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.
“Playful learning makes for joyful parenting” – Bold, May 11, 2023
“All parents want the best for their children. And there is no shortage of advice on parenting, which has become a multibillion-dollar industry with investors capitalizing on parents’ innate desire to support their children. The notion that there is a “perfect” way to raise children can be found in blogs, TikToks, books, and apps, causing anxiety for many parents.” READ MORE…
LEGO Foundation Grant for Playful Learning!
“Temple University in Philadelphia has announced a five-year, $19.98 million grant from the LEGO Foundation in support of the work of professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and her team.” READ MORE…
“Forever young: The rise of the ‘kidults’” – Connecticut Public Radio/WNPR, May 5, 2023
“Toys are occasionally marketed to “children of all ages.” In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing. The demographic, sometimes called “kidults,” now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to market research company NPD Group.
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University, discusses why familiar toys might appeal to us today, and the links between how we played as children and how we socialize now.” READ MORE…
The 2023 Association of Children’s Museums Great Friend to Kids Award
In April 2023, Kathy received the Friends of Kids Award by the Association of Children’s Museums – an award once given to Fred Rogers and Marion Wright Edelman as well as to PBS and Sesame Street!
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“Playful learning makes for joyful parenting” – Bold, May 11, 2023
“All parents want the best for their children. And there is no shortage of advice on parenting, which has become a multibillion-dollar industry with investors capitalizing on parents’ innate desire to support their children. The notion that there is a “perfect” way to raise children can be found in blogs, TikToks, books, and apps, causing […]
Read full story >
LEGO Foundation Grant for Playful Learning!
Temple University in Philadelphia has announced a five-year, $19.98 million grant from the LEGO Foundation in support of the work of professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and her team.
Read full story >“Forever young: The rise of the ‘kidults’” – Connecticut Public Radio/WNPR, May 5, 2023
“Toys are occasionally marketed to “children of all ages.” In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing. The demographic, sometimes called “kidults,” now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to […]
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.