The Science of Learning That Sticks
A KidStella program is a short, calm way to learn for children aged 5–8, built on well-replicated learning research: pictures with narration, recalling instead of rewatching, ideas that come back over days, and conversation with a grown-up.
The 7 research pillars
- Pictures and words together (Mayer; Paivio). Every lesson is narrated, and the pictures show exactly what the voice is saying, so children who cannot read yet follow it.
- One idea at a time (Mayer; Fisher et al.). Each lesson teaches one key idea, with plain backgrounds and nothing on screen pulling attention away.
- Recalling, not rewatching (Roediger & Karpicke). After each lesson your child answers a short question on their own.
- Calm lessons and a screen that ends (Lillard & Peterson). Steady pacing, real cause and effect, and nothing that plays next on its own.
- Coming back over days (Cepeda et al.). “Do you remember?” returns in the next lesson and again after about 1, 3, 7 and 14 days.
- Together, and in real life (Hirsh-Pasek et al.; Romeo et al.). Each part brings a mission at home with a grown-up and a question to talk about.
- Guess first, then explain why (Brod). In the listen mission Stella asks for a guess before the lesson and “why?” afterwards.
Every source is listed in our research library.