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Q1 2025 Blog: Yellow Door Q&A  

 

Much of Yellow Door’s content is inspired by customer feedback. How essential is it for you and your team to receive feedback on your content and how it helps create or modify content?

It’s a privilege and a joy to be welcomed into early childhood environments to work with children and educators throughout the development process. To ensure the design, content and appeal of new products offer optimum play value and learning opportunities, we talk to educators and children who offer a wealth of valuable ideas. This ensures the final products are robust enough to deliver learning opportunities through early childhood play experiences.
It’s wonderful to watch children play and see the additional value they get from the resources. Recently, our Fish – Sensory Play Stones were put to the test as they went on adventures swimming in the muddy pond, hiding under the Play Shell then cleaned off as they sped down water shoots into a clean water tray! We watched the co-operation and collaboration as children talked, imagined, explored, and learned from each other. Children’s curiosity about the natural world is limitless, and the nursery provided an indoor world of fish stories and activities to bring the fish indoors and extend their interest.
On another occasion, the children tested our “Discover Dinosaurs” app and questioned “Why don’t they roar?”, “Can they walk?”, and “What do they eat?”. These questions further shaped the development of this successful app.

“Alphabet Pebbles” is one of Yellow Door’s most popular titles. How did the feedback of this title help inspire other Sensory titles, as well Science & Nature titles?

Alphabet pebbles are a great example of how important testing and feedback are in the creation of Yellow Door products. We developed them back in 2008, and it was the first time we had tried to produce anything with stone.

We started out by tampa printing with ceramic paint on real river stones. However, when we took them into Early Childhood environments, we quickly discovered that if you put anything on the surface of a stone, it can be ground off, especially when used in sand (just think about how sand is made), and who wouldn’t want to play with pebbles in sand? This started a challenging manufacturing journey, and we found we could only achieve the durability we wanted by engraving each letter shape into the surface of the stone and applying a non-fade paint to each letter by hand.

We’ve been making our alphabet pebbles, and all our stone products, that way ever since because there’s no other way to create a product with all the natural appeal of real stone that stands up to rigorous use in an early childhood environment.

The tactile, visual and play appeal of these stones has been developed over many years into a wide range of sensory stones.

Our science and nature products have required creative innovation to develop familiar recognizable objects and shapes in a wide color palette with an appealing texture that meets all regulations and certification so it’s safe for children 2 years and above.

What are some new titles/projects that Yellow Door is currently working on that we can expect to see in 2025?

We have lots of exciting products in development for later this year and early 2026.
There will be a new addition to our best-selling “Let’s Roll” range and our popular Sensory Play Stones collection will continue to grow with new sets in our Mud Kitchen and Exploring the World ranges.

Other ideas are brand new, but we’re keeping them a secret for now! We’ll be using familiar materials and some new ones too, all while continuing to be environmentally aware in our choices.

We have recently launched a Discover Dinosaurs app and have a lovely idea for an app that we are working hard to make a reality, so look out for news on our website and register for email updates.

Play is at the heart of Yellow Door’s mission. How important is Play in early learning development?

As Maria Montessori famously said, ‘Play is the work of the child’. During a child’s formative years, play is the essential foundation upon which all learning and development are built. Through play, children make sense of the world, absorb new concepts, practice new skills, forge friendships, and develop confidence. It is a deeply enriching and therapeutic experience offering clarity, calm and comfort while embedding essential life skills. The deeper the engagement, the stronger the connections – both in the brain and in the child’s understanding of the world.

Children are intrinsically drawn to the natural world and learn best when engaged with visually appealing, tactile resources. This is why so many of our products draw inspiration from nature and are weatherproof, durable and designed to withstand robust, outdoor exploration.

From Traditional Tales books, apps and wooden characters to our popular dinosaur and bug-themed collections, our products are designed to spark curiosity and nurture children’s innate drive for discovery.

The Yellow Door approach is to offer digital play experiences alongside physical play to deepen learning. Our apps have been structured to develop skills in line with early learning standards, using a variety of visual representations, animations and simple interactions which put the child at the centre of their own learning.
We create apps to add value and give children a positive experience of using technology as they learn and grow. Digital environments allow children to discover and play in an imaginary world, encouraging children to explore, investigate and deepen their understanding in an interactive hands-on way.
We also support educators with expert pedagogy, providing a collection of downloadable materials to support our resources, proving practical ways to inspire learning, extend play and reinforce key learning concepts. Because when play is enriched with carefully curated resources, the learning stays with children long after the play has ended.

What is the history behind Yellow Door the company? How and why was it founded?

Yellow Door was founded in 2006 and from the beginning, play has been at the heart of everything we do. Our aim is to spread the joy of play-based learning through resources that inspire, excite and delight! Our products are well-loved and well-known for their quality, innovative design and open-ended nature.

We’re proud to offer a creative combination of resources in a variety of formats from digital software to hands-on resources made from natural, quality materials like stone and sustainably-source wood. Together, they provide rich educational opportunities for children to explore early learning concepts in hands-on meaningful ways.

Q4 Blog: Enhancing Education Through Bilingualism with Smile & Learn

 

“Smile and Learn is an educational tool that motivates and enhances student learning. Achieving research projects like the ones we carry out at Smile and Learn is not easy, which reaffirms the interest of the entities to support this evaluation of our digital material for inclusion in educational centers. The results obtained have been very positive for Smile and Learn and its main beneficiaries are, as is our objective, the children.”

 

AWE: “What are some new and engaging projects that Smile & Learn has been working on?

S&L: “Smile and Learn has been actively expanding its offerings with exciting new developments. We’ve introduced robotics and programming content, including both theoretical videos and practical activities, to engage students in key STEM areas. Our reading resources have been enhanced with materials aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), featuring texts adapted to multiple levels of vocabulary and grammar so that all students, regardless of their proficiency, can enjoy the same stories. We’re also working on collaborative gameplay to foster teamwork and interaction. Additionally, we’re launching financial education resources to build essential life skills and expanding our socioemotional learning content. This now ranges from recognizing and managing emotions to developing conflict resolution strategies tailored to different developmental stages!” 

 

 

AWE: “How do kids utilize Smile & Learn in and out of the classroom and how has it benefited their education?”

S&L: “Inside the classroom, students benefit from engaging activities that align with curricula, including videos, games, and interactive exercises that reinforce subjects like math, science, and literacy. Teachers can utilize the platform to create personalized learning experiences, adapting content to each child’s needs and monitoring their progress. Outside the classroom, Smile & Learn extends the learning experience with activities that go beyond academics, focusing on personal growth. These include socioemotional learning resources to help children understand and manage emotions, as well as activities that develop logical and critical thinking skills. By exploring such a variety of topics, students are encouraged to discover more about their interests and strengths, fostering curiosity and self-awareness not just in the classroom but also with their families in their homes. The platform’s focus on holistic development ensures that children not only master academic skills but also gain tools to navigate the world around them, making learning meaningful and impactful both in school and at home. 

 

AWE: “How beneficial has it been in utilizing both English and Spanish versions of the content? How do public libraries benefit from utilizing Smile & Learn?”

S&L: “The dual-language feature of Smile & Learn, with content available in both English and Spanish, significantly enhances its educational value by fostering bilingualism and language development. Children benefit from being exposed to two languages simultaneously, improving their linguistic skills, cognitive flexibility, and cultural understanding. For non-native speakers, this feature provides an accessible way to learn English or Spanish in an engaging and interactive environment, while native speakers can deepen their skills or learn a second language effortlessly and can use the activities to develop their reading skills in their native language.” 

 

AWE: How can/do public libraries benefit from utilizing Smile & Learn in their learning spaces?”

S&L: “Public libraries benefit immensely from incorporating Smile & Learn into their offerings. The platform provides libraries with a comprehensive, diverse, and engaging resource that caters to children ages 3 to 12. It allows libraries to support their community by promoting literacy, language learning, and STEM skills through interactive activities, audiobooks, and videos. Libraries can also use Smile & Learn to host workshops or language-learning sessions, attract families looking for educational resources, and ensure equitable access to high-quality digital content.
Overall, Smile & Learn strengthens libraries’ roles as community hubs for education and cultural enrichment while empowering young learners to thrive in a bilingual and increasingly interconnected world.” 

 

Learn more about Smile and Learn HERE

Q3 2024 Blog: Making Math Fun with MathNook 

 

 

 

MathNook was formed by Jan and Tommy Hall. Jan has over 30 years of experience in the education field and Tommy is a programmer with a math degree who is also an avid gamer.

This combination makes MathNook stand out with their unique math games that not only are educational but are also very playable causing players to come back for more.

AWE: “What educational solutions does MathNook currently offer for young learners?”

MathNook: “Currently, MathNook.com has math games where students can practice skills from counting all the way up to beginning algebra. All of our games are free to play online without any membership or sign-up required. This free to play model allows institutions such as schools, libraries and homeschoolers to play our math games by just going to MathNook.com”

MathNook: “We are currently expanding our large inventory of exclusive online games as well as converting some of their more popular games to Spanish. MathNook is also bringing back some of the more popular Flash games by either rewriting them or running them via an emulator. Our Spanish games are used across the globe by many Spanish speaking countries. The Spanish versions allow students whose primary language is Spanish, keep up their math skills while in an English-speaking classroom. Comparisons between the English and Spanish versions can help students with math terminology.”

AWE: “Math can be a hard subject for some. How important is it to teach children math skills in a way where they can have fun and still retain the knowledge they are absorbing?”

MathNook: “Math games are a fun way to practice a skill whether the student is at school or at home. Math games can be used to reinforce a skill that has been recently or newly taught before the student begins independent practice and can allows the skill to be practiced throughout the year. If a skill is taught and after 6 weeks is not revisited, the skill is often forgotten. So, playing math games can prevent this from happening. Practicing at home with math games will continue to develop a student’s math skills and promote automaticity with math facts and math terminology. Automatic recall of math skills prevents multi-step math problems from becoming laborious and overwhelming which often causes students to give up. So not only are math games engaging but they also help with retention of a math skill as well as build a student’s confidence.”

About MathNook (http://www.mathnook.com)

MathNook offers free to play math games that practice skills ranging from counting numbers all the way up to quadratic equations. And there’s never any membership or sign-up required. MathNook’s goal is to help develop critical thinking and problem solving in order to improve math skills via our fun and exciting math games.

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         Why is it so important for kids to write?

 

Statistics show that reading helps develop your writing skills, but writing helps develop your cognitive growth, organizational abilities, and the power to influence others through persuasion. In short, writing powers the brain. We spoke with AWE partner, Scribblitt.com, about the importance of creative writing.

 

 

 

AWE: “The focus of literacy is often on reading. What benefits come from creative writing?”

 

Scribblitt: “Studies show that children who practice creative writing more often are generally better in other subjects too like math, science and languages. Creative writing encourages kids to practice using their imaginations, improving their ability to come up with alternatives, problem solving and analysis. Writing involves a lot of thought, planning, organization and use of language to get a point across. What great practice for kids at laying out their thoughts and trying to clearly convince someone of their point of view.”

 

AWE: “Given the focus on social-emotional learning in schools now, how can writing help?”

 

Scribblitt: “Children often have difficulty understanding and expressing how they feel. Through writing, children have a safe place to explore, and this can be a highly beneficial tool for expressing their feelings.”

 

AWE: “How does writing improve self-confidence?”

Scribblitt: “Writing gives children more opportunity to assert themselves and their opinions and develop their “voice”.  These developments can really strengthen their self-confidence. Further, publishing their stories develops a sense of pride, and the opportunity to have others read their books shows that their words matter.”

 

AWE: “Do we become less creative as we grow up?”

 

Scribblitt: “It’s true – creativity seems to diminish as we get older. The stories of fairytale princesses saving the day later turns into business prose and factual writing. It is so important to encourage children to write, to be creative, and to use their imagination. It is equally important to build their confidence in communicating their point of view, their thoughts, and their feelings. Then they can think about publishing their stories to read over and over again at a kid-friendly site like Scribblitt.com, and hold onto childhood just a little longer.”

 

 

 

 

Scribblitt.com offers writing, illustration and publishing tools for kids, and is free to join. Completed stories can be shared in the library, entered into writing contests or submitted to be a featured scribbler. You pay only for publishing. A hardcover book is $29.99 and a comic is $19.99 plus shipping. Email contact@scribblitt.com with questions

 

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Have you ever wondered how trending technology will change the way children learn? Read how technology has impacted and improved one of the most popular learning styles for young learners – experiential learning.

 

Technology’s Impact on Experiential Learning for Young Learners

 

What is experiential learning?
Experiential learning is a teaching approach that emphasizes learning through experience and reflection.
It involves hands-on activities, experimentation, and problem-solving. The National Association for the
Education of Young Children (NAEYC) boasts the importance of experiential learning as a part of young
learners’ education with, “learning through purposeful experiences has long been recognized as an
effective approach to teaching children. Pioneers of early education understood the importance of
children making sense of their world through observation and experimentation. Their keen understanding
of how young children learn continues to influence contemporary approaches to early childhood
education.

How does technology impact experiential learning?
Experiential learning, when combined with technology, can become even more powerful, providing
children with new and innovative ways to learn. Here are some ways that technology can enhance
children’s learning experience:
One of the most significant advantages of technology in experiential learning is that it provides young
learners with access to a wide range of resources and tools that can enhance their learning experience.
For instance, digital learning spaces. Using digital spaces to educate can be a great way to enhance
engagement by connecting young learners to experts in their field of study. In addition, digital spaces can
encourage collaboration by creating a forum to share ideas and experiences.

Another way technology is changing experiential learning is through online simulations and games. These
tools can be used to create a fun and engaging learning environment where students can learn through
trial and error. Games and simulations can also be tailored to the specific learning needs of individual
students, making the learning experience more personalized and effective.

Another significant advantage of technology in experiential learning in early education is that it can
provide children with a safe and controlled environment to practice their skills and apply theoretical
knowledge to real-world situations. For instance, virtual reality (VR) technology can simulate real-world
situations and provide children with a safe and controlled environment to practice their skills. According to
a publication by the National Library of Medicine on the use of technology, VR technology can be used in
various fields such as science, math, and language learning, to name a few, to provide children with an
immersive and interactive learning experience. Despite the numerous benefits, technology in experiential
learning in early education also presents its own set of challenges.

One of the biggest challenges is the need for teachers and parents to ensure that children are using
technology in an age-appropriate and safe manner. Moreover, it is essential to ensure that technology is
not a substitute for human interaction and that children have ample opportunities to interact with their
peers and teachers in a real-world setting.

In conclusion, technology has had a significant impact on experiential learning in early education,
transforming the way children learn and experience the world around them. By leveraging the power of
technology in experiential learning, children can develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and
collaboration skills that will prepare them for success in the future.

 

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What can libraries do to help reengage parents in their children’s education? Discover the 6 ways schools engage parents to improve the skills of young learners and how libraries can help parents reinforce what children are learning in the classroom.

 

 

Family Engagement Leads to Early Childhood Success

Family engagement is about the knowledge, values, and actions that enable children to be successful learners. For schools
and libraries, family engagement refers to meaningful partnerships with parents that
provide the opportunity to be active in the learning and development of their children.
Family engagement keeps parents informed – via in-person conversations, e-mails, or
online communication tools – of their young learner’s academic standing. These practices
increase parental involvement in important education-related decisions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the relationship between schools and parents reinforces learning
and health beyond the classroom. This includes at home, in school, out-of school programs,
and in the community. To increase parent engagement, schools can make a positive
connection with parents, provide a variety of activities and opportunities to engage
parents, and sustain their engagement by addressing common challenges. Through
collaboration with schools, local libraries can host afterschool educational programs for
early learners and their parents.
Family engagement, however, is not a linear process. Each community is unique and must
adapt their own set of best practices. Researchers have identified six types of involvement
that schools can use to engage parents and improve the skills of young learners:
1. Providing parenting support
2. Communicate directly with parents
3. Provide a variety of volunteer opportunities
4. Support learning at home
5. Encourage parents to be part of decision making in schools
6. Collaborate with the community
It is important for educators to encourage family engagement both at school and within the
community. When teachers take the time to understand families’ needs, they invite an opportunity for collaboration. By
welcoming parents and families to events focused on their child’s early learning, educators
build a sense of trust and teamwork with individuals that are critical to early childhood
success. A study discussed in Teaching Young illustrates that these events help to develop a rapport between
educator and the family.

Studies conducted by the Harvard Family Research Project show that family engagement improves academic performance,
increases school attendance, and ultimately increases graduation rates. Furthermore, it
reduces at-risk behaviors and positively impacts attitudes and overall well-being.
Especially in early childhood, active parental involvement in the young learner’s education process helps to build early literacy skills.
Libraries also place a focus on family engagement and have implemented strategies such as Every Child Ready to Read to
support parents in building their child’s early literacy skills. Similarly, 21st Century
Community Learning Centers that provide out-of-school learning and afterschool programs
also play a fundamental role in family engagement. Development of this role includes strategies such as:
• Have an adequate and welcoming space to engage families
• Establish policies and procedures to promote family engagement
• Communicate and build trusting relationships
• Be intentional about staff hiring and training to promote effective staff-family
interactions
• Connect families to each other, to the program staff, to schools, and to other
community institutions
• Help support families and their basic needs

Family engagement results in short-term and long-term academic success for young
learners. From the child’s perspective, it is important to see the collaboration between their
family and the educators in their lives. What types of in school or out of school programs
would you attend in order to have the most impact on your young learner’s early education?

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