The real excitement is collaborating with computer scientists and neuroscientists and starting to understand in detail how children learn so much so quickly. Alison Gopnik childcollaboratecomputer Change image and share on social
Historically, absolute IQ scores have risen substantially as we've changed our environment so that more people go to school longer. Alison Gopnik absolutechangeenvironment Change image and share on social
One of the best ways of understanding human nature is to study children. After all, if we want understand who we are, we should find out how we got to be that way. Alison Gopnik childfindhuman Change image and share on social
The brain is highly structured, but it is also extremely flexible. It's not a blank slate, but it isn't written in stone, either. Alison Gopnik blankbrainextremely Change image and share on social
What makes knowledge automatic is what gets you to Carnegie Hall - practice, practice, practice. Alison Gopnik automaticcarnegiehall Change image and share on social
As adults, when we attend to something in the world we are vividly conscious of that particular thing, and we shut out the surrounding world. The classic metaphor is that attention is like a spotlight, illuminating one part of the world and leaving the rest in darkness. Alison Gopnik adultattendattention share on social
If parents are the fixed stars in the child's universe, the vaguely understood, distant but constant celestial spheres, siblings are the dazzling, sometimes scorching comets whizzing nearby. Alison Gopnik celestialchildcomet Change image and share on social
Our babies are like penguins; penguin babies can't exist unless more than one person is taking care of them. They just can't keep going. Alison Gopnik babycareexist Change image and share on social
Childhood is a fundamental part of all human lives, parents or not, since that's how we all start out. And yet babies and young children are so mysterious and puzzling and even paradoxical. Alison Gopnik babychildchildhood Change image and share on social
I'm afraid the parenting advice to come out of developmental psychology is very boring: pay attention to your kids and love them. Alison Gopnik adviceafraidattention Change image and share on social
