Kathy joins Emily Chang to discuss the potential of the metaverse for education, the importance of making sure it is safe and why it needs to be rolled out in […]

“’Play’ is critically important, and different types of play matter in different ways. Most research on play, historically, has been focused on free play. As the name implies, free play […]

“On Tuesday, August 3, The Hunt Institute’s Dan Wuori and Trust for Learning’s Ellen Roche cohosted a webinar spotlighting the role of play in ideal learning environments. “Play is a […]

“Schools are full of talk; in every classroom, it’s a vital learning tool. But because it’s ingrained in our lessons, and teachers are great at enabling talk, it is not […]

“The Jacobs Foundation, New America, and the internationally recognized research duo of Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff announce the third cohort of the Learning Sciences Exchange (LSX) Fellows. These top-level, […]

It takes work to learn how to play. That’s the message early childhood experts delivered Wednesday during a webinar on the importance of play in early education settings, hosted by […]

“On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on one of the most controversial issues in the last 50 years. It overturned Roe v. Wade, the […]

“It’s the latest sign that Big Tech sees education as a key piece of the rush to build a metaverse, the immersive Internet of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality… This […]

On June 28, the Center for Universal Education and the Yidan Prize Foundation  co-hosted a virtual event to consider a path for bringing the best educational practices into the metaverse, […]

This piece, which is an excerpt from Chapter 5 in Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8, Fourth Edition (NAEYC 2022), suggests that defining play on a […]

“Meta, the parent company of Facebook, made waves last fall when it announced the so-called metaverse. In a few years, this metaverse could be interoperable networks of virtual reality (VR) […]

Research on the educational benefits of play is nothing new; however, findings have been mainly focused on Early Childhood Development because of how important the early years are for a young developing brain. “Children’s free play […]

“The way that children begin to understand themselves and the world around them is mediated through play. The value of play is in the way that children learn to navigate […]

“Researcher Kathy Hirsch-Pasek has a challenge she would like to see lawmakers in the U.S. Congress take on—call it a dare. She wants all 535 of them to spend a […]

“There are many life skills that can be taught through play. Here are five ways in which you can teach your child important life lessons while having fun.”

The Hunt Institute and Trust for Learning invited experts on the power of play in early children’s development for this Webinar, “Creating Ideal Learning Environments Through Play”.

“I had a hard truth delivered to me this week, and it came at the hands of a pint-sized human at the ripe age of 6 years old. This child, […]

“Young said he wasn’t surprised by the study’s findings, adding they show VR and the metaverse can be helpful tools in education. “I think it is very hopeful. Of course, it’s […]

A long history of research suggests that early informal STEM learning experiences such as block play, puzzles, visiting zoos and science museums can build a strong foundation for STEM learning […]

Virtual and augmented reality tools are gaining traction in both K-12 and higher-ed institutions, but experts say more planning and collaboration are needed to make the content practical and useful.

“Learning can happen anywhere. That’s the philosophy behind the Playful Learning Landscapes project, which studies and creates educational activities for public spaces. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to rethink […]

Check out Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts Public Policy Lab’s Lab Report (Issue 2), titled “Child poverty in America: Where do we go from here?” and Kathy’s section titled […]

“Pondering the potential of the metaverse in educational spaces, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a psychology professor at Temple University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, imagines infinite possibilities for learning […]

Kathy is happy to be have helped the team create Amazon Glow! “Amazon has officially launched Amazon Glow, a kid-friendly, interactive device designed to erase the miles and bring loved ones […]

“What happens when you stop teaching young children via direct instruction and instead set up purposeful opportunities to play? They could learn just as much—or more— when it comes to […]

“Research on the learning benefits of play is nothing new; however, findings have been mainly focused on Early Childhood Development.” READ MORE….

Check out Kathy’s comments during the second half of the show!

“The recent evaluation of the Tennessee pre-K program by Kelley Durkin and colleagues found that by the end of sixth grade, children who attended the public statewide pre-K program in Tennessee actually did […]

“Education is key for helping children understand the structural inequality perpetuated in our most powerful institutions…”

“Talk of the metaverse is everywhere, even though the new, more immersive internet isn’t exactly here yet. Even so, some educators are trying to get ahead of the curve to […]

A challenge to Meta (Facebook’s new name), Google, Microsoft, and Amazon regarding the ways in which the metaverse can dovetail with education if done right. Check out Kathy and colleagues’ […]

Check out this piece including research by Kathy and colleagues…

Check out Kathy’s latest ECE Webinar HERE….

“The Build Back Better bill has stalled. On one point, we agree with Senator Joe Manchin that it is time for Congress to start with a “clean sheet of paper” […]

As the third calendar year of the pandemic begins, 2022 promises to be an important one—especially for education. Around the world, education systems have had to contend with sporadic closures, […]

Are you interested in learning more about PLLAN? Want to stay up to date on all of our latest projects? Then click to join Kathy and her colleagues’ quarterly newsletter!

“Never confuse fantasy and “realty”. It’s a sentence that has floated, jokingly, around my family ever since my father’s colleague uttered the bungle to him years ago. We New Yorkers, […]

Check out Isabelle Hau’s newsletter featuring a quote from Kathy…

“I support a whole-child approach to teaching, but how do schools integrate it when we have so many different subjects to cover?”… READ MORE…

“Perhaps most importantly, write scholars Elana Herbst, Roberta M. Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, the legislation has reignited a necessary conversation about the role of gendered toys in perpetuating stereotypes harmful […]

“When it comes to early childhood education, child’s play may well be serious business. Fun and games bring more than just joy. They may be the key to helping children […]

Encantos, the global creator platform empowering Storyteachers from around the world to help kids learn 21st-century skills, today announced that award-winning educator and pioneer in the science of playful learning […]

“Most people know Smith Memorial Playground for its giant wooden slide, the analog-age attraction that has amused generations of Philadelphia kids. But the Fairmount Park destination has a serious side, […]

“The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released earlier this month offers a clear picture of the costs of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) to America. Yet, the report fails […]

“It’s the holiday season and store aisles are stocked for a rush of early buying.  Stores largely have the pink, artsy girls’ toys in one aisle and the blue, construction […]

“Debate continues on Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ social infrastructure bill offering a historic expansion of child care and universal preschool. Early childhood education is a socially popular endeavor with strong […]

“As the PLL movement continues to grow globally, it is important to underline that the existing installations have shown that PLL is effective at enhancing STEM and literacy skills and […]

“Before introducing an app into your classroom, you should make sure it passes these three tests,” writes Grace Pocock. Read her piece featuring Kathy HERE…

In their latest Brookings piece, Kathy and her colleagues present the new Playful Learning Landscapes Metrics Framework! Check it out HERE…

Show host Sharla Feldscher is the author of several KIDFUN books including the most recent, KIDFUN: 401 Easy Ideas for Play (Wordeee publishing). On October 6, 2021, she spoke to […]

Check out Kathy and Roberta’s piece in Science Magazine about Playful Learning Landscapes!

Check out Kathy’s latest Brookings Blog Post…. “It is time to change the narrative around social infrastructure investments for families. We beg to differ with people like Senator Manchin. It […]

“A park bench can be so much more than just a place to sit and wait. Perhaps it has a puzzle built into it, or weights that allow children to […]

Philadelphia resident and Temple University professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek was walking through the streets of her hometown and asked herself: Why does a sidewalk have to be a sidewalk? And a […]

“Every city-dweller has lived or witnessed some version of it: the mom on a bus struggling to fold a stroller while clutching a tiny hand; the family of four squeezed […]

“Here we are again.” These are the words of one art teacher in Tennessee that reflect educators’ wariness about the new school year as a recent surge in COVID-19 threatens […]

Sometimes a trip with small children means the same chores in a different place. Here’s advice on how to make it a vacation.

Instead of staring at a phone, kids at a laundromat in Little Village are getting a math lesson while their parents wash and fold. Graphics on washers and dryers offer […]

Kathy is a co-founder of The Ultimate Playbook℠   ​ inviting teachers, coaches, school and district leaders to join as a district to confidently co-design effective and equitable educational communities […]

“The best educational toys for toddlers are toys that provide a foundation for future learning potential. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under the age of 2, […]

“Already 62% of parents believe their children are behind in learning, according to a survey conducted by the National PTA and Learning Heroes. The transition from in-person to remote learning […]

I have so much homework, when will I have time to play? This kid lament is one many parents hear daily and to help, this episode of the Dear Highlights […]

Messages of gratitude and excitement from parents filled a Zoom chat on May 19, 2021, as organizers concluded the

Check out Kathy’s Public Policy Brief published by Temple University Public Policy Lab, “COVID-19 Sparks an Overdue Discussion on Education Reform: An Optimistic Vision” published on May 25, 2021…

“Listening to Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek talk about education can feel like the first time you visit one of those frozen yogurt places where you add your own toppings. You start […]

The prolonged closure of schools can reverse our success in improved enrolment rate and reduced dropout rate. According to a report by Unicef, 10 million child marriages may occur before […]

“What if one of the answers to reducing inequality and addressing mental health concerns among young children is as simple as providing more opportunities to play? A growing body of […]

“I have often written about the 21st-century child, their education, and the future that awaits them. This time, however, I pose the question: “What about the 22nd-century child?” If the […]

  Summer school—two words that conjure a memory of poorly performing students forced to attend a summer boot camp to raise test scores as they complete worksheets in sweltering classrooms. […]

Check out the recording of Kathy’s presentation titled, “Reimagining education: A View from the science of learning” which took place on May 6, 2021 and was arranged by University of […]

Log on to any app store, and parents will find hundreds of options for children that claim to be educational…..

Kathy talked to India Today about play-based learning, why it’s important, and what it looks like….

Read Kathy’s latest Blog Post with Helen Hadani…

Check out Stephen Davis’s article on the Brookings Institute Policy “A New Path to Education Reform: Playful learning promotes 21st-century skills in schools and beyond”  

We need bold changes to early care and education policies and practices at all levels. We invite you to join us for an event where we examine why reimagining and […]

Looking for an educational life raft? “Educational” apps might not fill the void. Kathy and colleagues’ new study spearheaded by shows us that popular apps don’t always optimize learning value.

On March 11, 2021, Gloria Ladson-Billings, President of the National Academy of Education (NAEd), announced that twenty-two exceptional education scholars are elected to membership in the Academy. Kathy is one […]

Check out this article by Maye Yao Co Say in the Business Mirror.

Contributor Mark Swartz tuned in to three virtual sessions from the recent Finding Joy Through Playful Learning conference sponsored by the Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN).

Check out Kathy’s latest article: “We investigated whether children’s and caregivers’ questions about math, spatial, and scientific topics could be increased in a museum exhibit specifically designed to promote this […]

Kathy and her team’s recent study on 100  “educational apps” that are favored by children suggests that few support active young minds in meaningful, socially interactive ways. The article, titled […]

The managers of the Downtown South Boston Farmers’ Market and the Halifax Market Place both are designing downtown “Thinkscapes” to promote childhood learning through play. Urban Thinkscape is an initiative […]

Kathy spoke to South Philly Review about the discussions regarding schools opening up in Philadelphia during COVID19.

On January 13, 2021, the Brookings Center for Universal Education (CUE) hosted a virtual event with over 1,000 registered attendees to share our model for 21st century education reform and […]

Join Kathy as she talk about “A New path to education reform: Playful learning reduces COVID slide and promote learning in school and beyond” at the Virtual Conference, “The Science […]

Join Foundations, Inc.’s Beyond School Hours 2021 National Education Conference online and watch Kathy’s keynote speech on February 19, 2021, 11 am EST!!

Don’t you think “online preschool is an oxymoron? Kudos the incredible and creative teachers trying to make it work! Stephen Noonoo chatted with Kathy about this topic…

Play is precisely what children need to normalize this period. It is the elixir that allows them to cope  and learn. Check out Kathy’s new piece with Sara Potler LaHayne […]

We’re excited that Playful Learning Landscapes was selected as one of the Placemaking Winners of the Real Play City Challenge based on the Urban Play Framework!

Join Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, and Trying Together for a virtual conference bringing together educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss and share best practices to […]

The Society for Research in Child Development  announced the results of our 2020 election.

Susan Engel’s exquisitely written book, “The Intellectual Lives of Children” (2021) demonstrates how #playful learning sparks curiosity, creativity and 21st century skills. It is the pedagogy for our time! Read […]

The situation is dire. American education is slipping: Only 35 percent of fourth grade students were at least proficient readers on the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress, a serious […]

We congratulate Miguel Cardona, Connecticut’s current education commissioner, on his nomination to serve as secretary of education under President-elect Biden. Following Senate confirmation, it will benefit children, teachers, and families […]

Obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, and other possibilities to help the little ones during these challenging times… Kathy chatted with CGTN…

Experts voice concern over how children are relating to the world outside their homes during the pandemic, as well as the stress they are feeling from their parent’s COVID-related financial […]

There’s growing concern among parents that the pandemic will impact development for their kids. “It hasn’t just been COVID, right? We’ve learned, you know, our youngest children have learned to […]

Covid-19 has meant the youngest children can’t go to birthday parties or play dates. Parents are keeping them out of day care. What is the long-term effect of the pandemic […]

Kathy and Helen Hadani talk about their Big Ideas paper in the Brookings Policy 2020 series titled, “A new path to education reform: Playful learning promotes 21st-century skills in schools […]

In Early Learning Nation, Mark Swartz writes about the Playful Learning Playbook…