Field notes
How kids learn, and where AI fits.
Short, research-backed guides for parents. Every claim links to the study behind it.
- AI & learning · 9 min read · October 14, 2026
Can an AI tutor help my child learn, or will it just do the work?
What randomized trials of AI tutors actually found, why unguarded chatbots can lower test scores, and the prompts and house rules that keep kids doing the thinking.
- Study skills · 7 min read · October 14, 2026
Why quizzes beat rereading: retrieval practice for kids at home
Decades of memory research show that recalling an answer builds stronger learning than reviewing it. Here is the evidence and a ten-minute routine for elementary kids.
- Study skills · 6 min read · October 14, 2026
How far apart should flashcard practice be? Spacing for elementary kids
The spacing effect explained for parents: what the studies say about gaps between practice, a simple schedule for spelling and math facts, and the mistakes to avoid.
- Motivation · 8 min read · October 14, 2026
Should kids earn screen time for learning? What motivation research says
Do rewards kill a love of learning? A fair reading of the reward and gamification studies, and how to design a points system that helps instead of backfiring.
- AI & learning · 7 min read · October 14, 2026
AI literacy for kids ages 6 to 11: what to teach and how
A parent’s guide to the five big ideas of AI, age rules for chatbots, and simple at-home activities that help young children understand, question and safely use AI.