Shichida Flashcards: Do They Really Boost Genius Kids Or Is There A Smarter Way To Learn? – Discover a modern flashcard method that actually grows with your child (and you)
Shichida flashcards in plain language: what they are, what actually works, what’s overhyped, and how to copy the good parts with a flexible app.
How Flashrecall app helps you remember faster. It's free
What Are Shichida Flashcards (In Normal-Person Language)?
You’ve probably seen those Shichida-style flashcards on TikTok or YouTube:
parents flipping cards at lightning speed in front of toddlers, promising “right-brain activation” and “genius kids.”
In simple terms, Shichida flashcards are:
- Big, colorful picture cards
- Flashed super fast (like 1 card per second or faster)
- Used mainly with babies and toddlers
- Based on the idea of training the “right brain” early
Whether you fully buy into the “right-brain training” science or not, the core idea is solid:
> Expose kids to information early, repeat it, and make it visual.
That’s basically flashcards.
But here’s the thing:
Physical Shichida cards are expensive, hard to customize, and your kid will outgrow them fast.
This is where a modern tool like Flashrecall comes in:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
You can recreate the good parts of Shichida flashcards (visual, repetitive, playful learning) while avoiding the downsides… and actually keep using the same app as your child grows into school, exams, languages, and more.
Let’s break it down.
The Pros And Cons Of Shichida Flashcards
The Good Stuff
Why do so many parents like Shichida-style flashcards?
- Visual learning – Kids respond well to pictures, colors, and simple images.
- Early exposure – Animals, numbers, flags, words, shapes… kids see a lot of concepts early.
- Routine – Daily flashcard time becomes a habit, which is great for learning.
- Parent–child interaction – You’re actually sitting with your kid and learning together.
Honestly, that part is great. Kids benefit from repetition and visual cues.
The Not-So-Great Stuff
But there are some real issues:
- They’re expensive – Official sets can be pricey, especially if you want lots of topics.
- You can’t easily customize – Want cards in your own language, with your family, your city, your culture? Hard to do with pre-printed decks.
- Storage nightmare – Hundreds of cards = clutter.
- No tracking – You don’t know what your kid remembers or needs more help with.
- They don’t grow with your child – Once you move beyond pictures of apples and dogs, then what?
This is where digital flashcards, especially something like Flashrecall, completely change the game.
How To Recreate Shichida-Style Learning Digitally (But Smarter)
Instead of buying a giant box of physical cards, you can:
- Use your phone or iPad
- Create visual flashcards in seconds
- Let the app handle when to review each card so your child actually remembers
That’s literally what Flashrecall is built for:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Why Flashrecall Works So Well For “Shichida-Style” Learning
Flashrecall is a flashcard maker app that’s:
- Fast and modern – Not clunky, not ugly, just simple and easy to use
- Free to start – You can test it without paying
- Works on iPhone and iPad – Perfect for parents already using iOS devices
- Works offline – Great for travel, waiting rooms, or screen-time on the go
But the big win is this:
> It mixes the visual repetition of Shichida with spaced repetition and active recall – the same science used by top medical and language students.
So instead of just flashing cards randomly, Flashrecall intelligently schedules reviews so your child (or you) actually remember long term.
What Flashrecall Can Do That Paper Shichida Cards Can’t
Here’s where it gets fun. With Flashrecall, you can make flashcards from almost anything:
- Images – Take a picture of objects around your house (cup, chair, dog) and turn them into cards.
- Text – Type words, numbers, letters, simple sentences.
- Audio – Record your voice saying the word so your child hears your pronunciation.
- PDFs – Got a kids’ workbook or printables? Turn pages into cards.
- YouTube links – Learning video? Grab key ideas as flashcards.
- Typed prompts – Just type what you want, and the app can help generate flashcards.
All inside one app:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
You can also make flashcards manually if you like full control.
Example: Turning Your Home Into A Learning Deck
Let’s say you want to teach your toddler basic vocabulary like Shichida cards do.
You could create a “My Home” deck in Flashrecall:
- Front: Photo of your fridge
- Back: The word “fridge” + your recorded voice saying it
- Front: Photo of your dog
- Back: “Dog” + the sound “woof woof!”
- Front: Picture of grandma
- Back: “Grandma” in your own language
Flashrecall automatically keeps track and reminds you of the cards you don't remember well so you remember faster. Like this :
Now you’re not just using generic animal pictures – you’re using your child’s real world. That’s way more meaningful and memorable.
But What About The “Right Brain” And Speed-Flashing?
Shichida focuses a lot on rapid flashing (1 card per second) and “right-brain training.”
The science on that specific claim is… let’s say, debatable.
What is very well proven:
- Kids (and adults) remember better with spaced repetition
- Active recall (trying to remember the answer before seeing it) boosts memory
- Consistent exposure over time beats cramming
Flashrecall bakes those into the app:
- Built-in spaced repetition – It automatically decides when to show each card again so memory sticks.
- Built-in active recall – You see the question/card front first, try to answer, then flip for the solution.
- Study reminders – You get gentle nudges to review so you don’t forget.
You can still show the cards quickly if you want that Shichida vibe,
but now you’re combining it with real learning science.
Using Flashrecall With Kids vs. Using It For Yourself
Here’s the cool part:
Shichida is basically only for little kids.
Flashrecall? It grows with you.
For Kids
You can create decks for:
- Colors
- Animals
- Shapes
- Numbers
- Simple words
- Family members
- Daily routines (“brush teeth”, “sleep”, “eat”)
Use big images, audio, and keep sessions short and fun.
For Older Kids And Teens
Same app, more advanced decks:
- School subjects: science, geography, history
- Languages: vocabulary, phrases, grammar
- Exam prep: SAT, ACT, GCSE, A-levels, whatever they’re taking
For You (The Parent)
Flashrecall is also amazing for:
- Learning a new language
- Memorizing business concepts or presentations
- Studying for professional exams
- Medicine, nursing, law, coding – anything memory-heavy
You can even chat with the flashcard in Flashrecall if you’re unsure about something.
So if a concept is confusing, you can ask follow-up questions inside the app to understand it better.
One app, whole family.
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
How To Set Up A “Modern Shichida System” With Flashrecall
Here’s a simple way to get started without overcomplicating things.
Step 1: Pick 1–2 Topics
For a toddler:
- Animals
- Colors
For an older kid:
- Times tables
- Countries and capitals
For you:
- Language vocabulary
- Exam formulas or definitions
Step 2: Create 10–20 Cards (Max) To Start
Keep it super light so nobody gets overwhelmed.
Examples:
- Front: 🐘 picture – Back: “Elephant” + audio
- Front: “What color is this?” + red circle – Back: “Red”
- Front: “Capital of Japan?” – Back: “Tokyo”
Use images, text, and audio. Flashrecall makes this really fast.
Step 3: Do Short, Fun Sessions
For kids:
- 3–5 minutes
- 1–2 times per day
- Stop while they’re still interested
For you:
- 10–15 minutes per day
- Let the spaced repetition system decide what to review
Step 4: Let Flashrecall Handle The Timing
You don’t need to remember which cards to repeat when.
The app’s spaced repetition system will:
- Show new cards more often at first
- Gradually space them out as you remember them
- Bring them back right before you’re about to forget
That’s something Shichida paper cards simply can’t do.
Shichida vs. Flashrecall: Which Is Better?
Let’s compare them quickly.
Shichida Flashcards
- Visual
- Simple
- Good for very young kids
- Creates a learning routine
- Expensive
- Hard to customize
- Lots of clutter
- No tracking or smart review
- Kids outgrow them quickly
Flashrecall
- Easy to create custom decks for any topic or age
- Makes flashcards from images, text, audio, PDFs, YouTube, or manual input
- Built-in spaced repetition and active recall
- Study reminders so you don’t forget to review
- Works offline
- Works on iPhone and iPad
- Fast, modern, and free to start
- Great for kids, students, professionals – literally any subject
- You’ll need a device (phone or iPad)
- You have to set up a few decks at the start (though it’s quick)
If you like the idea behind Shichida—early learning, visuals, repetition—Flashrecall gives you all that, plus real memory science and flexibility.
So… Should You Still Use Shichida Flashcards?
If you already own Shichida cards, you can absolutely still use them.
But you don’t need to be locked into expensive physical sets.
You can:
- Take photos of your existing Shichida cards
- Turn them into digital flashcards inside Flashrecall
- Add audio, translations, or extra info
- Let spaced repetition handle the review schedule
And then keep building new decks as your child grows.
If you’re starting from scratch, you can skip the physical cards completely and go straight to a flexible, smarter system.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need magic “right-brain” secrets to help your child (or yourself) learn.
You need:
- Clear information
- Repetition spaced over time
- Active recall
- A system that’s easy enough that you’ll actually use it
Shichida flashcards nailed the “visual repetition” part.
Flashrecall takes that idea and upgrades it for real life, real science, and every age.
If you want a simple, powerful way to create Shichida-style flashcards (and way beyond), try Flashrecall here:
👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085
Set up one small deck, do a few minutes a day, and let the app handle the rest.
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 best way to learn vocabulary?
Research shows that combining flashcards with spaced repetition and active recall is highly effective. Flashrecall automates this process, generating cards from your study materials and scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.
Related Articles
- Abeka Letter Picture Flashcards: Smarter Ways To Teach Phonics And ABCs With Powerful Digital Cards – Discover how to turn Abeka-style letter picture cards into interactive, smart flashcards kids actually love.
- Dinosaur Flashcards: The Ultimate Way To Make Kids Obsessed With Learning (Not Just Roaring) – Discover fun, interactive dinosaur flashcards that actually teach, not just entertain.
- Oxford Flashcards: The Complete Guide To Smarter Studying (And The Faster Digital Upgrade Most Students Don’t Know About) – Discover how to turn classic Oxford-style flashcards into a powerful, modern system that helps you remember more in less time.
Research References
The information in this article is based on peer-reviewed research and established studies in cognitive psychology and learning science.
Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380
Meta-analysis showing spaced repetition significantly improves long-term retention compared to massed practice
Carpenter, S. K., Cepeda, N. J., Rohrer, D., Kang, S. H., & Pashler, H. (2012). Using spacing to enhance diverse forms of learning: Review of recent research and implications for instruction. Educational Psychology Review, 24(3), 369-378
Review showing spacing effects work across different types of learning materials and contexts
Kang, S. H. (2016). Spaced repetition promotes efficient and effective learning: Policy implications for instruction. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 12-19
Policy review advocating for spaced repetition in educational settings based on extensive research evidence
Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966-968
Research demonstrating that active recall (retrieval practice) is more effective than re-reading for long-term learning
Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1), 20-27
Review of research showing retrieval practice (active recall) as one of the most effective learning strategies
Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J., & Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques: Promising directions from cognitive and educational psychology. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58
Comprehensive review ranking learning techniques, with practice testing and distributed practice rated as highly effective

FlashRecall Team
FlashRecall Development Team
The FlashRecall Team is a group of working professionals and developers who are passionate about making effective study methods more accessible to students. We believe that evidence-based learning tec...
Credentials & Qualifications
- •Software Development
- •Product Development
- •User Experience Design
Areas of Expertise
Ready to Transform Your Learning?
Start using FlashRecall today - the AI-powered flashcard app with spaced repetition and active recall.
Download on App Store