Kidd Doh helps children learn while playing

Mother of an autistic son, Brianda Gonzalez was looking for a way to help her son with his cognitive skills as he lagged behind at 2 years old.

Gonzalez, who works at the Golden Oak Elementary School library, came up with Kidd Doh, a product that stimulates a child's senses, encouraging imaginative play and helping motor skills.

When Gonzalez' son, Justin, was 2 years old, she noticed he was lagging behind in cognitive skills and in speech. He was later diagnosed with autism and she began looking for things to help his development.

Gonzalez remembered her mother making play doh for her as a child and she thought this would be a great way to help Justin play, learn and develop. Kidd Doh is soft and pliable, easier to mold than regular play doh and is scented.

"I put different scents in our Kidd Doh, which stimulates the children's sense of smell, as well as sight and touch," said Gonzalez. "It adds something that helps develop their senses and skills."

Gonzalez said that it helps develop a child's motor skills as they manipulate the dough, as well as helping develop their cognitive skills.

In addition to the Kidd Doh, she has put together Water Bead kits. These kits contain dehydrated beads that grow when added to water. They are soft and can be played with, helping a child's motor skills, as well as their imaginative play. She adds little items along with the beads, such as little plastic shells and other ocean themed toys that go with the beads.

Gonzalez' business is growing and she was invited to be a part of a Children's Summer Box being put together by a local Bakersfield business woman. Kammi Paulsen puts together a gift box with different themes and includes items from different local vendors that are aligned with the theme of the box.

"She just got through doing a Mother's Day Box, which featured a lot of items that celebrate Mother's Day," said Gonzalez. "This box will be a Children's Summer Box and I was excited when she called and asked if I wanted to be a part of it."

Kidd Doh was also at the recent pop-up event held at Shafter Congregational Church with a booth manned by Gonzalez' other sons, Jacob and Ryan Gonzalez.

Beside the financial side of the venture, Gonzalez said she gets most excited when she hears different stories in which her products have touched lives of those who bought them.

"I go to pop-up events and have educators tell me that they would love to have my products as part of their teaching program in their schools," she said. "I also have so many parents who have positive things to say about the products and the progress their children have made by playing with them. That is really the most satisfying part of the whole thing."

For more information on Kidd Doh or Water Bead Kits, go to Kidd.Doh.com or call 661-910-4647.