The brain is a muscle that must be exercised

The brain is a muscle that must be exercised, argues Jeff Kinney in his novel Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Kinney makes his argument through the character of Mom. Mom, who has gone back to college to earn her master’s degree, feels both challenged and fulfilled because she is engaging her mind. She wants her children to challenge their minds intellectually and creatively as well.

Mom wants to engage the minds of her children in such a way not only to make them better people, but so that they will have better options for their futures. Because of this, Mom will spare no expense to make sure that her sons fulfill their potential and develop their talents. This begins with encouraging Rodrick to actually research colleges he could attend, and bringing Greg along with her to visit...