A Professor of Psychology at Temple University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Hirsh-Pasek was declared a “scientific entrepreneur” by the American Association of Psychology. Writing 14 books and 250+ publications, her Einstein Never Used Flashcards won the Book for a Better Life Award in 2003 with her Becoming Brilliant (2016) reaching the NYTimes Best Sellers List in education. Co-founder of the global Learning Science Exchange Fellowship, she brings together scientists, journalists, policy makers and entertainers, to put learning science in the hands of educators. Her newest initiative Playful Learning Landscapes re-imagines cities and public squares as places with science infused designs that enhance academic and social opportunities. Read her newest book Making Schools Work: Bringing the Science of Learning to Joyful Classroom Practice (2022) co-written by teachers, school administrators and scientists to bring about joyful teaching and deeper learning.
“An SOS to the incoming administration for America’s children and families” – Brookings Institute, November 8, 2024
“Children do not vote, so it is easy to deprioritize their needs. But adults in their families do, and many of them hope Donald Trump and the Republican party can reduce financial burdens so that they can comfortably raise children. President-elect Trump will now have a chance to push legislation through Congress that can lower prices for all Americans and especially working families. As he said during the debate, ‘people can’t go out and buy cereal or bacon or eggs or anything else.’” READ MORE…
“I’m an Only Child—Am I Really That Bad?” – PureWow, October 9, 2024
“When you’re the only child, like me, you get a lot of attention, which according to the cliché I grew up hearing, makes you spoiled, selfish and sort of annoying. I’ve always just accepted that label, the way I accepted how my short legs don’t make me the fastest runner. But now that birth order theory is everywhere, prompting dialogue around how people parent, spend money and show affection (birth order love language, anyone?), I wonder—what if everything I thought I knew about being an only child was wrong? Also, since the birth rate in many countries including the U.S. is declining (though the number of single births has stayed steady), I wonder: Are all these only children like me a cause for alarm? I found a highly credentialed family psychologist, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, to give me the latest learnings on the matter.” READ MORE…
“When will the United States walk the walk for young children and families?” – Brookings Institution Policy Brief, October 4, 2024
“Our wavering commitment to children and families in terms of actionable, comprehensive policies that support children from birth to five years and their families leaves some wondering whether America really cares about its children despite the rhetoric.
This policy brief points to six key areas of investment in which bipartisan action can bring America in line with other nations and make a marked difference in the lives of millions of young children 0-5 years and their families.” READ MORE…
Remaking Tomorrow: S7 Episode 3 Susan Magsamen, International Arts and Mind Lab
Susan Magsamen, director of the International Arts and Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University and co-director of The NeuroArts Blueprint joins Ryan Rydzewski and guest host Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to talk about the importance of artistic practice in maintaining physical, mental, and social wellness for children and adults alike. Listen here: https://slbradio.org/podcast/s7-ep3-susan-magsamen-international-arts-and-mind-lab/
The latest tweets on Science & Learning
A fabulous overview article by our very own @blhassinger who shows the collective power of Playful Learning Landscapes! #playfullearning @playfullearng @JournalUrbanism
AI is an exquisitely good synthesizer but not an exquisitely good thinker. Thank you @Makai Allbert for this article.
We are so excited to launch in Santa Ana! @UCIrvine @playfullearng @Bustamante_AS #PlayfulLearningLandscapes
Kathy's work appears in news publications around the world.
Check out some of the latest...
“An SOS to the incoming administration for America’s children and families” – Brookings Institute, November 8, 2024
“Children do not vote, so it is easy to deprioritize their needs. But adults in their families do, and many of them hope Donald Trump and the Republican party can reduce financial burdens so that they can comfortably raise children. President-elect Trump will now have a chance to push legislation through Congress that can lower […]
Read full story >
“I’m an Only Child—Am I Really That Bad?” – PureWow, October 9, 2024
“When you’re the only child, like me, you get a lot of attention, which according to the cliché I grew up hearing, makes you spoiled, selfish and sort of annoying. I’ve always just accepted that label, the way I accepted how my short legs don’t make me the fastest runner. But now that birth order […]
Read full story >
“When will the United States walk the walk for young children and families?” – Brookings Institution Policy Brief, October 4, 2024
“Our wavering commitment to children and families in terms of actionable, comprehensive policies that support children from birth to five years and their families leaves some wondering whether America really cares about its children despite the rhetoric. This policy brief points to six key areas of investment in which bipartisan action can bring America in […]
Read full story >
Some of Kathy's books include:
Making Schools WorkBringing the Science of Learning to Joyful Classroom Practice
User’s Manual for the Quick Interactive Language Screener™: English–Spanish (QUILS™: ES)A Measure of Vocabulary, Syntax, and Language Acquisition Skills in Young Bilingual Children
User’s Manual for the Quick Interactive Language Screener™ (QUILS™)A measure of Vocabulary, Syntax, and Language Acquisition Skills in Young Children
Becoming Brilliant:What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children
A Mandate for Playful Learning in Preschool:Presenting the Evidence
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Kathy is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, where she contributes articles to her Blog on a regular basis.