This is Enbiar's Life Kid. I'm Anya Kamenets.

And I'm a Corey Turner. We host Life Kid's Parenting episodes.

Uh-huh, and so let's just put it out there. The reason why we make these episodes and why you're listening, probably, is because we all want our kids to be the best that they can be.

Right, and it can be really tempting. I know to go all out. You know, we get the latest app, run math drills with your five-year-old,

because after all, there are just a few precious years to cram them full of information. Right?

We want our children to be head, and they should be ready to be CEO of a major corporation by the time they have the footsteps into school.

Um, well, it doesn't quite work that way.

That's Kathy Hirsch-Paisik. She's a professor of psychology at Temple University with a focus all on little kids.

And she's the co-author of the book Becoming Brilliant, what science tells us about raising successful children.

Yeah, and Kathy says there's a misconception that parents need to force feed kids, reading and writing, practically as soon as they're out of the womb.

There's a mobile you can buy. The mobile allows you to learn six languages just because you have the mobile over the crib.

Police. Right, so hold on, so Kathy, so this is your golden opportunity now.

Okay, go. To speak directly to all of these over-zealous, anxious parents.

And full disclosure, I have been one of them at times.

Oh, I am too. Every parent is.

So explain to them why they need to cool their jets.

Yeah, cool your jets because it's healthier for your child.

Think of it this way. Do you want a prokosh's kid with a bunch of facts memorized, or would you like to have a happy, healthy, caring, thinking?

Notice thinking is there child who is going to grow up to be a collaborative person, a creative innovator, and a social person while also being a good citizen.

Oh, I'll take door number two.

Okay, so the question then becomes how do you get there?

So in this light kid episode, bringing up brilliant kids.

...