Mad for Reading: May 2020

Monday, May 4, 2020

Challenging Times

Things have changed. Everyone is adapting to a new normal. Parents and educators are trying to figure out how to best keep children engaged, calm, and open to learning. There are no easy answers.

Parents who normally try to limit "screen time" for their young children are struggling. As they juggle child care, work from home, and all the new and intense emotions that accompany a pandemic, this is a time to be flexible.

These are extreme times.

Choose the best options you can for your child. There are no easy answers. We are all in this together.

What I think . . .

There are all kinds of readers. Some—like my daughter and me—are never without a book to read for pleasure. Others—like my son—are careful, analytical, and curious readers who read primarily to seek information from the page.

No matter what kind of reader your child becomes, you can help him or her get started. After all, you are your child’s first teacher. And, best of all, you can have some fun in the process.

Please feel free to share your own ideas. Tell me about ways you've enjoyed reading with your child.

Madeline Boskey, Ph.D.

About Me

I am a Developmental Psychologist, with a Ph.D. from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York. I studied language and cognitive development, concentrating on the conversational behavior of two-year olds. My career has spanned research, writing, and editorial work for children, parents, and educators. I am committed to making learning enjoyable. I have worked for Sesame Workshop, Scholastic, Pearson, as well as other media companies. Currently I am a freelance editor and consultant. I serve on the Advisory Council for LitWorld, an innovative nonprofit literacy organization committed to giving all children the opportunity to tell their own stories. I live with my husband in Massachusetts, and we are the proud parents of two amazing grown children, who bring us so much joy.