Amy talks with developmental psychologists Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Dr. Roberta Golinkoff, authors of the newly revised parenting classic EINSTEIN NEVER USED FLASHCARDS, about why today’s parents feel more pressured than ever to optimize every moment of childhood—and why research shows that approach often backfires.

From academic preschools to AI toys, screen time to early reading, Kathy and Roberta explain what actually supports healthy learning and development.

You’ll learn:

Why play-based learning leads to better academic and emotional outcomes
The five key conditions for how the human brain learns best
Why “faster” and “earlier” aren’t better for child development
How everyday moments (like the grocery store or setting the table) are powerful learning opportunities
The effects of AI toys and excessive screen use
How simple games build executive function and social skills
A practical mantra for overwhelmed parents: reflect, resist, recenter

This episode offers science-backed reassurance that children don’t need flashcards, apps, or enrichment overload—what they need most is playful, joyful, human connection.

Here's where you can find Drs. Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff:

@drkathyanddrro on IG
Buy EINSTEIN NEVER USED FLASHCARDS: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593980767

What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.

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What Fresh Hell podcast, mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, play-based learning, Einstein Never Used Flashcards, child development, early childhood education, parenting advice, executive function, screen time for kids, AI toys, learning through play, social emotional development, preschool learning, developmental psychology, parenting pressure, raising kids, how children learn, educational research, parent anxiety, technology and kids

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