At Dynseo, we are convinced that a child flourishes fully when their school and family environments work hand in hand. Learning does not stop at the classroom door; it continues, consolidates, and makes sense at home. However, we know that creating this bridge between school and home can sometimes be complex. Schedules are busy, communication is not always smooth, and parents can feel helpless in the face of their child's academic challenges.
It is precisely to meet this need that we have developed our tools. On one hand, our educational game application, COCO THINKS and COCO MOVES, offers a concrete and fun support to stimulate children's cognitive functions. On the other hand, our training for primary school teachers provides them with the keys to identify and support students with DYS disorders. These two initiatives, although distinct, converge towards a common goal: to create a caring and effective ecosystem around the child.
This article is addressed to you, parents, to show you how COCO can become a valuable ally at home. It is not about adding an extra workload, but about transforming shared moments into learning opportunities, and empowering you to become active and informed partners in your child's cognitive development.
For a building to be solid, its foundations and structure must be perfectly aligned. The same goes for a child's education. School and home are the two pillars on which their intellectual, social, and emotional development rests. If these two pillars are out of sync, the entire structure can become fragile. Our mission is to help you strengthen and connect them.
The complementary roles of teachers and parents
Teachers and parents play distinct yet profoundly complementary roles. The teacher is the architect of knowledge: they structure learning, follow a curriculum, manage group dynamics, and formally assess skills. They provide a framework, a method, and essential didactic expertise.
You, parents, are the guardians of the home, the emotional foundation of the child. Your role is to provide a safe environment where the child can recharge, consolidate their learning, and develop self-confidence. You support homework, of course, but your influence goes far beyond that. You are the ones who notice the subtleties, the moments of fatigue, the peaks of curiosity, or sudden blocks. Your intimate knowledge of your child is an invaluable resource.
The challenge is to make these two areas of expertise communicate. The teacher has a global view of the student within the classroom, while you have a longitudinal and personal view of the child in all their complexity.
The challenges of communication and concrete follow-up
Communication between school and home often encounters practical obstacles. The few minutes exchanged at school dismissal or the remarks in the communication book are rarely enough to provide a complete picture. A teacher might say: “We need to work on concentration,” but what does this phrase concretely mean for a parent? How do you "work on concentration" in the evening after a long day?
This is where the lack of shared tools becomes apparent. Parents need concrete supports to translate the teacher's recommendations into simple and achievable actions at home. They need to understand not only what to work on but also how to do it in a positive and engaging way, without turning the home into an annex of the classroom.
COCO THINKS and COCO MOVES: a playful tool for concrete follow-up
In the face of these challenges, we designed COCO as a bridge. Imagine an application that is not just a game, but a true tool for dialogue and follow-up, usable both in class and at home. COCO THINKS and COCO MOVES has been designed to be this intelligent and caring intermediary.
What is COCO? More than just a game
COCO is not a classic entertainment application. It was developed in collaboration with health professionals, including neuropsychologists and speech therapists, to specifically target the cognitive functions essential for learning.
Our program is divided into two complementary parts:
- COCO THINKS: A collection of over 30 cognitive stimulation games that specifically target memory, attention, logic, language, and executive functions (planning, mental flexibility, inhibition).
- COCO MOVES: A program of adapted physical activities, as we know that cognitive well-being is inseparable from physical well-being. A healthy mind in a healthy body is not just a simple adage.
Each game is designed to be both fun and challenging, with difficulty levels that automatically adjust to the child's performance. The goal is not to set them up for failure, but to keep them in an optimal learning zone where they are constantly stimulated.
How COCO becomes a bridge between school and home
Using COCO at school allows the teacher to objectively observe each student's strengths and weaknesses. Thanks to the dashboard, they can visualize performance in each cognitive area. This fine analysis then allows them to give you much more precise recommendations.
Instead of a vague remark about concentration, the teacher can now tell you: “I noticed that Mathis has difficulties with games that require working memory. At home, you could encourage him to play the "Shopping Cart" game or "Sounds to Repeat" on COCO for 10 to 15 minutes, three times a week.”
For you, parents, this recommendation is immediately actionable. You have a playful tool that transforms a potential chore into a moment of play. The child, for their part, does not feel "punished" or forced to do an extra school exercise. They are simply playing. But behind this game, fundamental skills are being targeted and worked on effectively.
Visible and motivating results for everyone
One of COCO's greatest assets is the visibility of progress. The child, like you, can track their evolution through simple and encouraging graphs. Seeing their own progress curve is a powerful motivator. The child becomes aware that with practice, they can improve. They thus develop what psychologists call a "growth mindset," the belief that their abilities are not fixed but can develop through effort.
For you, parents, the dashboard is a window into your child's cognitive functioning. It allows you to better understand their strengths and the areas that need a bit more attention. This objective data provides a solid foundation for constructive discussions, whether with your child or with their teacher.
Involving parents in a simple and effective way
Our goal is not to turn you into teachers or therapists. It is to give you tools so that your role as a supportive parent is simpler, more informed, and more rewarding. COCO has been designed to integrate naturally into your family routine.
Transforming "screen time" into learning time
The issue of screen time is a legitimate concern for many parents. We share this concern. That’s why we emphasize the difference between passive screen time (watching videos) and active, intelligent screen time. Using COCO means offering your child an interactive activity that stimulates their brain, invites them to solve problems, and teaches them to concentrate.
By framing the use of COCO (for example, 15 to 20 minute sessions), you are not fighting against screens; you are using them wisely. You show your child that technology can be a wonderful tool for learning and progressing. It is media and digital education that starts from a young age.
Creating family rituals around COCO
The integration of COCO is more effective when it becomes a ritual, a moment that is anticipated and shared. It is not about imposing it as a chore, but proposing it as a family activity. Here are some ideas:
- The Evening Challenge: After homework, spend 10 minutes trying to beat a score together on a COCO game.
- The Cognitive Quarter Hour: Before dinner, while you prepare the meal, your child can do their daily COCO session.
- The Weekend Review: On Sunday, take a few minutes to look together at their progress on the dashboard, celebrate successes, and identify the next challenge.
The ideal is to get involved. Sit next to them, encourage them, ask them questions about their strategy ("How did you remember all that?"). COCO is not a "digital nanny"; it is an excuse to spend quality time together, focused on a positive goal. It’s like reading a story at night: a moment of connection that also reinforces essential skills.
Special support for students with specific needs: the case of DYS disorders
If COCO is beneficial for all children, it proves particularly relevant for those with specific learning disorders, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, or attention deficit disorder (ADHD). For these children, collaboration between school and home is not just useful; it is absolutely crucial.
Why DYS disorders require a coordinated approach
The "DYS" disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders. They affect how the brain processes certain information. A dyslexic child, for example, is not less intelligent; their brain simply has more difficulty automating the correspondence between letters and sounds. To overcome these difficulties, they need regular, repetitive, and highly targeted training that reinforces the underlying cognitive functions (working memory, phonological awareness, visual attention, etc.).
This rehabilitation cannot rest solely on the shoulders of the speech therapist or the teacher. The consolidation of learning occurs through repetition in different contexts. A supportive and equipped family environment can significantly accelerate progress and, most importantly, preserve the child's self-esteem, which is often undermined by academic difficulties.
COCO as a remediation and reinforcement tool
The games in COCO THINKS have been specifically designed to train these fundamental cognitive functions.
- For a child with dyslexia or dysorthographia, auditory memory games, sound discrimination games, or working memory games are excellent complements to speech therapy.
- For a child with dyscalculia, logic games, rapid counting (subitizing) games, or spatial planning games allow for playful work on mathematical prerequisites.
- For a child with ADHD, games that require sustained attention, inhibition (not clicking too quickly), and planning are particularly suitable for training their executive control.
The game format helps to demystify effort. The child is not doing "an exercise for their dyslexia"; they are playing a fun game. This positive approach is essential for maintaining their long-term motivation.
Our training for teachers: equipping professionals to better guide you
We are aware that a tool, no matter how effective, is nothing without the professional who knows how to use it and recommend it wisely. That is why we created a specific training program for primary school teachers on identifying and supporting DYS disorders.
One of the major objectives of this training is to give teachers the skills to communicate effectively with you, the parents. A trained teacher will not only be able to spot the first signs of a DYS disorder, but they will also be able to clearly explain the nature of your child's difficulties and propose a concrete and coordinated action plan.
They might tell you, for example: “In class, we will implement adaptations such as oral instructions and visual supports. At home, in addition, using COCO's visual-spatial memory games could be very beneficial. Let's check in a month to see the progress.” This collaborative approach, based on shared observations and common tools, is infinitely more effective than an isolated approach.
Towards a calm and informed collaboration
Ultimately, our vision is to transform the relationship between school and home into a true partnership. A partnership where each actor feels competent, respected, and equipped to play their role.
The parent as an active partner and not just a mere executor
With a tool like COCO and a well-trained teacher, you are no longer mere executors of school assignments. You become active observers of your child's development. You can spot their strategies, celebrate their efforts, and understand the nature of their difficulties. You have a common language and objective data to discuss with the teacher. This position gives you the power to act and allows you to support your child in a more accurate and effective way.
Technology serving human connection
Technology is often accused of isolating individuals. We firmly believe the opposite: when well-designed and well-used, technology can strengthen human bonds. COCO is not meant to replace interactions but to nourish them. The data it provides is not an end in itself; it is a starting point for conversation. A conversation between you and your child about their progress. A conversation between you and the teacher about the best strategies to adopt.
By building this triangle of trust between teacher, parent, and child, we create the optimal conditions for every child, regardless of their strengths or difficulties, to explore their potential and approach learning with confidence and serenity. This is the commitment we make at Dynseo, by your side.
The article "COCO at Home: Involving Parents in Cognitive Follow-Up" highlights the importance of parental engagement in their children's cognitive follow-up. A related article that may interest readers is Social Activities for Elderly Parents: Encourage Social Interaction. This article explores how social activities can play a crucial role in maintaining the cognitive and emotional health of older adults, thus highlighting the importance of social interaction at all ages. By combining the approaches of these two articles, we can better understand how family support and social activities can together promote optimal cognitive well-being.
