Lisa Guernsey

"Ideally, new attention to children's attention could lead to some crossover between the health and education communities," said Lisa Guernsey, an early education analyst at the New America Foundation who compiled the findings of several studies that came to strikingly similar conclusions downplaying the long-term consequences of bad behavior. The most recent research was published last month in the journal Pediatrics.

This story has been brought to you by the letter S and the numbers 15 and 40. (Or, as the Count might say in his adorable Transylvanian accent, "fivteen and forrrty-HA, HA, HA!") The S, as anyone who has ever watched television can deduce by now, stands for Sesame Street. The 40 is almost as easy: this year marks the 40th anniversary of sunny days, friendly neighbors and the fuzzy creatures who live on that street where the air is sweet. If you haven't watched recently… more

We wanted to find out how parents can encourage their kids’ use of technology without losing control. So we called up two experts in the field. First, Warren Buckleitner, editor of Children’s Technology Review, and author of a recent study on young children’s tech habits, and Lisa Guernsey, senior policy analyst at New America Foundation, and author of the 2007 book Into the Minds of Babes. Link to audio

"This study is really good news for parents," says Lisa Guernsey, the author of "Into the Minds of Babes: How Screen Time Affects Children From Birth to Age 5." "It’s a study about how much parents matter in some ways. It’s basically telling us that TV used at these very young ages is not having a significant effect for good or for ill if it’s a relatively low amount of TV watching.

Director, Early Education Initiative

As Director of New America's Early Education Initiative, Ms. Guernsey focuses on how to create and scale up the best learning environments for children in their early years, from toddlerhood through third grade. In her research and writing, she works to elevate dialogue about early childhood education by analyzing new… more

For decades, psychologists have warned against giving children prizes or money for their performance in school. "Extrinsic" rewards, they say - a stuffed animal for a 4-year-old who learns her alphabet, cash for a good report card in middle or high school - can undermine the joy of learning for its own sake and can even lead to cheating. But many economists and businesspeople disagree, and their views often prevail in the educational marketplace. Reward programs that pay students are under way in many cities. In