him to give up his blanket?” Find more books and materials on SKILL: the First Book Marketplace,a Problem solving calls on Executive Function skills. resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving TIP: children in need. Ask your child how he or she feels about his mother’s solution of www.fbmarketplace.org. turning his blanket into handkerchiefs. What other ideas does your You will notice that these tips promote child have for dealing with this issue? Sometimes people offer two child development principles: advice that is not so good (as the neighbor Mrs. Tweezers does). Serve and Return and Executive Ask your child to recall a time when someone suggested a solution Function skills. that wasn’t a good idea. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where SKILL: you listen, then build on and extend Often in taking on challenges, others can be helpful in suggesting solutions. what your child says or does to promote learning. TIP: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Share a time with your child when you did something that was your feelings, your thoughts and your challenging. You can talk about what happened, how it felt and what behavior to reach your goals. you did. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, SKILL: think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Children learn Taking on Challenges from examples and role models. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. The Little Engine that Could By Watty Piper The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs The “I think I can” refrain of this Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges classic picture book is synony- Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on mous with accomplishment and challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school success. It originated with this and in life. book and the story of the Little Blue Engine who knew she Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges could make it over the mountain even though she was small and inexperienced. TIP: Ask your child: • “What helped the clown and the other dolls and toys continue to try to find solutions to get the train to the children, even when other engines refused to help?” Ask your child to recall a time when things weren’t working, but he or she continued to try hard. Ask what difference that made. SKILL: High-quality books and educational resources from First Taking on Challenges includes being able to press on, not avoiding Book supporting research-based or simply coping with difficulties. Life Skills from Mind in the TIP: Making by Ask your child how believing you can do something difficult helps make Ellen Galinsky it possible to succeed. Find more books and materials on SKILL: the First Book Marketplace,a Children learn Taking on Challenges from examples and role resource available exclusively to models. Children can learn from the Little Blue Engine as a role model educators and programs serving and her saying: “I think I can—I think I can—I think I can.” children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. TIP: You will notice that these tips promote You can ask your child: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “What was the goal that the little train and the dolls and toys had?” Function skills. It is also good to point out that the goal was very important to all of Serve and Return, like game of ball, them. involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend SKILL: what your child says or does to Having a goal is important to Taking on Challenges. Executive promote learning. Function skills are driven by goals. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. This book was written a long time ago and includes some stereotypes, They include being able to pay such as the helpful train is a female train and the unhelpful trains tend attention, remember information, to be male. Ask the children what might be different in this story if it had think flexibly and exercise self control. been written today. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Brontorina By James Howe The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Brontorina, the dinosaur, Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges dreams of becoming a Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on ballerina so she approaches challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in Madame Lucille’s Dance school and in life. Academy. In this charming story of friendship and Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges support, there are many challenges to face before Brontorina’s Tip: dream can come true. Brontorina knows in her heart she is a ballerina but others think she is too big and doesn’t have the right shoes. Talk with your child about how Brontorina may have felt when she ran into these obstacles. Ask your child:
• “How do you think Brotorina felt when she was told she was too big to dance and she didn’t have the right shoes?”
• “What does Brontorina say to Madame Lucille that convinces her to High-quality books and give the dinosaur a chance? What did Clara and Jack say?” educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Skill: Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Taking on Challenges includes trying things that are hard and often requires the support of others. By asking your child how it feels to be Find more books turned down and what can be done to change people’s minds, you are and materials on the First helping your child understand how to overcome challenges in his or her Book Marketplace, a resource own life. This back and forth conversation you have with your child is available exclusively to what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you educators and programs says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The serving children in need. importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding www.fbmarketplace.org. from child development research.
You will notice that these tips promote Tip: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive In the end, Brontorina’s ballet teacher decides to meet Brontorina’s needs Function skills. by finding space that is big enough for her to dance. Talk with your child Serve and Return, like game of about how sometimes major obstacles can be overcome with a shift in ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your thinking. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills Skill: you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Taking on Challenges includes exploring options and resources to behavior to reach your goals. help you achieve what you want, something by changing the way They include being able to pay you think about it. This involves cognitive flexibility, an important part of attention, remember information, think Executive Function skills. flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Brontorina By James Howe The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Brontorina, the dinosaur, Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges dreams of becoming a Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on ballerina so she approaches challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in Madame Lucille’s Dance school and in life. Academy. In this charming story of friendship and Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges support, there are many challenges to face before Brontorina’s Tip: dream can come true. Share a story with your child about a time you decided to pursue a dream you had and what you had to do to achieve it. As the book says, “It all began with a dream.” Skill:
You can be a role model to your child in overcoming challenges by High-quality books and sharing your dreams and strategies. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky
Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Knuffle Bunny By Mo Williams The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Hilarious and relatable, Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges Knuffle Bunny is the story Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on of a pre-verbal toddler— challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school who loses a beloved toy and in life. and throws an Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges award-worthy tantrum, and her father—who has no idea what she’s upset TIP: about. It’s a Ask your child: very funny story about • “How does Trixie feel when she realizes that Knuffle Bunny is missing?” universal You can also ask children if they noticed that Knuffle Bunny was missing before Trixie experiences comes to this realization. Here’s a hint: you can see the bunny in the window of the washing machine. and feelings. SKILL: Taking on Challenge s elicits many different emotions and presents High-quality books and opportunities for children to learn to manage them. educational resources from First Book supporting research-based TIP: Life Skills from You can ask your child: Mind in the • “What were some things Trixie did when she was challenged with trying to tell her Making by daddy about the missing Knuffle Bunny? What else might she have done? What did Ellen Galinsky her daddy do to try to find the bunny?” SKILL: Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a Taking on Challenges involves finding ways to deal with challenging times. resource available exclusively to Sometimes it takes trying many different strategies, which Trixie did when she tried to communicate without words. When you communicate with your child about this educators and programs serving story, the back and forth conversations you have is what researchers call “serve and children in need. return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the www.fbmarketplace.org. other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: TIP: Serve and Return and Executive You can talk with your child about how important Knuffle Bunny is to Trixie, and that’s Function skills. why she tried so hard to tell her Daddy without words that her bunny is missing. You Serve and Return, like game of ball, can point this out to your child. involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where SKILL: you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to Having a goal is important to Taking on Challenges. Executive Function skills are promote learning. driven by goals. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, TIP: your feelings, your thoughts and your This story can serve as an example of how challenging times offer opportunities to behavior to reach your goals. grow. It is through dealing with this situation that Trixie learns to say her first words. You They include being able to pay can be a role model in helping your children learn this, too, by sharing a story about attention, remember information, something that was challenging to you and the strategies you used to deal with it. think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work SKILL: Institute’s Mind in the Making at Children learn about Taking on Challenges through examples and role models. www.mindinthemaking.org. Horton Hears a Who! By Dr. Seuss The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Horton the elephant may Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges be large, but he cares Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on deeply about those who challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school are not—even organisms and in life. that are too small to see. Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges In this Dr. Seuss classic, Horton struggles to protect his tiny friends TIP: from harm. Ask your child: After all, “a • “How does Horton feel when no one believes that there are small person’s a persons on a speck of dust? How does he cope with his feelings?” person, no matter how SKILL: small.” Taking on Challenges elicits many different emotions and presents opportunities for children to learn to manage them. High-quality books and educational resources from First TIP: Book supporting research-based Ask your child: Life Skills from Mind in the • “What does Horton do to try to save Who-ville? How does he deal Making by with the taunting and actions of others who endanger Who-ville; the Ellen Galinsky exhausting journey in following the black-bottomed bird that ‘tattered his toenails and battered his bones;’ the search in the patch of clovers Find more books and materials on ‘a hundred miles wide;’ and his own capture? What keeps him going?” the First Book Marketplace,a Ask your child what would keep him or her going if your child was in resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving Horton’s place. children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. Taking on Challenges involves finding ways to deal with You will notice that these tips promote challenging situations. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive TIP: Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, Ask the children if they find the refrain in this book (“A person’s a involves a back and forth conversation person, no matter how small”) inspiring? Can they think of another time between you and your child where when “special words” helped them or others respond to challenge? you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to What were those words? promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills SKILL: you use to manage your attention, Having a goal is important to Taking on Challenges. Executive your feelings, your thoughts and your Function skills are driven by goals. You can talk with your child about behavior to reach your goals. how important it is to Horton to save Who-ville. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Horton Hears a Who! By Dr. Seuss The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Horton the elephant may Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges be large, but he cares Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on deeply about those who challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in school are not—even organisms and in life. that are too small to see. In this Dr. Seuss classic, Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges Horton struggles to protect his tiny friends TIP: from harm. Ask the children how they feel about these different characters in the After all, “a book and what they learned from them. person’s a person, no SKILL: matter how Children learn about Taking on Challenges through role models. This small.” story can serve as a role model—Horton is a role model. So is the Mayor. And so is the smallest person in Who-ville, Jo-Jo, who is first High-quality books and described as a shirker, but comes through in the end. You are a role educational resources from First model, too. You can share a story about something that was Book supporting research-based challenging to you and the strategies you used to deal with it. Life Skills from Mind in the TIP: Making by Ellen Galinsky You can ask your child: • “What did Horton do when the bird said he would fail?” Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a • “What did Horton do when he was caged?” resource available exclusively to SKILL: educators and programs serving children in need. Taking on Challenges requires what has been called a growth www.fbmarketplace.org. mindset by researchers. This means that we believe we can continue to learn and can tackle difficult situations. This can be You will notice that these tips promote promoted by praising children’s effort and strategies, not their two child development principles: personalities. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Pointing out specific actions helps children see that believing in Serve and Return, like game of ball, yourself can be a source of strength in Taking on Challenges. involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 The Empty Pot By Demi
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In a kingdom where everyone Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges loved flowers, the Emperor was very old and had to choose Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on a successor. He issued a challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in proclamation to the children of school and in life. the land. He would give each of them a flower seed and, “whoever can show me their best in a Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges year’s time, will succeed me to the throne.” Ping worked hard, but despite his usual skill with flowers, nothing grew. Sadly, he Tip: had to face the Emperor with an empty pot. Even though Ping is an experienced gardener, he cannot seem to get the This beautifully seed to grow. Talk with your child about all the different things Ping did to illustrated try to make the seed grow. book is both charming and inspirational. Skill:
Facing challenges, like the Emperor’s Proclamation, requires putting in High-quality books and effort and trying different strategies. This back and forth conversation educational resources from First with your child is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a Book supporting research-based game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other Life Skills from Mind in the Making responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to by Ellen Galinsky brain building is a key finding from child development research. Find more books Tip: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Ping was ashamed to bring the empty pot to the Emperor. His father available exclusively to said, “You did your best and your best is good enough to present to the educators and programs Emperor.” Even with his Father’s support, he hung his head in shame serving children in need. when facing the Emperor. Ask your child: www.fbmarketplace.org.
• “Can you think of a time when you tried hard, but you didn’t achieve You will notice that these tips promote the results you wanted. What helped you?” two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Share a story of an experience of yours that where you didn’t achieve Function skills. what you wanted but others helped you deal with it. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Skill: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Taking on Challenges includes having people who believe in you and Executive Function skills are skills support you. When you share your stories you are helping your child you use to manage your attention, understand that asking for and accepting help is a part of being able to your feelings, your thoughts and your Take on Challenges. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 The Empty Pot By Demi
The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In a kingdom where everyone Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges loved flowers, the Emperor was very old and had to choose Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on a successor. He issued a challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in proclamation to the children of school and in life. the land. He would give each of them a flower seed and, “whoever can show me their best in a Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges year’s time, will succeed me to the throne.” Ping worked hard, but despite his usual skill with flowers, nothing grew. Sadly, he Tip: had to face the Emperor with an empty pot. The result of this contest was unexpected because Ping was honest. He This beautifully didn’t know the Emperor was testing the children’s character by giving illustrated them seeds that had been cooked and wouldn’t grow. book is both charming and inspirational. Ask your child:
• “Why is it important to tell the truth?” High-quality books and educational resources from First Book supporting research-based Skill: Life Skills from Mind in the Making Taking on Challenges requires courage; telling the truth is a courageous by Ellen Galinsky thing to do. Find more books Note: You will enjoy looking carefully at the illustrations in this book and and materials on the First talking with your child about what they tell you about life in that long-ago Book Marketplace, a resource Chinese kingdom. available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Jingle Dancer By Cynthia Leitich Smith The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this prize-winning book, Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges Jenna daydreams of dancing Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on in the upcoming powwow— challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in an important tradition in her school and in life. family—but she doesn’t have jingles on her skirt and there isn’t enough time to order Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges them. Jenna has an idea and turns to four women who are important to Tip: her to help. A heartwarming Jenna turns to four women for help in finding jingles for her dress so she story that shares can dance. She doesn’t want to take so many jingles that each of the contemporary woman’s “voice isn’t heard” but just enough to make one row from each. life and Native Ask your child: American tradition. • “What do you think of Jenna’s solution? Why did it work for Jenna and for each of the four women?” High-quality books and • “What might have happened if Jenna had asked one of the woman for educational resources from First all of the jingles she needed?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Mind in the Making Skill: by Ellen Galinsky
One of the most effective way of problem solving and Taking on Find more books Challenges is finding solutions that work for all involved. This back and materials on the First and forth conversation you have with your child is what researchers Book Marketplace, a resource call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does available exclusively to something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of educators and programs these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child serving children in need. development research. www.fbmarketplace.org.
Tip: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: When Jenna took jingles for each of the women, she told them that she Serve and Return and Executive would dance for them. In addition, In Jenna’s Muscogee culture, it is Function skills. common for a family to honor a new dancer by “small giveaways,” gifts to Serve and Return, like game of others (not to the new dancer) in her honor. The Author states in the back of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your the book that these giveaways are meant to show humility. Ask your child: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or • “What do you think of these ideas of giving back?” does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Skill: your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. Taking on a challenge generally involves the support of others. In They include being able to pay Jenna’s culture, there is a giveaway tradition of doing things for others attention, remember information, think in return. This calls for self control, an Executive Function skill. flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Jingle Dancer By Cynthia Leitich Smith The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this prize-winning book, Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges Jenna daydreams of dancing Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on in the upcoming powwow— challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in an important tradition in her school and in life. family—but she doesn’t have jingles on her skirt and there isn’t enough time to order Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges them. Jenna has an idea and turns to four women who are important to Tip: her to help. A heartwarming There are many references to the Muscogee culture in the book. Ask story that shares your child to pick out some of them. You can also note them too, such as contemporary the way the times of day and night are described or the importance of the life and Native number four: Jenna needed four rows of jingles and went to four women American to help. This number is seen as sacred, representing four seasons, four tradition. directions, four colors of people, four stages of life. High-quality books and Ask your child: educational resources from First Book supporting research-based • “How were Jenna’s traditions and cultures important to her in solving Life Skills from her problem” Mind in the Making Skill: by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Support for Taking on Challenges comes not just from family and friends and materials on the First but from culture and tradition. Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to educators and programs serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH By Robert C. O’Brien The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this prize-winning book, Mrs. Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges Frisby, a widowed mouse, has to Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on move her family or face almost challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in certain when field where they live school and in life. in the winter is plowed but one child is too sick to move. To save her family, she visits a wise mouse Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges with medicinal potions, flies on the back of a crow, and puts sleeping power in the bowl of a dangerous Tip: cat. She is aided in her escape by Mrs. Frisby does a number of very scary things to save her family. Talk highly intelligent with your child about who and what helped her, asking: rats—escapees from experiments at • “What did Mrs. Frisby do to face her feat and have the courage to NIMH—and she, in go visit Mr. Ages, to fly on the back of a crow, to visit an owl as in the turn, helps them. darkness of his tree home, to find the rats of NIMH, and to put sleeping powder into the cat Dragon’s dish?” High-quality books and • “Think about a time when you tried something that was scary. What educational resources from First helped you do it?” Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Mind in the Making Skill: by Ellen Galinsky
Mrs. Frisby did more that cope with stress—she proactively took on Find more books things that scared her. This story can inspire your child to think about and materials on the First his or her own strategies for the skill of Taking on Challenges, a skill that Book Marketplace, a resource calls on Executive Functions of the brain. available exclusively to educators and programs Tip: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. When Mrs. Frisby was upset, she remembered something her husband had once said to her: “All doors are hard to unlock until you have the key.” You will notice that these tips promote Ask your child, two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “What do you think that Mr. Frisby meant by this saying? What did Mrs. Function skills. Frisby have to figure out in order to save her family?” Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your Skill: child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Taking on Challenges involves problem solving. This back and forth does to promote learning. conversation you have with your child about problem solving is what Executive Function skills are skills researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says you use to manage your attention, or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The impor- your feelings, your thoughts and your tance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from behavior to reach your goals. child development research. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH By Robert C. O’Brien The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this prize-winning book, Mrs. Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges Frisby, a widowed mouse, has to Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on move her family or face almost challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in certain when field where they live school and in life. in the winter is plowed but one child is too sick to move. To save her family, she visits a wise mouse Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges with medicinal potions, flies on the back of a crow, and puts sleeping power in the bowl of a dangerous Tip: cat. She is aided Mrs. Frisby was able to get help from others because she or her husband in her escape by highly intelligent had helped them? She freed the crow, who then helped her fly, for exam- rats—escapees ple. What other ways did Mrs. or Mr. Frisby help others, who, turn, helped from experiments at her? On the other hand, the rats—who had been helped by Mr. Frisby— NIMH—and she, in did nothing to help Mrs. Frisby until she came to them. turn, helps them.
Skill: High-quality books and educational resources from First It usually takes the support and help of others to try difficult things. But Book supporting research-based receiving help often comes from those you have helped. It is important for Life Skills from children to understand the role that giving and receiving help can play in taking on challenges. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Tip: Find more books and materials on the First Most of the rats want to leave the comfortable life they have created Book Marketplace, a resource under the famer’s rosebush because they don’t want to live by stealing available exclusively to anymore—a realization they came to when they were at NIMH. Yet, one educators and programs of the rats Danner asks, “What is stealing: “Is it stealing when farmers serving children in need. take milk from cows, or eggs from chickens?” Ask your child: www.fbmarketplace.org. • “When you do think the rats were stealing? Where they stealing when they took garbage from the markets, tools from the Toy Tinker’s truck, You will notice that these tips promote or supplies and food from the famer and his family?” two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Skill: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth This book raises complex moral issues, which are important to discuss conversation between you and your with your child, especially as you help your child decide what is morally child where you listen, then build on behavior in Taking on Challenges. and extend what your child says or acceptable does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Stone Fox By John Reynolds Gardiner The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Stone Fox retells the legend of Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges 10-year old Willy who wants to Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on save the family farm because challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in his elderly grandfather is ill but owes $500 in back taxes. school and in life. Willy decides to take a risk and use his college savings to Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges enter a dog sled race, with his beloved dog Searchlight, to win the money he needs, Tip: but he has to compete Talk with your child about Willy’s goals in entering the race. You can point against Stone out how important it is to him to save his grandfather’s life and keep their Fox who has never lost a farm, His grandfather has always said, “Where there’s a will there is a race. way.” Talk about what Willy’s will was and how it helped him persevere. Skill: High-quality books and Life is full of stresses and challenges, but Willy has unusual educational resources from First responsibilities for a 10-year-old. Yet rather than give up or cope, he Book supporting research-based proactively tries something risky—entering the race and competing Life Skills from against Stone Fox an adult champion racer—because so much depends Mind in the Making on his winning. by Ellen Galinsky
Find more books Tip: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Everyone told Willy, “Sell the farm. That is the only answer.” he felt available exclusively to discouraged, but still told Searchlight, “We’ll do it, girl. You and me. We’ll educators and programs find a way.” He kept looking for solutions. Finally, the people who told him serving children in need. to sell the farm begin to support him, saying “win that race tomorrow.” Ask www.fbmarketplace.org. your child>
• “How much did having the support of others matter to Willy?” You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Skill: Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Relationships and support are important when in Taking on ball, involves a back and forth Challenges. This back and forth conversation you have about support is conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you and extend what your child says or says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The does to promote learning. importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding Executive Function skills are skills from child development research. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Stone Fox By John Reynolds Gardiner The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Stone Fox retells the legend of Executive Function Life Skill: Taking on Challenges 10-year old Willy who wants to Life is full of stresses and challenges. Children who are willing to take on save the family farm because challenges (instead of avoiding them or simply coping with them) do better in his elderly grandfather is ill but owes $500 in back taxes. school and in life. Willy decides to take a risk and use his college savings to Suggestions for Promoting Taking on Challenges enter a dog sled race, with his beloved dog Searchlight, to win the money he needs, Tip: but he has to compete Willy felt like a winner before the race even though the odds were against against Stone him, especially since his opponent Stone Fox had never lost a race. Fox who has never lost a Ask your child how Willy’s feelings of being a winner—as well as his race. knowledge and experience with the route and skill in racing—helped him during the race.
Skill: High-quality books and educational resources from First Taking on Challenges includes knowledge, skill and practice but Book supporting research-based mindsets matter too, including believing in oneself. As Willy tells Life Skills from Stone Fox, even after he has slapped him for trespassing into his barn, “I Mind in the Making gotta win. If I don’t, they’re gonna take away our farm. So I will. I will win.” by Ellen Galinsky These all call on Executive Functions, which are driven by hard work toward goals. Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to educators and programs Right before the finish line—with Stone Fox right behind Willy and serving children in need. Searchlight, Searchlight suddenly dies. Stone Fox stops the other racers www.fbmarketplace.org. and waits for Willy to carry Searchlight over the finish line so they win.Yet Stone Fox was also racing for a noble cause—to buy back the land that was stolen from Native Americans. Ask your child: You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “How did you feel when Searchlight died?” Function skills. • “Some say that both Willy and Stone Fox were winners because they Serve and Return, like game of each did the right thing. What do you think of this idea? What would ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your you have done if you were Stone Fox?” child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or Skill: does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, When you talk with children about their feelings and about how the your feelings, your thoughts and your situation felt to different characters in the story, you are helping them to behavior to reach your goals. see others’ points of view and to think of how they might face their They include being able to pay own challenges in the future. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
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SELF-DIRECTED, ENGAGED LEARNING
From Head to Toe By Eric Carle The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This wonderful interactive Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed Engaged Learning book gets children up and It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can moving as they imitate the we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. motions of favorite animals • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. and respond to “Can you do • Help children set and work toward their own goals. it?” with “I can do it!” They’ll • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. stomp, • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. bend, • Help children become increasingly accountable. wiggle and • Create a community of learners. giggle their way to Suggestions for Promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning greater health and confidence. TIP: When reading this book, try each movement with your child. For example, when you and your child turn your heads, ask your child if High-quality books and she or he can turn to one side and then the other. Or, you can ask educational resources from First your child to suggest other movements for you to imitate. Book supporting research-based Life Skills from SKILL: Mind in the Studies show that children are most likely to remember what Making by they’ve learned when they have first-hand experiences—not by Ellen Galinsky listening. This back and forth interaction is what researchers call Find more books and materials on “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does the First Book Marketplace,a something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The resource available exclusively to importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key educators and programs serving finding from child development research. children in need. TIP: www.fbmarketplace.org. From Head to Toe offers many things to do together that are joyful You will notice that these tips promote and that promote skills. two child development principles: Executive Function Serve and Return and Executive SKILL: Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, Involving children socially, emotionally and intellectually involves a back and forth conversation happens when children are having fun. between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Where’s Spot? By Eric Hill The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Spot is a curious puppy, Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed Engaged Learning eager to explore his world. It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can Young children can lift the we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. flap on each page to find • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. Spot, learning new descrip- • Help children set and work toward their own goals. tions and hiding places as • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. they turn the pages. • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. • Help children become increasingly accountable. • Create a community of learners.
Suggestions for Promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning
TIP: This fun-filled book of lifting flaps that reveal surprising animals hiding in everyday places is all based on the goal of finding Spot. High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based One of the principles of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning Life Skills from is helping children set and then work toward goals. Executive Mind in the Function skills are driven by goals. Making by Ellen Galinsky TIP: Find more books and materials on You can play a similar game with your child, saying: “Where are the First Book Marketplace,a you? There you are!” As your child gets older, you can make the resource available exclusively to game more difficult. educators and programs serving children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. Another principle of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is to elaborate and extend what children do. Where’s Spot? is based You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: on the game of hide and seek. The saying: “Where are you? There Serve and Return and Executive you are!” interaction is what researchers call “serve and return.” Function skills. Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) Serve and Return, like game of ball, and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development you listen, then build on and extend research. what your child says or does to promote learning. TIP: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, This book is about a trustworthy relationship—a mother dog your feelings, your thoughts and your searching for her puppy to make sure he eats dinner. You can talk behavior to reach your goals. about all of the ways that families take care of their babies. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. SKILL: Find more about Families and Work Another principle of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is Institute’s Mind in the Making at establishing a trustworthy relationship with your child. www.mindinthemaking.org. I Can Do It Too! By Karen Baicker The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs I Can Do It Too! shares a child’s Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning joy in being able to do things It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can that her family members can we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. do—like pour juice, get dressed and kiss “ouches” goodbye. It is • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. a tribute to what it feels like to • Help children set and work toward their own goals. become more independent. • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. • Help children become increasingly accountable. • Create a community of learners. Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning
Tip: Play along with your child, going back and forth, as you read the book, copying the actions in the book. High-quality books and educational resources from First Skill: Book supporting research-based Self-Directed, Engaged Learning is built upon trustworthy relationships and Life Skills from positive interactions. Even if your child is too young to do the actions that the Mind in the Making book describes, you can point out what she or he can do. by Ellen Galinsky Tip: Find more books and materials on the First Add new actions to the story. For example, you can say to your child: Book Marketplace, a resource • “I can touch my nose. Can you?” available exclusively to Once your child touches his or her nose, then respond by saying, “You can do it educators and programs too!” Continue with more actions and ask your child to suggest things for you to serving children in need. do that he or she copies. www.fbmarketplace.org.
Skill: You will notice that these tips promote Self-Directed, Engaged Learning includes elaborating and extending on what two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Pay attention to what your child is most interested in and can do. children do. Function skills. Include those in the back and forth actions you create, based on this story. This interaction is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). conversation between you and your The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding child where you listen, then build on from child development research. and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Tip: Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Look for something in the book that your child would like to learn. You can your feelings, your thoughts and your practice it with him or her and use the encouraging words from the book. behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay Skill: attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Self-Directed, Engaged Learning is promoted when we help children practice what they know and work toward new goals. Executive Function skills are Find more about Families and Work driven by goals. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. My Five Senses By Aliki The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Aliki explains the human Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed Engaged Learning body’s five senses in this It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can picture book with sparse text we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. and gentle illustrations. • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. Caregivers can appreciate • Help children set and work toward their own goals. the real world examples and • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. use of repetition to make • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. concepts clear. • Help children become increasingly accountable. • Create a community of learners.
Suggestions for Promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning
TIP: This book is a great way to teach children about bodies and how to become more aware of what’s around them. High-quality books and There are many opportunities to involve your child with the activities in this educational resources from First book. When the child in the book says: “I see with my eyes,” you can ask: Book supporting research-based • “What is that child seeing? What do you see now?” Life Skills from Mind in the SKILL: Making by One of the principles of Self-Directed Engaged Learning is involving Ellen Galinsky children socially, emotionally and intellectually, which is likely to happen when children use many different senses. Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a TIP: resource available exclusively to You can ask your child what he or she most likes to smell, to taste, to see, educators and programs serving to hear and to touch. children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. SKILL: You will notice that these tips promote Another principle of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is to two child development principles: elaborate and extend what children do. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. TIP: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation As your child goes through his or her day—dressing, eating, playing, between you and your child where taking a bath, etc.—you can ask: you listen, then build on and extend • “How many senses are you using? Which ones?” what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills SKILL: you use to manage your attention, Still another principle of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is your feelings, your thoughts and your helping children practice, synthesize and generalize, thus using behavior to reach your goals. Executive Function skills.This back and forth conversation you have They include being able to pay attention, remember information, about this book is what researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game think flexibly and exercise self control. of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other Find more about Families and Work responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to Institute’s Mind in the Making at brain building is a key finding from child development research. www.mindinthemaking.org. The Snowy Day By Ezra Jack Keats The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In this endearing classic, a Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed Engaged Learning boy named Peter awakens It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can to find his world transformed we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. by snow. With sled in hand, • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. he sets out on his own to • Help children set and work toward their own goals. explore a winter wonder- • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. land. Children readily relate • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. to Peter's curiosity and • Help children become increasingly accountable. desire for independence. • Create a community of learners.
Suggestions for Promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning TIP: You can have a conversation with your child about Peter’s experiences and how he had fun on his own playing in the snow. Then elaborate and extend this discussion to your child’s life, asking: “What are some things you enjoy doing alone?” High-quality books and educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based Self-Directed Engaged Learning is self-directed! We don’t always have to interact with Life Skills from others or be entertained by technology. The Snowy Day is a great example. This back Mind in the and forth conversation you and your child have about this book is what researchers call Making by “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) Ellen Galinsky and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. Find more books and materials on the First Book Marketplace,a TIP: resource available exclusively to Peter’s goal is exploring the snow. educators and programs serving Ask your child: children in need. • “What are the many ways that Peter learns about the snow?” www.fbmarketplace.org. You can ask your child about something he or she would like to explore. You can also share an experience when you learned something through exploring. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive SKILL: Function skills. One of the principles of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is helping children Serve and Return, like game of ball, set and then work toward goals. Executive Function skills are driven by goals. involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where TIP: you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to Peter brings some snow into the house and then it disappears. promote learning. Ask your child: Executive Function skills are skills • “What happened to the snow in Peter’s pocket?” you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your You can set up an experiment to show your child what happens when we leave behavior to reach your goals. something icy in a warm house by putting an ice cube onto a wash cloth and They include being able to pay seeing what happens to it over time. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. SKILL: Find more about Families and Work By doing so, you are elaborating and extending what your child has learned Institute’s Mind in the Making at from the book, and thus strengthening your child’s learning. www.mindinthemaking.org. Press Here By Herve Tullet The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Press Here is an inventive Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning concept—an interactive It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can page-turner of a book where we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. the child’s actions lead to • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. changes in the patterns of • Help children set and work toward their own goals. dots on each page. • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. • Help children become increasingly accountable. • Create a community of learners. Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning Tip: You can make this book fun by following the directions either before or after your child, taking turns and learning from one another. High-quality books and educational resources from First Skill: Book supporting research-based Self-Directed, Engaged Learning is being involved socially, emotionally and Life Skills from intellectually. When you read the book with your child, taking turns, you are serving as a role model as a learner and involving him or her in ways that will promote Mind in the Making Executive Function skills. by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Tip: and materials on the First There are a number of puzzles in the book. Ask your child to guess what will happen Book Marketplace, a resource next. For example, you can say to your child: available exclusively to • “After rubbing the yellow dot on the left and it turns to red, what do you think will educators and programs happen when you rub the yellow dot to the right?” serving children in need. • “What do you think will happen when you tap on the dots five times?” www.fbmarketplace.org. • ”How can you figure out which dots have switched places?”You can give your child a hint by figuring out the pattern of dots two pages before. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Skill: Serve and Return and Executive skills. By helping your child ask and answer questions, you are promoting your child’s Function engagement in learning. This back and forth interaction is what researchers call Serve and Return, like game of “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) ball, involves a back and forth and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to conversation between you and your brain building is a key finding from child development research. child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Tip: Executive Function skills are skills As you read Press Here, talk about the concepts he or she may not know or may you use to manage your attention, not know yet, like left and right. Give your child hints on how to remember these your feelings, your thoughts and your concepts, such as: “Make an L with your finger and thumb on your left hand,” or “You behavior to reach your goals. write with your right hand.” They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think Skill: flexibly and exercise self control. Helping your child elaborate and extend what he or she knows and transfer this Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at knowledge to new situations are fundamental to learning. www.mindinthemaking.org. Miss Rumphius By Barbara Cooney The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This is a story that spans the Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning generations, beginning with a It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can child named Alice Rumphius we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. who wants to live like her grandfather—going to faraway • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. • Help children set and work toward their own goals. places and living by the sea. • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. Her grandfather tells her there • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. is a third thing she must do: • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. make the world more beautiful. • Help children become increasingly accountable. Following in her great aunt’s • Create a community of learners. footsteps, little Alice has similar Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning dreams. Tip: Ask your child: High-quality books and • “What can we do to make the world more beautiful?” educational resources from First Book supporting research-based His or her ideas don’t have to be planting flowers like in Miss Rumphius. For example, you can suggest that smiling or laughing can make the Life Skills from world more beautiful. Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky Skill: Find more books and materials on the First Self-Directed, Engaged Learning involves helping children apply Book Marketplace, a resource knowledge. When you ask your child to apply the ideas in the book to available exclusively to his or her own life in new ways, you are promoting this skill. This back educators and programs and forth conversation you have with your child about the book is what serving children in need. researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you www.fbmarketplace.org. says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Tip: Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of Miss Rumphius had goals—to see the world and to live by the sea. Ask ball, involves a back and forth your child to think of a goal that matters to him or her now. Ask your conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on child to begin to make plans to achieve that goal. In a back and forth and extend what your child says or conversation, you can also share a story of a goal you had and how you does to promote learning. made it come true. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Skill: behavior to reach your goals. One of the key principles of promoting Self-Directed, Engaged Learning They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think is to help children set and then be accountable for goals. Executive flexibly and exercise self control. Function skills are driven by goals. Sharing your own stories is another Find more about Families and Work way to help your child understand the importance of goals. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Miss Rumphius By Barbara Cooney The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This is a story that spans the Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning generations, beginning with a It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can child named Alice Rumphius we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. who wants to live like her grandfather—going to faraway • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. • Help children set and work toward their own goals. places and living by the sea. • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. Her grandfather tells her there • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. is a third thing she must do: • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. make the world more beautiful. • Help children become increasingly accountable. Following in her great aunt’s • Create a community of learners. footsteps, little Alice has similar Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning dreams. Tip: You can ask your child: High-quality books and • “Have you thought about a faraway place you would like to visit?” educational resources from First Book supporting research-based • “Have you seen a picture of that place? What did you like about it?“ Life Skills from • “What do you think it would be like to visit or live there?” Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky See if you find additional information about that place in a book or on the Internet? What can you learn about this place together with your child? Find more books and materials on the First Skill: Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Self-Directed, Engaged Learning includes using your imagination. It educators and programs also involves elaborating and extending children’s learning. When you serving children in need. encourage children to want to know more, you are helping them become www.fbmarketplace.org. learners for life. You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Lemonade in Winter By Emily Jenkins The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Two siblings are determined Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed Engaged Learning to set up a lemonade stand It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can … in the middle of winter. we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. Their determination and • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. willingness to do the math • Help children set and work toward their own goals. and the leg-work involved • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. (and to brave the elements!) • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. pays off as • Help children become increasingly accountable. they realize • Create a community of learners. their lemonade Suggestions for Promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning stand dream. TIP: Pauline and her little brother John-John have a goal to have a lemon-limeade stand, even though it’s winter. Nothing stops them from working toward their goal—including their parents’ warnings that nobody will want cold drinks in the middle of winter. High-quality books and educational resources from First Ask your child how important it is to have goals, even goals that other people say Book supporting research-based are undoable. Have them think about their other experiences as well as the story in this book. Life Skills from Mind in the SKILL: Making by One of the principles of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is helping children Ellen Galinsky set and then work toward goals. Executive Function skills are driven by goals. Find more books and materials on TIP: the First Book Marketplace,a When the children don’t sell much, they come up with many new marketing resource available exclusively to ideas. Ask your child what else might Pauline and John-John have done to sell educators and programs serving their lemon-limeade. children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. Another principle of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is to elaborate You will notice that these tips promote and extend what children do. two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive TIP: Function skills. Ask your child: Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth conversation • “What did Pauline and John-John learn about money from this experience?” between you and your child where Include how much they spent and how much they earned. you listen, then build on and extend what your child says or does to SKILL: promote learning. Still another principle of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is helping Executive Function skills are skills children practice, synthesize and generalize. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your TIP: behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay You can share a story or ask your child to share a story about a time he or she attention, remember information, had fun and worked well with someone else. think flexibly and exercise self control. SKILL: Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at The brother and sister created their own learning community by working www.mindinthemaking.org. together and learning from each other. Dinosaurs Before Dark By Mary Pope Osborne The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs In the first book of the Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed Engaged Learning popular Magic Tree House It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can series, siblings Jack and we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. Annie discover a book that • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. can take them to other • Help children set and work toward their own goals. places and times—in this • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. case, to the time of the • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. dinosaurs—where they learn • Help children become increasingly accountable. about science • Create a community of learners. and history through their Suggestions for Promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning adventures. TIP: While reading this book with your child, you can ask questions about what the children are experiencing. For example, you can ask: • “How do you think the characters are ‘seeing’ the Pteranodon fly? Does High-quality books and imagining help you when you are reading books?” educational resources from First SKILL: Book supporting research-based One of the principles of Self-Directed Engaged Learning is involving children Life Skills from socially, emotionally and intellectually. Books can create an imaginary world Mind in the where you are fully engaged. Making by Ellen Galinsky TIP: Ask your child: Find more books and materials on • “How are Jack and Annie learning about the prehistoric world? How do they the First Book Marketplace,a use a book, their own experiences and their past knowledge? How do they resource available exclusively to figure out how to survive the Tyrannosaurus Rex? How do they discover how educators and programs serving to get home again?” children in need. SKILL: www.fbmarketplace.org. One of the principles of promoting Self-Directed Engaged Learning is the You will notice that these tips promote importance of elaborating and extending knowledge. As you help your child two child development principles: understand the process of problem solving, you are promoting their Executive Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Function skills. Serve and Return, like game of ball, TIP: involves a back and forth conversation Ask your child if he or she thinks Dinosaurs Before Dark is a good story. Why or between you and your child where you listen, then build on and extend why not? Ask him or her to think about what makes a story really good. what your child says or does to SKILL: promote learning. skills are skills Storytelling is a good way to help children learn. Executive Function you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your TIP: behavior to reach your goals. You can ask your child about something he or she loved learning and what your They include being able to pay child wants to learn next. attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. SKILL: Find more about Families and Work Truly engaged learning is self-directed. When Jack and Annie say they can’t wait to Institute’s Mind in the Making at go back in the woods to see what happens next, it shows how involved they are. www.mindinthemaking.org. Mr. George Baker By Amy Hest The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This book tells the story of a Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning friendship between Mr. George It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can Baker and his young neighbor, Harry. Harry thinks George is “a hundred we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. years old, no kidding.” He can’t • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. read, but George says, “That must • Help children set and work toward their own goals. be corrected.” They wait together • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. on Mr. Baker’s steps for the school • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. bus, and we learn more about • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. Mr. Baker, including the fact that • Help children become increasingly accountable. he is a “drummer man, and some • Create a community of learners. people say he’s famous.” They go to school together, where Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning each learns to read, and, though “it’s hard,” George believes “we Tip: can do it.” You can ask your child about the relationship between Mr. Baker and Harry: High-quality books and educational resources from First • “Why do you think they are friends? What do they have in common? Book supporting research-based How are they different?” Life Skills from • “Do you have someone special who makes you feel excited Mind in the Making about learning?” by Ellen Galinsky Find more books Skill: and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Learning is furthered through trustworthy relationships, which available exclusively to Harry and George certainly have, even though they are from different educators and programs generations and backgrounds. When you discuss this friendship with serving children in need. your child, you are helping him or her understand the importance of www.fbmarketplace.org. relationships to learning.
You will notice that these tips promote Tip: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Ask your child to think about how Mr. Baker may have felt in going to Function skills. school and learning to read at his age. Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth For example, say to your child: conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on • “Mr. Baker says that not knowing how to read is something that must and extend what your child says or be corrected. Do you think his attitude helps him learn to read? What does to promote learning. helps you deal with learning something that is hard?” Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, • “Mr. Baker is a drummer. When he sounds out the letters, his fingers fly your feelings, your thoughts and your across his knees. Do you think that drumming helps him read? What behavior to reach your goals. helps you learn to read?” They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 Mr. George Baker By Amy Hest The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs This book tells the story of a Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning friendship between Mr. George It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can Baker and his young neighbor, Harry. Harry thinks George is “a hundred we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. years old, no kidding.” He can’t • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. read, but George says, “That must • Help children set and work toward their own goals. be corrected.” They wait together • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. on Mr. Baker’s steps for the school • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. bus, and we learn more about • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. Mr. Baker, including the fact that • Help children become increasingly accountable. he is a “drummer man, and some • Create a community of learners. people say he’s famous.” They go to school together, where Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning each learns to read, and, though “it’s hard,” George believes “we Skill: can do it.” Learning involves challenges. When you help your child think about High-quality books and how the characters in the story deal with challenges and relate that educational resources from First understanding to his or her own experiences, you are promoting both Book supporting research-based attitudes and skills that will help your child address other learning Life Skills from challenges in the future. This back and forth interaction is what Mind in the Making researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The by Ellen Galinsky importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding Find more books from child development research. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource Tip: available exclusively to educators and programs Mr. Baker has a learning goal—learning to read. You can share a story serving children in need. about a goal you once had in learning something new. Your experiences www.fbmarketplace.org. will be inspiring for your child.
You will notice that these tips promote Skill: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Self-Directed, Engaged Learning includes helping children set goals, Function skills. work toward those goals and be accountable for achieving those Serve and Return, like game of goals. Executive Function skills are driven by goals. When you share ball, involves a back and forth your experiences about your own goal-setting, you are, in a real sense, conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on creating a learning community with your child. and extend what your child says or does to promote learning. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 2 Home at Last By Susan Middleton Elya The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Ana Patino’s family moved to Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning the United States from Mexico when she was eight and her twin It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can brothers were babies. Papa goes we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. to work at a canning factory; and • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. Ana goes to school, where she is • Help children set and work toward their own goals. one of two non-English speaking • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. students. Her mother runs into • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. problems because she does not • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. speak English. Ana suggests • Help children become increasingly accountable. her mother • Create a community of learners. could learn English, but her mother says it’s Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning impossible, until she finally agrees Tip: to try. Ask your child how it feels not to understand what others are saying— High-quality books and have your child recall an experience when this happened to him or her. educational resources from First Then talk with your child about why it was meaningful for the Patino family Book supporting research-based to learn English. Life Skills from Mind in the Making Skill: by Ellen Galinsky Self-Directed, Engaged Learning is working toward relevant and Find more books meaningful goals. Executive Function skills are driven by goals. and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource available exclusively to Tip: educators and programs Ask your child to recall an experience when he or she had to learn serving children in need. something that was hard. What helped him or her do this? www.fbmarketplace.org.
You will notice that these tips promote Skill: two child development principles: Learning involves dealing with challenges. When you help your child Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. relate the story to personal experience with overcoming challenges, Serve and Return, like game of you are promoting both attitudes and skills that will help your child ball, involves a back and forth address other learning challenges in the future. This back and forth conversation between you and your conversation you have with your child about this book is what researchers child where you listen, then build on call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does and extend what your child says or something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of does to promote learning. these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding from child Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, development research. your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. Rickshaw Girl By Mitali Perkins The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs Rickshaw Girl is the contemporary story of a young Bangladeshi, Naima, Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning who excels at painting traditional It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can alpana patterns, but chafes under we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. societal dos and don’t for girls. “If only I HAD been born a boy,” she thinks, • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. because then she could earn some • Help children set and work toward their own goals. money to help her struggling family. • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. First, she dreams of helping her father • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. drive his rickshaw, but she crashes it on a test drive. Then, desperate • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. to help her father afford the repairs, • Help children become increasingly accountable. she disguises herself as a boy and • Create a community of learners. goes out to find the repair shop to see if she can trade her skill in painting in exchange for the Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning rickshaw repairs. There a whole new world of possibilities for girls Tip: and women opens up. Naima wanted to do things that boys in her village could do but weren’t High-quality books and acceptable for girls, like making money to help her family and drive a rickshaw. educational resources from First But Naima begins to find that change is coming. As the woman owner of the Book supporting research-based repair shop tells Naima, “Things are changing whether people around here like it or not. These days a woman who wants to start her own business can borrow Life Skills from money from our women’s bank. We decided to put our money together and help Mind in the Making each other.” by Ellen Galinsky
Ask your child: Find more books • “Can you think of a time when you wanted to do something that wasn’t and materials on the First accepted practice? How did that feel?” Book Marketplace, a resource Tell your child about some of the things that weren’t accepted practice when you available exclusively to were growing up and that you helped change. educators and programs serving children in need. Skill: www.fbmarketplace.org. Self-Directed, Engaged Learning is furthered when children and adults have meaningful goals of their own that they pursue. Executive Function skills You will notice that these tips promote two child development principles: are driven by goals. Serve and Return and Executive Function skills. Tip: Serve and Return, like game of Naima was an artist. Eventually, she was able to use this strength to learn new ball, involves a back and forth conversation between you and your skills to make money and repair the rickshaw she crashed by helping a new child where you listen, then build on woman business owner paint damaged rickshaws. You can talk with your child and extend what your child says or about his or her strengths and how your child can use these strengths to learn does to promote learning. more and achieve goals. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, Skill: your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. Self Directed, Engaged Learning includes building on individual strengths. They include being able to pay This back and forth conversation you have about this book is what researchers attention, remember information, think call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you says or does something flexibly and exercise self control. (serves) and the other responds (returns). The importance of these everyday Find more about Families and Work interactions to brain building is a key finding from child development research. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org. The View from Saturday The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By E. L. Konigsburg Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can The prize-winning book, The View from Saturday is about the journeys of we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. four children to become a group they • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. call The Souls. They are, somewhat • Help children set and work toward their own goals. unexpectedly, chosen by their sixth grade teacher to compete in the • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. Academic Bowl team against seventh • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. and eight graders. Their teacher, Mrs. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. Olinski was often asked why she • Help children become increasingly accountable. had chosen these four • Create a community of learners. children, and she didn’t have a good answer. The book is about her Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning journey too—a journey of returning to teaching after a crippling car accident ten years Tip: earlier. Ask your child to talk about what each of the children in the book— Noah, Ethan, Nadia and Julian—was particularly good at. How did High-quality books and these strengths help them become a team that worked and learned educational resources from First well together? Book supporting research-based Life Skills from You can make a list with your child about his or her strengths. You can Mind in the Making also talk about how these strengths may be used to work toward goals. by Ellen Galinsky Skill: Find more books and materials on the First Children are more likely to be engaged learners if the learning builds Book Marketplace, a resource on their strengths. available exclusively to educators and programs Tip: serving children in need. www.fbmarketplace.org. Julian’s father says, “The Souls have all returned from a journey.” He goes on to say each of the children found something on their journeys. You will notice that these tips promote Ask your child: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive • “What do you think Julian’s father means by that statement? What did Function skills. each of the children find?” Serve and Return, like game of ball, involves a back and forth • “How did these journeys lead them to become friends?” conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on You can talk about how finding things in common can help build and extend what your child says or trustworthy relationships. Ask your child what he or she looks for most in does to promote learning. a friend and why. Share your thoughts, too. Executive Function skills are skills you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your Skill: behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay Each of these children was involved in a meaningful personal learning attention, remember information, think journey—a journey that promoted their Executive Function skills. This flexibly and exercise self control. kind of deep learning is most likely when children can learn from people Find more about Families and Work whom they trust—both children and adults. Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
Page 1 The View from Saturday The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs By E. L. Konigsburg Executive Function Life Skill: Self-Directed, Engaged Learning It is through learning that we can realize our potential. As the world changes, so can The prize-winning book, The View we, for as long as we live—as long as we learn. from Saturday is about the journeys of four children to become a group they • Establish a trustworthy relationship with your child. call The Souls. They are, somewhat • Help children set and work toward their own goals. unexpectedly, chosen by their sixth • Involve children socially, emotionally and intellectually. grade teacher to compete in the • Elaborate and extend children’s learning. Academic Bowl team against seventh and eight graders. Their teacher, Mrs. • Help children practice, synthesize and generalize. Olinski was often asked why she • Help children become increasingly accountable. had chosen these four • Create a community of learners. children, and she didn’t have a good answer. The book is about her Suggestions for Self-Directed, Engaged Learning journey too—a journey of returning to teaching after a crippling car accident ten years Tip: earlier. The children could answer some of the questions asked in the Academic Bowl because they had had meaningful experiences where they had High-quality books and learned this information. For example, Nadia learned about the Sargasso educational resources from First Sea from rescuing turtles. Book supporting research-based Life Skills from Ask your child: Mind in the Making • “How do you learn best?” by Ellen Galinsky
• “Which question would you like to be asked in an Academic Bowl? Find more books Why?” and materials on the First Book Marketplace, a resource You can share a time when you learned something and then were able to available exclusively to use it. You can also ask: educators and programs serving children in need. • “What do you think Mrs. Olinski meant when she said, ‘… sometimes www.fbmarketplace.org. to be successful, you have to risk making mistakes?’ ”
You will notice that these tips promote Skill: two child development principles: Serve and Return and Executive Self-Directed, Engaged Learning is promoted through real experiences Function skills. and through opportunities to use the knowledge we have gained. It Serve and Return, like game of involves making mistakes and learning from them, too. This back and ball, involves a back and forth forth conversation you have with your child about this book is what conversation between you and your child where you listen, then build on researchers call “serve and return.” Like a game of ball, one of you and extend what your child says or says or does something (serves) and the other responds (returns). The does to promote learning. importance of these everyday interactions to brain building is a key finding Executive Function skills are skills from child development research. you use to manage your attention, your feelings, your thoughts and your behavior to reach your goals. They include being able to pay attention, remember information, think flexibly and exercise self control. Find more about Families and Work Institute’s Mind in the Making at www.mindinthemaking.org.
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