Einstein Never Used Flashcards

I have finally finished reading this book: Einstein Never used Flashcards by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PH.D, and Roberta Michnick Golinkkoff, PH.D.

I would think this is by far, THE BEST baby/toddler book I've read. Written by child psychologists, this book provides insights to how children really learn - through playing. Backed by scientific research and psychological studies, the authors advocate the need to 'reflect, resist and recenter' our parenting mantra, and emphasize the importance of 'play' in the lives of our little ones.

Some note-worthy points in the book include:

1. Parents are not omnipotent. They DO NOT NEED to be the sculptor of their child's future lives. Parents are but gardeners who can nurture their children, but they ARE NOT responsible for how their children is going to turn out. So maybe it's time for parents to JUST RELAX, and not think that how our children is going to turn depends entirely on what we do.

2. It's not just about IQ, it's about EQ, for success in life. Children solely confined in a classroom environment are not going to be good in EQ.

3. Children learns best through UNSTRUCTURED play. Too much structure in a kid's life (enrichment classes, scheduled sports, etc.) leads to passiveness in a child. It does not help in cultivating a love for learning, inhibits creativity and kills the perseverance spirit, that is crucial for learning.

4. Learning should be child-led and not parents-led. Play and activities should be age-appropriate as well. Too much stimulation at infancy stage could actually lead to hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorders in future.

Apart from the above note-worthy points, the book also covers how children naturally acquire literacy; how children learn about Math; how do you definite intelligence and even developing social intelligence.

After reading this book, it really sends a shiver down my spine about the kind of education system we have in Singapore, and how many parents these days can't wait to send their kids to enrichment classes, music classes, as early as 1yo (or younger). What kind of childhood are we giving our children? What are they missing out? How would our future generation turn out?

What kind of kids do you really want to have? I would sincerely recommend this book to parents who want their kids to grow up having a strong EQ, realizing their potential to the fullest.

It's really time to reflect, resist and re-center. Sometimes less is more.