One piece at a time, a small business in Guelph aims to help children see themselves and learn about other identities through play.
Kidunified makes puzzles that illustrate a wide range of social identities. Its first product, a 350-piece paper puzzle titled, The Children's Maker Market, produces an image depicting children with different ethnicities working together at a maker's market. The puzzle also shows children who are neurodivergent, have a disability, are non binary or transgendered.
Ashley Kizis, the founder of Kidunified, said one of her goals with the puzzle was to include as many people from Guelph as possible. The puzzle was also designed and made in Guelph using recycled paper and sustainable materials.
"It's impossible to group all (social identities), but I have worked with a small group of parents who represented different social identities by their children," said Kizis about the puzzle's design. "So, it could never be all (social identities), but as many as we could fit in this puzzle."
Kizis said her skill is bringing people together, so she teamed up with different Guelph consultants for the puzzle, including Rhiannon White, a local illustrator.
"She brought the kidfolk to life, so these are the kidfolk," said Kizis about the puzzle. "She did a beautiful job."
Kizis calls herself an 'avid puzzler' and her motivation to start this business came from her own child and wanting them to have tools, resources and toys that better reflected them and their peers.
"By having better representation, it allows the child to ask questions and lead conversation while puzzling," said Kizis. "Sometimes, things that children don't know about can be a little bit scary, and if they've seen it and worked with before as a learning tool, it's less scary. At least, that's what I've learned with my child.
"When I watch my son, he loves all kids. At the age of nearly seven, he wants to play with everyone and include everyone, so I want to keep instilling that as much as I can."
Kizis began researching the idea for the puzzle in January. She said she applied to Rhyze Ventures, a competitive program for women entrepreneurs run by Innovation Guelph.
"I was accepted and Kidunified launched and here we are," said Kizis. "I am still in the program currently and it lasts until December."
She notes she has come across studies highlighting the benefits puzzling has on cognitive function and development. As a slower paced activity, Kizis mentions puzzles can also teach children patience.
"For many neurodivergent children, that can be a challenging skill to learn," said Kizis, mentioning the colour palette for the puzzle was designed to not be overstimulating for neurodivergent eyes, but have enough contrast for visual impairments.
To take practicing inclusion one step further, the puzzle also comes with How to: Create-Your-Own Children's Makers Market Instructions which can help children to create their own makers market in real life. The instructions are written in both English and French.
"The inspiration for me was thinking about a classroom and teachers, and how they could integrate diversity, equity and inclusion conversations in their teachings with students and have a lot of fun," said Kizis. "So doing the puzzle, for one as a group and then creating a market of their own."
Kizis notes this second component allows kids to get creative while using many different skills, like teamwork, project management and math.
"They have to decide how they are going to advertise, when they are going to have their project, how they're going to price. These are all things that, believe it or not, younger kids are very capable of," said Kizis, noting her son recently ran a Freezie stand with his friends using these instructions, and donated some of their proceeds to the Sick Kids Foundation.
The puzzle is ideal for a classroom, group or for a caretaker and child. Currently, the puzzle can be purchased online or at the Bookshelf and Cavan Coffee.
Currently, Kizis said she is designing a second puzzle and would love any feedback from parents about who else to include in the next design. Residents can also find Kidunified on Instagram and Facebook.
