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Learning Strategiesby FlashRecall Team

Shichida Flashcards: Do You Really Need Them? A Modern, Cheaper Alternative Most Parents Don’t Know About

Shichida flashcards feel powerful, but the cards are pricey and chaotic. See how a simple Flashrecall deck on your phone gives the same right-brain boost wit...

How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free

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What Are Shichida Flashcards (And Why Are Parents Obsessed)?

Shichida flashcards are part of the Shichida Method, a Japanese early learning approach that focuses on:

  • Right-brain learning
  • Super fast image flashing
  • Building memory and creativity from a young age

If you’ve seen videos of parents flipping hundreds of picture cards at lightning speed in front of toddlers – that’s basically the Shichida-style vibe.

The idea is great: show kids lots of information quickly, train their memory, and make learning feel natural and fun.

But here’s the problem most parents run into:

  • Physical Shichida-style card sets are expensive
  • They take forever to print, cut, laminate, and organize
  • Kids lose interest if the cards are always the same
  • You end up with boxes of cards all over the house

That’s where a modern twist comes in: using a flashcard app instead of giant piles of paper.

If you want the benefits of Shichida-style learning without the chaos, Flashrecall is honestly such a lifesaver:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

You can create your own “Shichida flashcards” on your iPhone or iPad in minutes, and update them anytime.

Shichida Method vs Digital Flashcards: What Actually Matters?

Let’s strip away the brand name and look at what you really want from Shichida flashcards:

  • Fast visual exposure
  • Lots of variety (pictures, words, concepts)
  • Repetition over time so your child remembers
  • Short, focused sessions

You don’t need official Shichida cards to do that.

You just need:

1. Visual cards (images, words, numbers, shapes, flags, animals, whatever you want)

2. A way to show them quickly

3. A system that reminds you to review them so your child doesn’t forget everything

And this is where Flashrecall quietly beats traditional Shichida flashcards.

Why Flashrecall Works So Well As a Shichida-Style Tool

Flashrecall is a flashcard app originally built for students, but it’s honestly perfect for parents doing early learning too.

You can grab it here (free to start):

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Here’s how it lines up with what you want from Shichida flashcards:

1. Make Picture Cards Instantly (No More Printing Marathons)

With Shichida-style learning, you need lots of picture cards.

In Flashrecall, you can create those in seconds:

  • Take a photo of a real object (apple, toy car, dog) → turn it into a flashcard
  • Screenshot or save an image → import it and make a card
  • Use images from PDFs or books → Flashrecall can pull cards out of PDFs
  • Add text + image together (e.g., picture of a cat + the word “Cat”)

Flashrecall can make flashcards from:

  • Images
  • Text
  • PDFs
  • YouTube links
  • Audio
  • Or just cards you type manually

So instead of buying fixed sets, you can build your own “Shichida deck” that actually matches your child’s world and language.

2. Built-In Repetition So You Don’t Forget to Review

One big issue with physical Shichida flashcards:

You have to remember when to show which cards again.

Flashrecall has spaced repetition built in:

  • It automatically schedules reviews based on how well something is remembered
  • You get study reminders so you don’t have to think about it
  • It spaces out cards over days/weeks so info sticks long-term

That means:

  • No more “We haven’t done cards in two weeks… oops”
  • No need to manually rotate card stacks
  • Your child sees the right cards at the right time

You can still “flash” through cards quickly, Shichida-style – but now it’s backed by proven memory science.

3. Active Recall: Not Just Showing, But Asking

The Shichida method often looks like only showing lots of cards fast.

But memory gets much stronger when you don’t just show the answer – you ask for it. That’s called active recall, and Flashrecall is built around it.

Examples:

  • Show a picture of an apple → ask: “What is this?”
  • Show a flag → ask: “Which country is this?”
  • Show a number → ask: “What number is this?”

In Flashrecall, the default flow is:

Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :

Flashrecall spaced repetition reminders notification

1. You see the front of the card

2. You try to remember

3. You tap to reveal the answer

4. Then you rate how easy it was

The app uses that rating to schedule the next review. It takes the Shichida idea of repetition and makes it smarter and more personalized.

4. You Can “Chat” With a Card (For Older Kids)

This part is more for school-age kids, but it’s powerful.

If your child is learning something more complex (science, geography, languages, etc.), Flashrecall lets you chat with the flashcard.

So if there’s a card about “Photosynthesis” or “France” or “Noun,” you can:

  • Ask follow-up questions
  • Get explanations in simple words
  • Go deeper than just “front/back”

It turns basic flashcards into a mini tutor. That’s something physical Shichida cards just can’t do.

5. Works Offline, Anywhere (No More Carrying Boxes)

Physical Shichida-style flashcards:

  • Take space
  • Get lost
  • Are impossible to carry all at once

Flashrecall:

  • Works offline (perfect for trips, waiting rooms, car rides)
  • Lives on your iPhone or iPad
  • Lets you organize decks by topic (Animals, Shapes, Flags, Words, Math, etc.)

You can sneak in a 3–5 minute “Shichida-style” session literally anywhere without lugging a bag of cards.

How to Recreate Shichida-Style Flashcards in Flashrecall (Step-by-Step)

Here’s a simple way to get started without overcomplicating it.

Step 1: Download Flashrecall

Grab it here (free to start, iPhone & iPad):

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Open it up and create a new deck, for example:

  • “Animals – Picture Cards”
  • “First Words”
  • “Flags of the World”

Step 2: Add Cards Super Fast

For a basic picture card:

  • Front: Image (e.g., dog)
  • Back: The word (“Dog”) or the sound (“Woof woof!”)

You can:

  • Use the camera to snap real objects
  • Import cute images you’ve saved
  • Grab pictures from PDFs or online resources

You can easily create 20–50 cards in a short session.

Step 3: Flash Through Cards Quickly

To mimic the Shichida feel:

  • Go through cards at a fast pace
  • Don’t over-explain – just show and name
  • Keep the session short (1–5 minutes)

You can:

  • Swipe quickly through the deck
  • Repeat the same deck 2–3 times
  • Then let Flashrecall handle when to show them again later with spaced repetition

Step 4: Add Active Recall As Your Child Grows

As your child gets older or more confident:

  • Show the picture, let them say the word
  • Then tap to reveal and check
  • Ask simple questions: “What color is it?”, “Where do we see this?”

You’re combining Shichida’s fast exposure with modern memory techniques.

Shichida vs Flashrecall: Quick Comparison

FeatureTraditional Shichida FlashcardsFlashrecall App
CostOften expensive setsFree to start
SetupPrint, cut, laminate, organizeCreate in minutes
CustomizationLimited to what you buyFully customizable
Spaced repetition (smart review)Manual (you track it)Built-in, automatic
Study remindersYou have to rememberApp reminds you
PortabilityBoxes of cardsOn your phone/iPad
Content typesMostly images & wordsImages, text, audio, PDFs, YouTube, AI chat
Works offlineYes (paper)Yes (offline mode)
Subjects coveredWhatever set you buyAnything: languages, school, exams, hobbies

You still get the spirit of Shichida – fast, visual, early learning – but with way less hassle and way more flexibility.

Ideas for Shichida-Style Decks You Can Build in Flashrecall

Here are some fun deck ideas you can create:

  • Animals – Real photos, cartoon versions, animal sounds (use audio)
  • Fruits & Vegetables – Pictures + names, maybe “colors” on the back
  • Shapes & Colors – Simple images + the word
  • Numbers & Dots – Number on one side, dot patterns on the other
  • Flags – Flag on front, country name + capital on back
  • Everyday Objects – Things from your child’s actual environment

As your child grows:

  • Alphabet & Phonics
  • Sight Words
  • Simple Math (2 + 3, 4 – 1, etc.)
  • Languages (English–Spanish, English–Japanese, etc.)
  • Science basics (planets, body parts, animals, weather)

Flashrecall is great for languages, exams, school subjects, university, medicine, business – literally anything, so you won’t outgrow it. You can start with toddler picture cards and end up using the same app for exam prep later.

So… Do You Still Need Official Shichida Flashcards?

If you like the brand and you’re happy to spend money and time on physical cards, go for it.

But if you:

  • Want something cheaper
  • Want something faster to set up
  • Want automatic reminders and smart review scheduling
  • Want to avoid drowning in paper

Then building your own Shichida-style flashcards in Flashrecall is honestly a better long-term move.

You still get:

  • Fast image flashing
  • Tons of visual input
  • Repetition over time

But you also get:

  • Spaced repetition
  • Active recall
  • Study reminders
  • AI chat with cards
  • Offline access
  • A clean, modern, easy-to-use interface

If you’re curious, just try it with one simple deck (like Animals or First Words) and see how it feels.

Download Flashrecall here and start building your own Shichida-style learning system today:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

What's the most effective study method?

Research consistently shows that active recall combined with spaced repetition is the most effective study method. Flashrecall automates both techniques, making it easy to study effectively without the manual work.

How can I improve my memory?

Memory improves with active recall practice and spaced repetition. Flashrecall uses these proven techniques automatically, helping you remember information long-term.

What should I know about Shichida?

Shichida Flashcards: Do You Really Need Them? A Modern, Cheaper Alternative Most Parents Don’t Know About covers essential information about Shichida. To master this topic, use Flashrecall to create flashcards from your notes and study them with spaced repetition.

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