Kidnelis

This videogame is an adaptation of the successful boardgame developed by Carles Rodrigo, Doctor in Pedagogy, and commercialized by Sabadell Shop. We, at Croissant Cat Games, have adapted Kidnelis to the digital format in such a way that it takes full advantage of what this medium has to offer, for an improved experience.

Through reading a series of occurring sentences, players will have to understand them, choose if they are true or false, and then replicate their construction by either writing, typing or arranging word-bricks.

For young players especially, our videogame seeks to nurture communication by opening up a space for verbal discussion about the credibility of the statements that have been read, be it with family, friends or school teachers.

Who is this game for?

This game is aimed at:

• Children 6 years and older, who are learning to read and write • Language learners, children and adults alike • Elderly that want to maintain their mental prowess & physical dexterity

It is a useful tool for disorders such as ADD/HD, ASD, DYSLEXIA, or issues with delay in reading and writing, poor handwriting or deficit in learning spelling rules.

Although these disorders are mainly associated with childhood, Kidnelis can help those of all ages, especially adults looking to maintain their memory or mental faculties in general, as it is a tool that trains both one’s intellect and fine motor skills.

What are its strong points?

The way the videogame is designed allows players to hone the following skills:

• Literacy development • Attention and Concentration • Understanding • Short-term Memory • Imagination • Drawing • Calligraphy

Answering the true and false statements helps understanding the surrounding world, how to separate between reality and fiction, and promotes the ability to dialogue with family, friends and teachers.

Literacy skills

Kidnelis is all about the written word and how sentences are built.

Players work on improving their reading and writing skills by receiving a sentence that they need to first read and understand, as either true or false. The text is then hidden, so the player has to recreate it by using word-bricks, typing or writing by hand.

By reading a sentence and then recreating it, players work on their sequential memory and deepen their understanding of the original sentence. They practice the sequencing and separation of words, strengthening their reading, intonation and understanding skills.

Attention and Concentration

To perform any activity successfully you need to be attentive and focused. Kidnelis delivers an environment where players can focus on simple and clear tasks that do not overwhelm, with assistance available for when they get stuck.

Understanding

Answering if a sentence is True or False is mentally very engaging, even if it seems deceptively simple. It utilizes the players’ full knowledge of their environment, previous experiences & school studies. Knowledge that the brain needs to retrieve to be able to adequately respond.

In addition, it is possible to enhance their understanding by verbally practising the opposite of any given sentence. So, if a sentence was true, what would its false version be, and vice versa.

Short term memory

If the practice is done by first reading the sentence out loud and afterwards replicating it without looking again, short-term memory and reading comprehension are being used.

To specifically work out one’s short-term memory outside of the given game mechanics, players are encouraged to try: • Reading three sentences in a row, then try to recall them to write them down • Reading a sentence and drawing a fitting picture • Reading a sentence and writing its opposite version (true to false, false to true), or making the sentence longer by adding adjectives and other vocabulary.

Imagination

Through the true or false structure, fictitious situations can be imagined, fostering an understanding of what can be and what cannot be in the world. For children, this mental exercise promotes finding a place in the reality of our environment, allowing them to learn and generate dialogue about what they currently like or would like, what cannot be and why it cannot be, or what could be but isn’t established by convention...

Drawing

Through drawing out the meaning of the given sentences, players will mainly exercise their fine psychomotor skills. But it will also allow them to work on their understanding capabilities and their artistic expression.

Calligraphy and digital writing

The videogame offers 3 different interaction modes for the players to choose from, each with its own positives:

1. Building sentences using the word-brick system allows the players to focus their attention on sentence construction, with immediate correction feedback. 2. Practicing typing on the keyboard promotes familiarity with the QWERTY pattern and helps develop faster communication skills for our digitized world. 3. Writing by hand, using a digital pen or the player’s finger, helps further develop fine motor skills.