April 25, 2014 Kenneth Colangelo

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Photo by Vanessa Lenz

Photo by Vanessa Lenz

Tunxis Community College will host a talk by author and early childhood expert Ellen Galinsky on her book “Mind in the Making: Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs” (HarperCollins, 2010), on May 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Founders Hall. The talk is free and open to the public, and will include a book signing. The first 200 registrants will receive a free copy of Galinsky’s book. Light refreshments will be served. To reserve a seat, email [email protected].

How do you keep the fire for learning burning in children’s minds? Galinsky believes all children are born with a passion to learn but life experiences stifle that passion for far too many children in what she has identified as a gap in children’s engagement in learning. Galinsky will share the results of her journey in interviewing and filming the best research in child development, neuroscience, cognitive science, literacy, and children’s learning. Among her findings is the importance of promoting key life skills, all based on executive functions of the brain.

Galinsky is president and cofounder of the Families and Work Institute, a think tank that addresses the changing nature of work and family life. At the institute, she continues to conduct seminal research on the changing workforce and changing family. Her more than 40 books and reports include “Ask the Children: The Breakthrough Study That Reveals How to Succeed at Work and Parenting” and “The Six Stages of Parenthood.” She has received numerous honorary degrees and awards including the 2004 Distinguished Achievement Award from Vassar College. She served as the elected president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources in 2005. She holds a master’s degree in child development and education from Bank Street College of Education and a bachelor’s degree in child study from Vassar College. A popular keynote speaker, Galinsky was a presenter at the White House Conference on Child Care in 1997 and on Teenagers in 2000. She is featured regularly in the media, including appearances on Good Morning America, World News Tonight and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The talk is sponsored by the Tunxis Early Childhood Professional Educators’ Consortium, supported through a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s First Years First initiative.

Tunxis offers associate’s degrees in early childhood education and pathways to teaching careers, and certificates in early childhood education and early childhood administration. Tunxis is located at the junction of Routes 6 and 177 in Farmington. Visit the Tunxis website at tunxis.edu.