“Education, especially in public or state schools, transforms societies. It promotes innovation and supports social mobility (e.g., Chetty et al. 2011; Hyman 2017, 268-270; Jackson and Mackevicius 2024, 422-427; Winthrop […]

“The Trump administration wants to incentivize a baby boom by offering a $5,000 cash “baby bonus” for every mother who gives birth. Ironically, the administration is also proposing federal cuts to family-friendly programs such as the […]

“Responding to the latest Nation’s Report Card results with evidence…” READ MORE…

“‘Less outside time has other lasting impacts on children as well.’ Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, told Newsweek that […]

Kathy’s editorial was published in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “For the past seven weeks, my academic sabbatical took me to Chile and Australia. In the normal course of things, seven weeks […]

“Dr Kathy Hirsh-Pasek has a global reputation for her insights on child psychology and play based learning, recently visiting Australia for the first time to share her insights at a […]

“The Live and Learn pilot program is installing playful learning spaces and activities at two affordable housing sites in North Philadelphia.” READ MORE…

“At a recent Brookings event on youth apprenticeships, 20-year-old former apprentice Frankie Mansaray interviewed Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) in a fireside chat. Mansaray (who also co-authored this piece) pointed out that […]

“David Brooks joined a chorus of writers who identified President Donald Trump’s reelection as a reckoning for the educational elite. His December cover story for The Atlantic critiques the education system that brought our nation to this point of […]

“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 […]

Checkout the latest Newsletter from the Temple Infant and Child Lab!

“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 […]

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.    

“Research suggests that parents and caregivers are concerned about their children’s increasing screen media use. While the focus to date has primarily been on the number of hours of screen […]

“In a world saturated with technology, with connection a click away, we may well wonder: Why are so many adults and kids feeling anxious, withdrawn, or depressed? As Jonathan Haidt argues in […]

“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 […]

“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. […]

“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 […]

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 […]

An interview with Michael Rich, pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and director and founder of Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab joins Ryan Rydzewski and guest host Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to talk […]

An interview with Michael Rich, pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and director and founder of Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab joins Ryan Rydzewski and guest host Kathy Hirsh-Pasek to talk […]

“Singing the ABC song. Learning the days of the week from a nursery rhyme. Making a finger-painted collage of little handprints. Arts education has always been center stage in early education […]

“With 60 percent of the global population—and 97 percent of those under 30—using smartphones, technology has inadvertently become an extension of our thinking process. However, everything comes at a cost. Cognitive outsourcing, […]

UC Irvine’s School of Education, in partnership with the city of Santa Ana, Northgate Market and the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative, is enriching everyday spaces populated by families with […]

“Every child has a superpower. Yet, those with disabilities often do not have full access to quality education and other services that would enable them to use their superpower to […]

“As the global trend of schoolification pushes educational systems toward standardization, which emphasizes “preparation for school rather than preparation for life,” innovative approaches that address the how’s, what’s, and why’s of education […]

“”I’m bored!” It’s a phrase parents and caregivers work tirelessly to avoid hearing, but it may be the gateway to unleashing a child’s creativity, social development and even life skills…” […]

“How play and learning came together in a professional development program in Ghana…” READ MORE….

“Have adults forgotten how to play? In 2023, a viral TikTok video asked adults a simple question: “Do you remember how to skip?” Many did not. In a recent survey of 25,000 children, across […]

“University-based instructors make the case for AI’s potential to level the educational playing field. Meanwhile, one Temple journalist argues that generative AI could defeat the purpose of education.” READ MORE…

“Modern science backs Mister Rogers up. Young people with families and caregivers who are actively engaged in their learning tend to do better in school, and not by a little: […]

“Clouds of doom continue to hover over the debate about teens’ mental health and the role of technology. This spring, the warnings come from the bestselling book “The Anxious Generation” […]

“In November 2023, Karen Jensen, a Utah elementary school teacher, shared an Instagram reel from her classroom labeled, “THIS IS HOW WE GET EXCITED FOR MATH IN THE MORNING.” In it, she […]

“Play, whether structured or unstructured, is often considered frivolous and not taken seriously. The role of play in children’s lives has long been devalued, prompting Professor Ed Zigler to claim […]

“…So what happened to the early education experiments in the metaverse, and what do those watching the space think is next? To find out, we checked in with two experts […]

“UNESCO’s Happy Schools Initiative is a transformative effort that places happiness at the core of education. It recognizes happiness as both a means to and a goal of quality learning. […]

“Today’s episode provides a fresh perspective from Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek on the psychological impact of technology, especially on children. Dive deep into how children play and learn, and the ways technology is […]

“Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with cancer and has started preventative chemotherapy. “It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family,” Catherine said in […]

Generations United hosted a webinar on March 7, 2024, on how to develop joyful intergenerational spaces that foster playful learning, creativity, and meaningful cross-age connections. Watch the Webinar HERE….

“While pop culture representations of mental illness, marginalized communities, and human behavior have improved over the past few decades, more work is needed to destigmatize psychological conditions in all populations […]

Kathy was a webinar guest presenter for the Hellenic Psychological Society, Greece, on February 21st. Check out the video of her presentation HERE….

“Scroll, swipe, tap…young children are exposed to new technology from an early age, and staying current in a digital society is increasingly important. However, excessive screen time, may be linked […]

“Two out of every three students in the United States are not proficient readers. This was the headline that ricocheted across the United States in 2022 and 2023 following the […]

Kathy joined the podcast “Remaking of Tomorrow” to discuss the importance of empowering communities to make public spaces into playful learning spaces. LISTEN HERE…

“Playtime isn’t just for fun—psychologists who study children’s learning have found that kids learn best through play. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, of Temple University, talks about why kids need playtime, what […]

“Artificial intelligence enabled smart toys may be improperly collecting and storing children’s information, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.Temple University’s Paul R. Anderson Distinguished Chair Professor of Statistics, […]

“Children at six Bright Horizons child care centers in the Philadelphia area have some new playground equipment: Interactive stations designed to promote learning while having fun. Temple University researchers aim […]

“Resilience is a popular term in modern psychology that, put simply, refers to the ability to recover and move on from adverse events, failure or change…. ‘I think a lot of […]

“Deena Weisberg is an associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Villanova University and a fellow of the Learning Sciences Exchange. She studies imagination and science learning in young […]

“There is growing momentum to prioritize play-based learning in U.S. education policy. In July, New America reported on three states that formalized their investment in play-based learning through legislation. These […]

“…Millions of people are visiting #dolltiktok and specific TikTok accounts that feature all kinds of doll-centric storylines – from NSFW Sylvanian figurines to Barbie re-enactments of iconic scenes from pop culture. It’s coinciding with a […]

“As we enter fall, children across the country have headed back to school. For decades, researchers have investigated the “summer slide—when children’s achievement scores are lower in the fall than […]

“Earlier this year, a Fortune Magazine headline proclaimed that “The next era of work will be about skills – not pedigree,” suggesting that employers are moving away from standard indicators […]

With the support of the LEGO Foundation, we are bringing an evidence based and integrated whole child approach of playful learning to elementary classrooms in a select number of states […]

Who would have guessed that 25% of the toy market goes to adults buying kid toys for adults. It’s a new trend – kidadults? Check out this podcast where Kathy […]

“Temple professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek sees an educational crisis in the U.S. that saps joy out of learning and turns students into rote memorizers.” READ MORE…

“Over the course of her career, Temple University’s Kathy Hirsh-Pasek has spent a lot of time worrying not just about how to increase playtime in school, but also how to […]

“Neuroscientists, educators and psychologists like Kathy Hirsh-Pasek know that play is as an essential ingredient in the lives of adults as well as children. A weighty and growing body of […]

“A recent advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned of the risks of social media usage for youth’s mental health—including sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety. The data that led […]

“In recent years Philadelphia has emerged as a leading national Playful Learning City. Dozens of Playful Learning Landscapes across the city have transformed public spaces into culturally relevant, playful learning […]

“On a tiny triangular lot in the city’s Belmont neighborhood, kids waiting with their parents for the No. 40 bus can also work on their executive functioning skills, playing a hopscotch variation […]

“Almost 400 million search results appear when you search parenting books. Parenting apps? Nearly 200 million. Parenting blogs? 53 million. There are, quite literally, millions of outlets telling us how […]

Check out Kathy’s Webinar which is for educational policy leaders, school administrators, teachers, learning scientists, and parents. The webinar cuts through the noise about what’s wrong with schools and talks […]

“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,” […]

Playful learning landscapes are NOT just another playground, but built environments, everyday environments that are intentionally created to spark intergenerational interactions and support children’s learning. With a strong research base, […]

“The grant will enable the director of Temple’s Infant and Child Lab to implement her Active Playful Learning model—an evidence-based pedagogical approach to joyful deeper learning—for grades K through four […]

“MU’s Center on Research and Evaluation (CORE) in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development will join Temple University and seven other universities in a “Learning through Play” national […]

“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 […]

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.

“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 […]

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 […]

This piece in NYT featured the importance of Children’s Museums and the various ways in which they are growing. READ MORE…

With the rapidly accelerating integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in our work, life, and classrooms, educators all over the world are re-evaluating the purpose of education in light of these […]

Check out the Link for a video of the webinar as well as resources!!  

“Many days of the week, John Smith in his job as an administrative assistant to a college faculty member, will look up the professor’s availability to set up daily appointments. […]

Hot off the press Brookings Institute Blog on the Age of Creativity and a way to education…

Learn how collaborations across sectors can unleash creative solutions to wicked problems by harnessing the science of learning HERE!!!

“Kindergarten is an important year for children and their families. For some, it is their first experience in formal education. Some children may be away from their parents or caregiver […]

“ChatGPT is a game-changer. The AI bot released in November1 writes sonnets like Shakespeare2 and lyrics in the style of the Beatles,3 all in a matter of seconds. And each can be carefully […]

“As technology advances, psychologists can find new opportunities to innovate in the field and in education. But the introduction of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI)—the simulation of human […]

“4-year-olds truly have minds of their own. They may be in preschool, have an intrinsic curiosity surrounding them with every move they make and — we’ll bet — adore toys, […]

In the new Temple University PPL Policy Brief.  “ChatGPT: Educational Friend or Foe,” authors Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Elias Blinkoff explore the potential for AI programs like ChatGPT to improve students’ […]

“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 […]

“A little more than three years ago, the Grand Rapids Public Museum hosted “Outsmarting the Robots: Redesigning education from the classroom to the halls of Lansing.” The conference was organized […]

“When Ted Page became a grandfather in 2014, he wanted to hear other men’s stories, “real experiences that hopefully would guide newcomers,” he recalled. “We’re shifting into a different part […]

“ChatGPT, the cutting-edge chatbot from OpenAI that was released in November 2022, can solve math equations, write a history term paper, compose a sonnet and almost everything in between. So it’s […]

“Artificial Intelligence is booming, particularly the text-generator ChatGPT! On this episode, Randi and her guests discuss why everyone is talking about ChatGPT and why it matters.” LISTEN HERE…

Everyone is talking about the metaverse. Its diverse applications include gaming, real estate and entertainment among others. Few are addressing how this relatively new technology might impact education for good […]

Kathy talked about the Metaverse at Learning & Teaching Expo 2022 hosted by Hong Kong Education City Limited. Watch the Video HERE…

“The invention of the telephone in 1876 was met with simultaneous amazement and trepidation. Critics wondered if phones would disrupt face-to-face communication in ways that made us either too active or lazy. […]

“In the spring of 2022, reports showed that only 67 percent of third graders were reading at grade level in the aftermath of the pandemic. Following on the heels of the recently […]

“Children’s play should be seen as an essential vehicle for learning and early education, not a distraction from it, say early childhood experts. That’s the message delivered at a webinar […]

“Ahead of the U.S. midterms, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “The upcoming election will be decided at the kitchen table, as America’s families determine who they trust to fight for them […]

“In 1966, when psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Brown was assigned to a commission to investigate what led University of Texas student Charles Whitman to kill 12 people in one of the […]

“The final results of the 2022 midterm election in the United States are in. Journalists tell us that a key issue for voters was preservation of democracy. A recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll showed that while […]

“Experts say such play time should not just happen outside of school or at recess, but should be a necessary part of teaching and learning. Supporting the most beneficial play […]

“We are gathered today to mourn the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)scores. The headlines rang forth as the New York Times proclaimed, “The Pandemic Erased Two Decades of Progress […]

On November 9, the Center for Universal Education hosted an online event to discuss the release of Kathy’s new book “Making Schools Work: Bringing the Science of Learning to Joyful […]

If we teach in the way that human brains learn, both students and their teachers will thrive! This book aligns evidence from the learning sciences on how and what students […]

“How do we educate children today for a world of tomorrow – for a world filled with new technological tools that can port them to diverse realities, for a world […]