Parents do everything they possibly can to give kids what they need to grow up well. Most of those efforts are focused around cognitive or physical development. Music training. Limited TV. Flash cards between naps and trips to the Superstore. Languages. Swimming, soccer, dance. The list goes on.
But many parents today are recognizing that cognitive and physical development aren't everything: There is a rising interest in emotional awareness, and this focus is supported by new research. WeeFeel, an emerging Vancouver kids app startup, offers iPad apps that help kids connect with and express their emotions, to foster early development of emotional skills. Montessori teachers and parents alike are getting great results with the apps.
New research results suggests that emotional awareness is even more critical to healthy childhood development than previously thought. Significant systematic studies from large consortiums like Chicago-based CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) are demonstrating that performance in nearly every sphere - academic, social, even health - is directly linked to how well kids manage their emotions.
The question on most parents' minds, though, is how can they help with that? The makers of Weefeel have designed a new story-based vehicle - using vivid and captivating digital platforms - that offers kids and parents a new way to identify and better manage their own feelings.
To achieve this, WeeFeel uses both known storytelling techniques and entirely new methods. WeeFeel apps feature vivid, funny characters, rendered in a uniquely executed parallax storytelling style. WeeFeel apps are designed to help kids feel feelings by relating to the characters - and then identify those feelings themselves. All this connects very closely with Montessori principles. (The entire business plan was inspired by these principles, in fact.)
Teachers definitely approve of beta versions of the new apps - many state that they have been looking for these kind of tools to introduce into their curriculum.
"This is an innovative way for children to explore their emotions", said Pamela P and Anna K, kindergarten teachers based in Vancouver, BC with over 30 years of teaching experience.
And early test-group parents have seen positive results; parents have been happy to introduce a new resource into their kids' educational solar system.
The first in the WeeFeel series of apps, The Bubble Bomps 1.0 is $2.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Education category. For more information please contact Jessica Vieira.