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.
“We all need a little more recess” – Brookings Institute Commentary, January 17, 2025
“The new year invited us to reflect on restoring balance in our lives. Political discord, climate crises, and nonstop social media often leave us drained. Modern life mirrors a system demanding constant productivity, squeezing out the pauses we all need. What if this year we made time for brief but essential breaks to recharge? We all need more recess.” READ MORE…
Temple Infant and Child Laboratory Newsletter – Winter 2025
Checkout the latest Newsletter from the Temple Infant and Child Lab HERE….
Language Development, Learning, and Play in Early Childhood – Screen Deep Podcast, January 8, 2025
“Learning language involves much more than memorizing the ABCs. How do babies and toddlers acquire language and how can parents and caregivers foster its optimal development? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by renowned child development researcher Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, to discuss children’s language development, learning, and play in the digital age. Dr. Hirsh-Pasek emphasizes the importance of social interaction in the development of language, and discusses how digital media typically lacks this critical aspect and may even interrupt the language-learning process. She also describes the key pillars of learning gleaned from decades of research and the effectiveness of guided play in achieving learning outcomes. Dr. Hirsh-Pasek provides listeners with key insights on choosing effective educational apps, as well as maximizing learning opportunities, and critical skills children must develop for the digital future.” LISTEN HERE..
“Where the science of learning meets the global learning challenge” in “Insights from the science of learning for education: leveraging scientific knowledge for innovations in teaching and learning” – UNESCO DOC
Can the science of learning offer new and exciting pathways to optimize education for all? You bet! Check out Kathy’s chapter in Unesco’s new volume HERE…
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...
“We all need a little more recess” – Brookings Institute Commentary, January 17, 2025
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/we-all-need-a-little-more-recess/“The new year invited us to reflect on restoring balance in our lives. Political discord, climate crises, and nonstop social media often leave us drained. Modern life mirrors a system demanding constant productivity, squeezing out the pauses we all need. What if this year we made time for brief but essential breaks to recharge? We […]
Read full story >
Temple Infant and Child Laboratory Newsletter – Winter 2025
Checkout the latest Newsletter from the Temple Infant and Child Lab!
Read full story >
Language Development, Learning, and Play in Early Childhood – Screen Deep Podcast, January 8, 2025
“Learning language involves much more than memorizing the ABCs. How do babies and toddlers acquire language and how can parents and caregivers foster its optimal development? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry is joined by renowned child development researcher Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, to discuss children’s language development, learning, and play in the […]
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.