I remember when Jean Piaget came to Chicago to speak, Barbara went to the airport to pick him up— yes, that Piaget! When Erik Erikson came to speak to my class at Erikson Institute, she introduced us to him as“ his grandchildren.”
Barbara taught us to know and respect great minds and made us feel that we too could contribute great thinking to our work with children and families, by grounding it in our knowledge of developmental theory.
The second trait was Barbara’ s uncompromising commitment to knowing children firsthand. For her, what was as important as what you read or heard about children was what you learned from your own firsthand experience. In her teaching, she constantly illustrated points by telling stories about the children and families with whom she had worked. She emphasized learning from them and from your own mistakes with them.
And finally, a mentoring lesson that I and many others of her students value and hold very dear— how to manage your life and work with others with style and grace and with honesty and integrity. Although Barbara was always in the spotlight for her brilliant academic mind, she also let us see her soft side. She invited students into her home for conversations— and, in fact, for our graduation ceremonies. As Barbara taught, counseled, and advised students, she would talk about her dear husband Jimmy. And we heard many stories about her precious daughter, Valerie, and later her precious granddaughter, Laura. In her sharing, we came to know that work-life balance was important and achievable.
When I was about to graduate from the Erikson Institute, I went to Barbara for advice about what to do next, because another faculty member was encouraging me to go straight into a PhD program. Barbara said,“ What’ s the rush? You should spend some time working with children. You have a whole life ahead of you to get a PhD.” Barbara taught us that the basis of our credibility as educators is firsthand experience with children.
Dr. Barbara Bowman with her granddaughter, Laura, and her grandson-in-law.
Dr. Carol Brunson Day recognizing the impact of her mentor, Dr. Barbara Taylor Bowman( here and on previous page).
Barbara was always so supportive of students while we were struggling through the rigors of the Erikson Institute’ s advanced study experience. And she continued her support long after we left. I personally have treasured that. I still have, hanging over my desk, a congratulations letter that Barbara wrote to me on the occasion of one of my first professional accomplishments.
36 Young Children
Spring 2026