Designing for Children

Capabilities a child posses is different. It depend upon the school, background, social condition, hereditary factors, living style and even location of home.

The society has a huge impact on a child’s behaviour.

Better understanding and empathy can be used to find the psychology and capabilities of children. Designing for children is different as children expects a wide range of Interactive features & novelty.

Some of the guidelines required for the design activity which involves children are provide below. These guidelines were created after understanding the Jacob Nielson’s Teenage Usability Research.

1. Need Motivation

While using a system, a child has specific goal in mind (even if it is unimportant for an adult). Hence they need the system that is easy to use and let that goal accomplish in short time.

2. Language- Stick to Plain Talk

Children don’t like to read a lot. Hence write less and write well. Always consider the end-user as impatient.

3. Avoid Boring Content

Many times children complain about the system to be boring. Dull content make it difficult to concentrate. System must be clear and clutter free.

4. Gain Trust

Facilitate sharing but don’t force it to children. Provide a sense of feeling that they can control how they share and what they share.

5. Interact

System must interact with the child’s instruction. Games, Quiz forums, ranking systems, competition, 3D- interface are more successful with children due to these reasons.

Theses system must maintain consistency in interaction and elevate the level of challenge. Otherwise the Child will soon see the gap, re-evaluate and lose the initial interest.

6. Reward mechanism

Every child loves encouragements. While designing for children, most designers use reward system approach. A child can be easily encouraged using reward system. Receiving a small reward for a task performed encourages child to take up the next task.

But finding the proper reward is very important. Money, share and bonus will not work with children. But imaginary candy, gems, points and golden stars will.

Applying Emotional Design can elevate the user experience of your products and services, if your audience is children.