“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…

Kids miss out on a lot during a pandemic. Luckily, question-asking doesn’t need to be one of those things….

On November 12, 2020, the online, open-access journal of the American Medical Association published an article penned by the esteemed Dr. Dimitri Christakis and colleagues suggesting that school closings created […]

On November 19, 2020, Playful Learning Playbook in Action introduced its new Playful Learning Playbook — A beautiful way to build playful communities and reduce inequality!

Early Learning Nation explores the world of early learning by connecting with advocates, community leaders, early learning professionals, parents and caretakers, national policymakers and scientists. In their new series, six […]

The American education system is not preparing all children to thrive. Amidst a national movement to dismantle systemic racism, our schools risk propagating educational inequity by design.

How has the science of learning evolved, and have schools done enough to keep up? How does play promote executive functioning? How does the human brain depend on relationships for […]

On October 20, 2020, Kathy and other speakers addressed various issues and solutions inequity in educational institutions, pedagogy, and practices….

If you’re familiar with Maxeme Tuchman’s background, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear she runs a company that promotes reading and education among children… Read More…

In her latest Blog Post for the Brookings Institute, Kathy and co-authors comment, “The staggering impact of COVID-19 on American lives and the economy was understandably the central issue in […]

Screens are a fixture in children’s lives from a young age, but giving them access to television, tablets or phones doesn’t always mean it will have a negative impact on […]

Move This World (MTW), a leading provider of social emotional learning programs for PreK-12, is excited to announce the launch of the Move This World Audio Network introducing the podcast, The Saracast: Conversations […]

QUILS is featured in “Early Learning Distance Resources: 2020-2021 Educational Technology Resources” by the Early Learning Innovation Network!

Learning doesn’t have to happen in a classroom, and in fact, the most valuable learning experiences take place far from the four walls of a classroom. Kids learn and retain […]

It sounds so simple: all we need to do is show people the science and evidence-based research for how to stay safe, stay healthy, save the environment, and more, and […]

With a rocky year of pandemic-related educational disruptions ahead, many parents are looking for ways to help their kids learn at home. Toys advertised as teaching STEM might seem like […]

There’s a group behind efforts to get existing educational lessons from local institutions in front of educators and students. Michigan Future, Inc. is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that collaborates with […]

Many toys are labeled as “STEM toys,” with claims that they teach kids science, technology, engineering and math. But very few toys that hold these claims are actually studied. Some […]

What’s the right balance between screen time and digital equity? Researchers and K-12 educators grapple with the complex landscape of educational technology and access. Amy Burroughs spoke to  four experts […]

Millions of kids nationwide are spending hours at home now completing lessons online at their own pace or in virtual class settings. But could this interruption in traditional learning lead […]

Screen time for school-aged children decreases their ability to imagine the world, or the so-called ‘mental imagery’ skills. But as Melissa Hogenboom explores, we have the ability to help them […]

Canned vegetables aren’t as good as fresh vegetables. But they’re better than none. That’s the premise some experts share about the merits of online prekindergarten, although most agree in-person is […]

Ever get the feeling like you are babbling more than your baby? It turns out that going gaga over your baby actually serves a purpose. It helps them with language […]

A short piece on “Avoiding the COVID Slump” chalk full of tips for overworked, overtired parents… Watch Here….

Amy Robach spoke to Kathy on ABC News Live on May 7, 2020. Watch Here….  

“During the current COVID-19 crisis, children’s play has necessarily evolved to accommodate school shutdowns, social distancing guidelines, and parents’ at-home work schedules. Parks and playgrounds are off-limits… Which of these […]

On her podcast, Dr. Aliza Pressman spoke with Kathy  about conversations with babies, the music of language, and how it all helps with language development! Check it out….

Children and Screens has teamed up with some of the top experts in the fields of parenting, education and child psychology to bring you a series of helpful hints and […]

The approach, stress and rigidity that often accompanies modern lesson plans may cause young children to feel frustrated or disengaged. …The school routines of kindergarteners have changed… Over the 12 […]

As families adjust to the new landscape of the pandemic — home — some are finding it impossible to go without outside help from their extended families, nannies or caregivers… […]

“Isolation might seem more damaging for kids without siblings. But it doesn’t have to be… Watching my 3-year-old become a geography expert over the last few weeks has taken my […]

“It is a well-established fact that babies’ brains develop at warp speed in the first three years of life, laying critical cognitive, emotional, and social foundations. But what happens when […]

When a baby peers into the face of an adult making the kind of goofy faces and noises most of us make when looking at an infant, they’re doing more […]

On Wednesday, February 26, the Center for Universal Education and the Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking at Brookings hosted an event introducing Playful Learning Landscapes, an interdisciplinary project aimed at […]

“A Washington state district made an entire school just for kindergarteners where joy and play are the focus… On a sunny winter morning in Sara Stevens’ kindergarten classroom at Pathfinder […]

The building block has been such a fact of American childhood for so long, it’s easy to dismiss the humble little cube as irrelevant, particularly in light of fancy newer […]

Head Start, the childcare program designed more than half-a-century ago for low-income families in the US, has an unusual problem: It is both oversubscribed and under-attended. Created in 1965 as […]

And as we start 2020, Quartz offers a resolution for all of us to put our phones down in front of the kids. Good advice… “Holidays can be a stressful […]

We all want to raise smart, successful kids, so it’s tempting to play Mozart for our babies and run math drills for kindergartners. After all, we need to give them […]

You know what they say — all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And science seems to confirm that statement, with findings that play is as important […]

Ever since modern society has become obsessed with data, each week seems to bring a new invention that makes us wonder – do we really, actually need this? This time […]

The more words autistic children hear as infants — and the more verbal interactions they have with their caregivers — the better their language skills at age 2, a new […]

Many parents are worried about how much time their children are spending on screens – for teens it averages around nine hours a day, for 8 to 12 years olds […]

For many weeks, Lindsey Smith’s infant daughter slept well. She’d randomly wake up hungry in the middle of the night, as many infants do, but after nursing she’d doze right […]

Seven-year-old Emma McGee used to hate coming to the laundromat. It was boring, and seemed to take forever. In fact she would always ask—unsuccessfully—to stay home with her older brother, […]

ABC News’ Diane Sawyer shares some of the findings of her six-month investigation into the effects of screen time on adults and children.

Talking to your baby in an annoying, higher-pitched voice is not a symptom of parenthood slowly melting your brain. It’s a normal and scientifically backed way to communicate with infants utilized […]

If the judgy stares from strangers at restaurants aren’t enough to discourage you from giving your kids smartphones and tablets, the constant stream of news stories and studies on why […]

Techies pride themselves on their optimism. It couldn’t be any other way. After all, Silicon Valley was built on the idea that technology is a force for good. In the […]

This might sound strange, but I found talking to my dog much less stressful than talking to my babies. They had a lot in common: Both were non-verbal, both relied […]

“Play has become a four-letter word.” So says Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a psychologist at Temple University and one of the authors of a new paper about the importance of play in children’s […]

Imagine a drug that could enhance a child’s creativity, critical thinking and resilience. Imagine that this drug were simple to make, safe to take, and could be had for free. […]

Turn on your TV and surf the stuff meant for kids. I dare you. You’ll likely find a surfeit of fast action and fart jokes. And that’s what makes Esme & […]