Einstein Never Used Flashcards

After decades of research, scientists and child development experts have come to a clear conclusion: Play is the best way for our children to learn. Experts have found that children who are prematurely pushed into regimented academic instruction display less creativity and enthusiasm for learning in later years, and that children who memorize isolated facts early in life show no better long-term retention than their peers. However, children who learn through play develop social and emotional skills, which are critical for long-term success.

Somewhere along the line, this important book argues, we've gotten off track by stressing academic products and programs to our preschoolers. Thankfully, Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff have a simple remedy—go play—for our children that is based on overwhelming scientific evidence from their own studies and the collective research results of child development experts.

Einstein Never Used Flash Cards goes beyond debunking the myths spread by the accelerated-learning industry. Parents, educators, and other readers will find a practical guide to introducing complex concepts through smart, simple, and loving play. For every key area of a child's development (speech, reading, math, social skills, self-awareness, and intelligence), this study aims to show how a child's mind actually learns. The book also offers useful exercises—40 in all—that are meant to highlight childrens' emerging skills and while helping them prepare for tomorrow.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., is a member of the psychology department at Temple University, where she directs the Infant Language Laboratory and participated in one of the nation's largest studies of the effects of child care. The mother of three sons, she also composes and performs children's music.

Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D., is the H. Rodney Sharp Professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware, where she holds a joint appointment with the departments of linguistics and psychology and directs the Infant Language Project. She has also been a recipient of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship and is the mother of a son and a daughter.

Together, Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff were featured on the PBS Human Language series and are the co-authors of How Babies Talk.

Diane Eyer, Ph.D., is a member of the psychology department at Temple University and also the author of Motherguilt and Mother-Infant Bonding.