About Us
Keeping the fire for learning burning in all our eyes.
Key History
In 2000, MITM founder Ellen Galinsky began a research journey fueled by a question: how to keep the fire for learning — which every child is born with — lighting up the eyes of children? To answer the question, she reviewed more than 2,000 studies and conducted in-depth interviews with and filmed more than 130 leading researchers who study children’s development and learning.
From what she learned, Galinsky developed a framework of the 7 Essential Life Skills. The work grew into MITM, a national movement to share scientifically based research and strategies for promoting Life Skills, reaching millions of people in communities across the country, and counting.
Our Impact
For nearly two decades, MITM has helped transform groundbreaking research into practice to build essential life skills in children and adults.
Behind the Research
By taking cutting-edge research and applying the principles of engaged learning to adult learning, the Mind in the Making program helps adults peer deeper to better understand how children learn, what they need to learn and how adults can take simple, effective steps to promote this learning. Meet the researchers who vital scientific work informed MITM.
Meet Ellen Galinsky
A learning relationship with a child is a lifetime in the making.
Ellen Galinsky is President of Families and Work Institute and the elected President of the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN). She also serves as senior research advisor to AASA, the School Superintendent Organization. Previous jobs include Chief Science Officer at the Bezos Family Foundation and faculty at Bank Street College. Her research has focused on work-life, child and adolescent development, youth voice, child-care, parent-professional relationship, and parental development.
What are the 7 Essential Life Skills?
MITM’s 7 Essential Life Skills help adults understand and encourage important executive function-based skills children need to thrive.
Learn MoreWhat are the 7 Essential Life Skills?
MITM’s 7 Essential Life Skills help adults understand and encourage important executive function-based skills children need to thrive.
Learn More