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Learning Strategiesby FlashRecall Team

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

FlashRecall shichida flashcards flashcard app screenshot showing learning strategies study interface with spaced repetition reminders and active recall practice
FlashRecall shichida flashcards study app interface demonstrating learning strategies flashcards with AI-powered card creation and review scheduling
FlashRecall shichida flashcards flashcard maker app displaying learning strategies learning features including card creation, review sessions, and progress tracking
FlashRecall shichida flashcards study app screenshot with learning strategies flashcards showing review interface, spaced repetition algorithm, and memory retention tools

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 :

Flashrecall spaced repetition study reminders notification showing when to review flashcards for better memory retention

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

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

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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...

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