It may well be the next iconic parenting manual, up there with Spock and Leach and Brazelton…

— Lisa Belkin, New York Times

Bedtime Battles

Featured article

March 07, 2010

A Parent's Perspective

Bedtime is always a battle these days. Analia usually finds any excuse to stay awake for “just a little bit” longer. After we’ve read a few books, I announce it’s time for “nighty-night.” She says, “We can read three more books and then I can go to bed—is that a great idea?” It’s late, I’m sleepy, and I grow increasingly frustrated with this game.

I’m in no way angry at her—how can I be angry at a daughter who wants to read more? But neither of us is getting to bed any earlier. So last night, when I announced we were on the final book for the night, the pouty lip made its usual appearance and she said, “But I want you to stay with me.” Using her own words, I said, “I know you want me to stay, but it’s bedtime. Tomorrow morning I’ll come into your room and we can read another book then. Is that a great idea?” This seems to work. Rather than getting into a drawn-out discussion, she turns her head on her pillow, I head off to my room, and, as promised, in the morning we read a little Green Eggs and Ham. I guess we both “won.”

Share your thoughts: What are some parenting dilemmas that you think can be solved with a little dose of perspective taking?

 "A Parent's Perspective"  excerpted from Mind in the Making: Seven Essential Skills that Every Child Needs.

Skill: Perspective Taking
| more

No Comments

Add Your Comment

Remember me.
Send me an email when someone responds.

Daily Kid



Here is a list of Mind in the Making researchers and educators filmed to date

Community Schools: “Mind in the Making and Community Schools: Crossing Boundaries and Creating Strong Linkages for Children Birth through Eight and their Families,” is a collaborative project with The Children’s Aid Society’s National Center for Community Schools and the Institute for Educational Leadership. (Read more)

Learning Communities: Throughout the country, groups of parents, educators, and other family support and health professionals have joined together to learn more about the research on children’s learning from birth through the early elementary school years, and about how to use this research to promote better outcomes for children. (Read more)

Learning Modules for Educators: Mind in the Making Learning Modules for Educators is an 11-part, facilitated learning process designed to bridge the gap between research and teaching practice. (Read more)

Seven Skills Modules: We have created new Modules from the book, called the Mind in the Making Seven Essential Skills Modules. (Read more)

Experiments in Children's Learning DVD: This two-volume series of 42 videos take viewers on a series of virtual “field trips” to laboratories in the U.S. and abroad. (Read more)
View a crosswalk of the experiments to the seven essential life skills

Download a companion Catalogue to Mind in the Making: Experiments in Children's Learning

Have you seen the Marshmallow Test?

What does eating marshmallows have to do with how your kid does on the SAT?
Watch the video

Ask a MITM team member to speak at your event.

The MITM staff is having conversations about Mind in the Making with audiences across the country. Click here to invite a team member to speak at your event.

Signup for email updates

Join our community for conversations with the field’s leading scientists, new information and research, and other special events.