Harvard takes Mind Matters into schools to great success
Families of young students are gaining the tools necessary to help them understand how their child’s brain is developing, a skill that can often help them give their children a leg up when it comes to learning. For the past six years, Harvard has offered the Mind Matters: Families Make a Difference program to schools in Cambridge and Boston. The initiative draws from cutting-edge research to give families practical skills and understanding related to early childhood development. With a particular focus on children aged 3 to 9, the program provides resources to support kids emotionally, socially, and academically. “Our goal is to give parents and caregivers the tools they need to enable their child to be prepared for school,” said Joan Matsalia, the associate director of Harvard’s Public School Partnerships. “Social and emotional skills are every bit as important as academic skills, and ensuring that parents are prepared, engaged, and supportive from the...