In today’s digital landscape, navigating privacy and data handling is essential to ensure that users feel confident about the security of their information. At Kiddy, we are deeply committed to implementing the highest standards of practice for all users, whether they are parents, employees, or children. We have established rigorous protocols to safeguard sensitive data, recognizing that ISO 27001 certification is more than just a process—it’s a guarantee to our users that their information is treated with the utmost care. This commitment is particularly vital for us, given our focus on solutions involving children, where ensuring the security of their data is paramount. Parents and guardians can trust that their children’s information is diligently protected. We dedicate ourselves daily to upholding these standards and procedures to continually meet the evolving needs of our users.
As all our digital solutions, Kiddy also follow the these strict protocols. But what does this actually mean for you as a user?
ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security, which sets strict guidelines for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. For you as a parent or teacher using Kiddy, this means that you can rest assured that your personal information and other sensitive data are in safe hands. Our certification confirms that we have established robust security procedures and controls to protect your data from unauthorized access, misuse, or loss.
With ISO 27001 certification also comes a commitment to continuous improvement and monitoring of our security measures. This means that we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of information security and to conducting regular audits and updates to ensure that your data remains safe and secure.
We understand the importance of protecting the privacy of your children, and we take this commitment very seriously. With ISO 27001 certification, you can be confident that we have implemented stringent security controls to protect children’s personal information and ensure that their digital interactions on the Kiddy platform are safe and secure.
Are you still interested in learning more about ISO 27001, and what it means?
Today, March 12, marks the celebration of Kindergarten Day 2024! This event aims to highlight how kindergartens and their staff work to provide children with knowledge of and experience with the cultural heritage in their local communities. Cultural heritage has been chosen as this year’s theme because kindergarten is a place where children gain knowledge and experience of local traditions, fostering a sense of belonging to their own community (Utdanningsforbundet, 2024).
“Kindergarten staff and parents have an important task in providing children with positive experiences in and around their local communities. Through engagement with art, culture, and creativity, kindergartens aim to ensure that children experience joy and pride in their own cultural identity” (Utdanningsforbundet, 2024).
As part of this important day, we want to reflect on the kindergarten as a place of inclusion and belonging in the local community, both for the children and their parents.
Inclusion of both children and parents
In the article “Belonging where you live: about parents’ experiences of belonging through the kindergarten”, Gunnar Magnus Eidsvåg examines the significance of kindergartens for minority parents’ sense of belonging to the local community (Eidsvåg, 2022).
Eidsvåg notes that kindergartens collaborate with parents at both individual and group levels (Kunnskapsdepartementet, 2017, p. 29), and in his article, he finds group-level collaboration particularly interesting. In addition to parent meetings, other events where parents visit the kindergarten are also organized. Eidsvåg observes that in interviews with parents, such events were emphasized, with parents consistently expressing appreciation for them (Eidsvåg, 2022).
Informants emphasize that these parent events mean a lot to the children. Eidsvåg notes that parents notice their children looking forward to their presence in the kindergarten and therefore try to attend these events. Informants also express that they make acquaintances with other parents through these events, which they say makes it natural to strike up a conversation when they meet in other settings (Eidsvåg, 2022).
Furthermore, Eidsvåg writes that his data indicates the importance of the children’s circle of friends being largely connected to the kindergarten. “The children’s belonging through the kindergarten affects their belonging in the private sphere. If the child lives near friends from the kindergarten, the child is drawn to these friends also during leisure time. […] This in turn affects the parents’ opportunities to develop acquaintances with other parents” (Eidsvåg, 2022).
Finally, Eidsvåg writes that belonging through the kindergarten (for parents) is primarily formed through weak ties, but that such ties should not be underestimated as an integrative factor in the community where the kindergarten is located (Eidsvåg, 2022).
Similar to Eidsvåg, Kathrine Rønning Tvinnereim and Gunhild Bergset believe that the kindergarten plays a crucial role in the family’s integration process. “The kindergarten is considered a significant arena for both parents and children, where parents are met by supportive kindergarten staff whom they trust, both as professionals and as fellow human beings,” they write in the article “It’s very different from my home country: Migrant parents’ experiences with communication and interaction with kindergarten staff”. Several informants report that they learn a lot from kindergarten staff and other kindergarten parents (Tvinnereim & Bergset, 2023).
The significance of the kindergarten for inclusion
Senior Advisor at the Norwegian Teachers’ Union, Jon Kaurel, shares this view on the importance of the kindergarten for inclusion and focuses on the importance of the local area. In connection with Kindergarten Day 2024, Kaurel has written the text “The importance of place for community and belonging”.
Kaurel writes that although many kindergartens still organize field trips and allow children to explore their local surroundings, there has been a change in how cultural heritage, local environment, and communities are valued in the kindergarten’s governing documents. Furthermore, he points out that the kindergarten’s grounding in the local community is as important as ever, arguing that there is a risk of forgetting why in our pursuit of other goals (Kaurel, 2024).
Kaurel writes that today’s educational policy often focuses on children’s individual competence development and their later functioning in society. Kaurel believes this approach often ignores children’s natural orientation towards their immediate surroundings and the need to master and understand the world they are part of (Kaurel, 2024). The kindergarten brings together children with diverse backgrounds and cultural identities, and their different experiences and perspectives must be considered to foster belonging (Kaurel, 2024).
Language in a diverse society
Katrine Giæver, Associate Professor in Education at OsloMet University, has written the text “When the place is the world – Kindergarten children’s navigation between the local and the global” on the occasion of Kindergarten Day. In her text, Giæver reminisces about her own time in kindergarten, when she shared references with the staff and other children. She recalls experiences such as holiday trips and weekend activities, where the staff met her with “insight and good questions” (Giæver, 2024). The staff had similar experiences themselves, and they understood what she was talking about. Thus, Giæver writes, the kindergarten functioned as an extension of the experiences she had shared with her family, while also being a place that “was most of all mine” (Giæver, 2024).
Due to the increasing diversity of kindergarten groups, Giæver believes that conscious effort must be made to make the kindergarten an inclusive arena that all children can perceive as their own place owned by all children in the group. In a diverse society, one cannot assume that the people one meets will have experiences similar to one’s own. However, we will always have something fundamental in common, Giæver points out, and continues to write that this is what we must build on when expanding the kindergarten into a local place that incorporates influences from around the world (Giæver, 2024).
The Norwegian Teachers’ Union writes that cultural heritage and inclusion go hand in hand. “Parents, for example, can come to the kindergarten with a desire to share their cultural heritage. This can provide inspiration and collaboration in everyday kindergarten life, as well as give children and staff an understanding and knowledge of different backgrounds and cultures” (Utdanningsforbundet, 2024).
On Kindergarten Day 2024, we want to draw attention to the kindergarten’s unique role as a bridge-builder. With this year’s theme on cultural heritage, we aim to highlight the importance of providing children with knowledge and experience of local traditions, while also emphasizing the inclusion of both children and parents from diverse backgrounds and cultures. When children and caregivers from different backgrounds come together, the kindergarten helps create a common reference point for everyone, and it is these commonalities that we must build upon. As an important part of the local community, the kindergarten plays a central role in creating belonging and community for all. Let us continue to strengthen the collaboration between school, home, and kindergarten to provide children with the best conditions for learning, growth, and development.
School Visit at Børsa School – Interview with Introduction Teacher Mona Grorud Sørensen.
The intention behind Kiddy is to simplify communication for everyone and ensure that all parents are included, regardless of their linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Our goal has been, and still is, to create an inclusive tool that promotes close collaboration and dialogue between school/kindergarten and home. To achieve this goal, we have relied on having good supporters with us along the way. One of our most valuable supporters is welcome teacher Mona Grorud Sørensen. We have been fortunate to visit her at the school to observe how she works in the welcome class and to gain insight into how she uses Kiddy in her daily work. See the interview with Mona at the bottom of the article.
Mona has a busy workday with many tasks and responsibilities. With Kiddy, she saves a lot of time.
Long and Diverse Experience
Mona is an experienced and dedicated teacher with a long pedagogical career. She has diverse experience working as an educator, having taught both adults and children. Currently, she works as a teacher in a welcome class at Børsa School in Skaun municipality, where she focuses on teaching Norwegian as a second language. In other words, Mona has extensive experience in dealing with language barriers in the Norwegian school system.
Over the years, Mona has used many different communication tools. She notes that the biggest difference between previously used tools and Kiddy is that now she actually has the ability to communicate with multilingual parents in a very convenient way. Previously, when sending out messages, she had to first write the message in Norwegian and then use Google Translate to translate it into the different languages spoken by the parents. “With Kiddy, you can just write a message, press send, and you’re done.”
“For me, it has meant that parents finally understand the information we send out from the school“
Strong Dedication
Mona is passionate about inclusion and wholeheartedly dedicates herself to creating the best possible learning environment for her students. This dedication was clearly evident when we observed Mona in the classroom. During our visit, the Sami National Day was approaching, and Mona used both videos and pictures to teach the students about Sami culture. At the beginning of the lesson, they studied the word “national day,” broke it down, and discussed its meaning. Once everyone understood the word, Mona asked the students about the national days in their home countries, and the students eagerly raised their hands. With enthusiasm, the students shared about the indigenous peoples and traditions of their home countries. Together, they drew parallels between the countries and were interested in what each other had to share.
Colorful Classroom: The classroom is decorated with vibrant posters and words, which are used extensively in teaching
When asked about the impact of Kiddy on her work with the welcome class, Mona replies that it has meant that parents finally understand the information sent out from the school. It is very important for her to communicate effectively with the parents. Previously, she has experienced that minority language parents have been left behind because they did not understand the information the school sent out.
In connection with a previous blog post, we spoke with dedicated teachers about the collaboration between school and home, with Mona being one of those we spoke with. “Being able to communicate between school and home is crucial for all parties, and most importantly for the child’s well-being and social/academic development at school.” On the Udir website, it states: “By establishing good collaboration with parents, you gain better insight into the needs of the student and how the student functions, making it easier to accommodate the student in everyday school life. […] The school must assume that all parents are a resource with useful information about the student and the student’s life and work systematically for good collaboration with the home.” https://www.udir.no/kvalitet-og-kompetanse/samarbeid/samarbeid-mellom-hjem-og-skole/.
“The biggest difference is that you actually have the opportunity to communicate with multilingual parents in a very convenient way”
Mona finds that communication with non-Norwegian-speaking parents has become much easier now and shares a specific example with us. In her class, there is a couple where the father cannot read in his native language. When Mona sends him a message, he has the message read aloud to him in his native language in the app, and when he responds to her, he speaks into the phone, and Mona receives the message written in Norwegian on her mobile phone. In addition to accessing information from the school, they also have the opportunity to express their own thoughts and feelings. For the parents, it also becomes easier to give practical instructions. In the initial period after arriving in Norway, there are many different appointments, and Mona finds that the parents now can inform her when their child is absent from school.
Positive Response
When Mona introduces Kiddy to parents during intake interviews, they are surprised. “Wow, is that possible?” She explains that parents are used to having to rely on Google Translate. Furthermore, she adds that when she shows them how the tool works, she receives very positive feedback. When asked if she would encourage other teachers to use Kiddy, the answer is clear. “Yes.” She believes it would make things much easier if an entire school could use Kiddy to communicate with parents. “We have parents whose children were born in Norway, but the parents have a different native language, and we often find that teachers who don’t work in the same field as I do forget that they have these parents in their class. As a result, they miss out on a lot of information.”
We are thrilled to see how Kiddy has contributed to changing the communication between Mona and the parents. For us, it’s fantastic to be able to help teachers like Mona have a slightly easier workday and to facilitate better collaboration between school and home. Thank you so much for allowing us to visit you, Mona, and for participating in the interview!
For more information about the developer behind Kiddy, visit: www.daxap.io
With Kiddy’s chatfeature, you can easily send and receive messages in real-time, maintaining a continuous dialogue with colleagues, parents, and other important stakeholders.
Whether you need to share important updates, collaborate on projects, or exchange information, Kiddy’s chat is the perfect tool for keeping communication fluid and efficient.
Our chat feature allows you to have one-on-one conversations or engage in group discussions, so you can tailor communication to your needs and collaboration goals.
With automatic translations, you can also break language barriers and communicate seamlessly with parents who have different native languages. We care about creating an inclusive environment where everyone can participate and feel included.
Experience the easy and effective communication in the Kiddy app’s chat function today and see how much time and effort you can save by having everything in one place!
We are here to support you in your communication journey and make your everyday life easier. Explore the Kiddy app’s chat feature now!
As the curtains fall on BETT 2024, we find ourselves reflecting on an inspiring journey of innovation, connection, and the celebration of diversity in education. The event has been a melting pot of ideas, conversations, and a showcase of the transformative power of educational technology.
💡 Highlights and Takeaways
BETT 2024 has been a revelation, providing a front-row seat to the latest developments in the EdTech industry. As social entrepreneurs committed to creating digital solutions for a better society, we’ve been immersed in a rich tapestry of insights. From thought-provoking keynotes to hands-on demonstrations, the event has been a testament to the ever-evolving landscape of education.
🤝 Connections and Collaborations
The heart of BETT lies in its ability to bring together educators, innovators, and enthusiasts. Engaging in conversations, sharing experiences, and forming connections have been the pillars of this experience. Collaborations sparked at BETT will undoubtedly ripple into transformative initiatives in the realm of education.
👋 Farewell, BETT 2024
As we bid adieu to BETT 2024, the echoes of insightful discussions and the energy of the event linger. The knowledge gained and connections forged will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of our journey in the realm of education technology.
✨ Showcasing Kiddy
We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to showcase Kiddy, our multilingual communication and management solution, at the event. Witnessing the enthusiasm and interest in our platform reinforces our commitment to simplifying communication in education and fostering inclusivity.
🌍 Global Perspectives on Inclusion
At BETT, we’ve gained valuable insights into the latest developments in the EdTech industry. As a social entrepreneur dedicated to creating digital solutions for a better society, we’ve learned a lot through the various arrangements and speeches within diversity and inclusion. It’s heartening to see that these themes resonate across borders, emphasizing the universal importance of creating inclusive learning environments.
🔗 Connect with Us
Have thoughts to share or want to continue the conversation? Reach out to us on LinkedIn or Instagram . We’d love to hear from you!
🏆✨We’re thrilled to share the exciting news that our very own Kiddy, the multilingual communication platform designed for education, emerged victorious at the Trøndelagsmøtet 2024 pitch competition in Trondheim! 🚀
Empowering Inclusivity and Collaboration
Kiddy has always been more than just a tool; it’s a commitment to breaking down societal barriers, particularly in the realm of education. Winning the pitch competition is not just a recognition of our innovation but a testament to the impact we’re making in fostering inclusivity and collaboration within educational settings.
Team representing Daxap at Trøndelagsmøtet
Our dynamic team, led by our dedicated CEO and Founder, Kubilay Kartal and our Operations and Development Chief, Asim Yilmaz, showcased Kiddy’s transformative power on the Trøndelagsmøtet stage. Kubilay’s entrepreneurial vision and Asim’s operational expertise have been instrumental in bringing Kiddy to life.
Explore Kiddy’s features
As we celebrate this achievement, we invite you to explore Kiddy’s features designed to streamline communication, enhance collaboration, and promote inclusivity in educational institutions. Kiddy is not just a communication platform; it’s a catalyst for positive change.
Join Us on the Journey
At Kiddy, we believe that communication should know no boundaries. Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or a school administrator, Kiddy is here to simplify and enrich communication in your educational community. Join us on this journey toward a more connected and inclusive future.
Get in Touch
If you’re curious about how Kiddy can revolutionize communication in your institution, reach out to us! We’re here to discuss your unique needs and explore the possibilities together.
