DEVELOPER SPOTLIGHT
Teach Kids Social Skills With These Games
Wisdom: The World of Emotions
PreK-2 Learning Games No WiFi
‣ Company: Better Kids, Ltd.
‣ Founders: Ondine Bullot
‣ Mission: To help kids develop their emotional intelligence
‣ App launched: 2018
‣ Team size: 6
‣ Go-to emoji: 🥳
Growing up in Paris, Ondine Bullot had two dreams: to run a school and to own a business.
“I thought those dreams were incompatible,” she says, “but technology allowed me to see things differently.”
In 2018, Bullot brought her dreams together with Wisdom: The World of Emotions, an app that uses cleverly designed games and cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) to teach children ages 4 through 8 social and emotional skills, like managing feelings, resolving conflict, and recognizing emotions.
We chatted with Bullot about how a chance meeting led to Wisdom, the best feedback she’s gotten, and why fun is crucial to her team.
What did you set out to achieve with Wisdom?
When I first started looking for apps that taught social and emotional skills, I found only a handful. They were very specific, and they weren’t terribly engaging either. One used flash cards, which are not the most fun way to learn!
How do you develop the activities in Wisdom?
We start with an emotion. We consider what it looks and feels like, especially from a child’s perspective. The games focus first on foundational skills, such as identifying and labeling that emotion. Then they move on to more complex skills, such as making responsible decisions. One parent shared that her 6-year-old daughter used to lock herself in her room when she was angry. Now she asks for a big glass of water, which is a coping strategy she learned in the game.
What inspired the game’s visuals?
Through a serendipitous encounter. I was visiting a museum outside of Kyoto, and on the bus ride back, a man started chatting with me. He said if I ever came to Nagano Prefecture, he and his family would love to have me over. So I traveled all the way to Nagano. His family cooked a meal and he started showing me his art. It was so incredibly rich and beautiful; it helped me visualize what I wanted for the game, which was just nascent back then. The man was Masahiro Naruse, who is now our art director.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
That each child is unique. It was important for us to emphasize that what works for your friend might not work for you.
What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?
Be adaptable and have fun! Learning through play isn’t just the purpose of our app; it’s core to who we are. We make sure that when we’re creating this learning experience, we’re having fun too.
Better Kids, Ltd. is a part of the App Store Small Business Program. If you are a developer and would like to learn more about the program, follow the link below.