Parents and Caregivers
Our Philosophy
JELKIDS produces educational software designed to enhance children's early cognitive development through imaginative play experiences enriched with thematic elements and printed materials. Our approach fosters symbolic thinking, prop creation, and imaginative role-playing, crucial for young minds to form original thoughts and representations.
In today's tech-driven world, concerns arise about the displacement of imaginative play by screen-based activities. Our philosophy emphasizes the importance of dramatic play, where children construct narratives using props and roles, vital for developing imaginative representation and cognitive skills.
Extensive research supports the vital link between dramatic play and literacy development. Through representational thought during play, children learn to understand symbols, paving the way from concrete to abstract thinking. Environments rich in print and thematic play materials further enhance literacy skills and comprehension.
"Ready to Learn"
Our games contain a "Ready to Learn" component. We add exposure "items and concepts" not explicitly taught in the games. Research shows that when learning new information, students will learn more quickly when they have seen the information previously even though direct instruction did not occur. Check out this article featured in Neurosciencenews.com.
Just Being Exposed to New Things Makes People 'Ready to Learn'
Discover the Power of JELKIDS
Early Childhood Experts
We are passionate about teaching and dedicated to helping children improve skills. Our engaging and interactive course materials make learning fun and effective. Our activities and courses are designed to help your child retain information and apply their learning in real-world situations.
Hands-on Activities and Prop Play
A child’s ability to engage in imaginative representational thought through dramatic play, also known as pretend play, is necessary for their development and research for this type of play during the early childhood years is extensive.
- Pretend play is the means in which a child practices and consolidates broad cognitive skills, such as symbolic representation and emerging literacy skills, such as print awareness.
- A child's level of pretend skill was shown to be predictive of emergent writing abilities.
- Symbolic play is when children use objects to represent other things. Symbolic play occurs during imaginative pretend play. There is a relationship between the symbolic play of children and oral and written language.
- Pretend play is the means by which a child develops skills necessary to understand that letters and words are symbols and represent sounds, objects and thoughts. This process helps children go from concrete to abstract thinking.
- Environments that encourage print-rich play have been shown to produce positive results for increasing children’s literacy development. Environments supplemented with literacy materials and theme-based play, enhance children’s literacy development. Combining these components increases children’s literacy behaviors during play, concepts of print, comprehension strategies, and understanding of story structure.
Resources for Parents
At JELKIDS, we believe that every child can achieve academic excellence with the right support and guidance.
Check out these resources:
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for families
How Kids Learn to Play: 6 Stages of Play Development (Pathways.org)
Early Social Emotional Development (Pathways.org)
Young Children (NAEYC's Digital journal archive)
What is a Childhood Beyond Brands? (fairplayforkids.org)
Be Tech Wise With Preschoolers! (fairplayforkids.org)
*JELKIDS is not affiliated with any organizations listed.
Stages of Play
Our activities promote a children's movement through the developmental stages of play.
Unoccupied
Walks aimlessly, on, off furniture
Onlooker
Stands within hearing and seeing distance
Solitary
Plays independently (2-3 yrs. old)
Parallel
Plays next to others, does not share (pre-k)
Associative
Plays with others, slightly organized
Cooperative
Organized, negotiating, theme
Engaging activities also promote speaking, negotiating, and developing differing points of view while learning math, literacy, science, and social studies. Combine these activities with hands on active play props and children's learning comes to life.
