An enlightening guide to how infants, toddlers, and children learn and why play is the key to enhancing your child’s development—now revised and updated with a new chapter on the impacts of screen time “An authoritative, up-to-date playbook on why we should raise our children to be learn-it-alls, not know-it-alls—plus practical advice on how parents can do that!”—Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author of Grit “A breath of fresh air for moms, dads, and childcare professionals.”—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and New York Times bestselling author of When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows In Einstein Never Used Flash Cards , award-winning early childhood development experts Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, PhD, show how parents can help their children succeed while reducing the pressures they both face. They offer a compelling message for today’s parents: rather than invest in expensive enrichment programs and “educational” apps and toys, the best way to boost brainpower and interpersonal skills is to let children play. In fact, free and guided play is a better way for kids to learn and for parents to enjoy their children. Drawing on overwhelming scientific evidence, Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff explain how learning works from a child’s point of view. They address how kids pick up key mathematical concepts, acquire language, develop a sense of self, and more. They also offer more than forty age-appropriate activities for children under nine. These simple, fun—yet powerful—exercises work as well or better than unnecessary interventions to engage kids and their ever-active, curious minds. This revised edition also includes the latest findings on how play supports learning, as well as a new chapter on the benefits and downsides of time spent with digital media. Packed with insights from fascinating studies and reassuring advice, Einstein Never Used Flash Cards empowers readers to help their children thrive while bringing more joy to the hard work of parenting. “An authoritative, up-to-date playbook on why we should raise our children to be learn-it-alls, not know-it-alls—plus practical advice on how parents can do that!” —Angela Duckworth, Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and New York Times bestselling author of Grit “A compelling case to stop drilling—and start making learning fun. This book is a breath of fresh air; it’s anchored on strong science, it’s full of practical tips for parents and teachers, and it’s more relevant than ever.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again , and host of the podcast Re:Thinking “ Einstein Never Used Flash Cards offers an exceptionally clear-eyed—and reassuring—guide to what really matters for your child's development and how to develop a growth mindset. Einstein heralds the return of joyful parenting and real learning—mistakes and all!” —Carol S. Dweck, PhD, Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and author of Mindset “ Einstein Never Used Flashcards changed how we think about children and learning. In this outstanding new edition, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Golinkoff take on our screen-saturated world, showing how play, curiosity, and human connection still matter most. Smart, humane, and deeply practical, this is essential reading for parents, teachers, and anyone who cares about how children grow.” —Paul Bloom, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and Yale University, and author of Psych: The Story of the Human Mind “This book is a breath of fresh air for moms, dads, and childcare professionals who have been turned into anxious wrecks by the parenting industrial complex. With a light touch and an acute scientific eye, it analyzes what we do and don’t know about how to foster children’s development.” —Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and New York Times bestselling author of When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows “A smashingly good book.” —Edward Zigler, PhD, director, Yale’s Center in Child Development and Social Policy, and the “father” of Head Start programs “Parents will find a valuable message if they stick with the program, ultimately relieving themselves and their offspring of stress and creating a more balanced life.” — Publishers Weekly “Parents will better comprehend each of the significant areas of development—math, reading, verbal communication, science, self-awareness, and social skills—and get a grasp of what is scientifically proven to help children learn and grow. . . . Highly recommended.” — Library Journal Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, is a professor in the psychology department at Temple University, where she directs the Temple Infant and Child Laboratory and studies how children learn and flourish. She is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where