https://www.bbc.co.uk/gel/features/how-to-design-for-children-2

Underlying design philosophy recognises that children do not behave like adults online as they are driven by exploration, learning and play rather than methodical or logical tasks like adults. As a result, designing for children means going beyond basic usability principles such as clarity, feedback and simplicity and prioritising more emotional engagement and creating experiences that spark joy, curiosity and delight, which are critical to sustaining a child’s interest and involvement.

The 7 Design Pillars are:

Positive Feedback & Joyful Moments

• Celebrate effort and achievements (not just success)
• Design responses that encourage rather than punish mistakes
• Build a growth mindset through experience
• Example

Be Visual & Reduce Text

• Use bold visuals, icons, and simple images instead of long text.
• Support comprehension for kids who are still learning to read.
• Have an audio alternative available if possible or substitute text for iconography too.

Be Heard

• Integrate audio cues and guidance to enrich meaning and support accessibility
• Sounds help confirm that an action has worked. This is important for kids
• This is a powerful tool which enriches the experience and aids accessibility.
• Example

Make Goals Clear

• Show children what they are meant to do and where they are in the experience
• Immediate clarity reduces frustration and improves engagement

Character Led Experience

• Children love and naturally connect with friendly characters or familiar faces
• A character at the heart of navigation or flow makes content more accessible and engaging.
• Example

Animate

• Use lively, fun motion to entertain and reward interaction.
• Animation can communicate playfulness without text.

Forgiving design

• Make interactions tolerant of mistakes and remove the potential for a child to become frustrated with unintended actions or mistakes.

• Expect a variation of fine motor skills in children.

<aside> 💭

Reflection

The BBC’s 7 Design Pillars highlight that children experience digital products very differently from adults as they are motivated by curiosity, play and emotion rather than efficiency or logic. They also respond well to positive feedback and seek encouragement as it makes them feel brave and supported at each stage of their hospital visit.

Visuals, animation and audio should be prioritised over text to explain what will happen, using friendly sounds and motion to reassure children. Clear goals and progress cues can help children understand where they are in their journey, reducing uncertainty and anxiety. Also using a character-led approach to guide children through appointments and procedures makes the experience feel more familiar and friendly, while forgiving interactions and large touch targets ensure the app is easy to use even when children are nervous.

Overall, using these principles can help design an experience that reduces fear, builds confidence and supports understanding and creates a calm, engaging and child-centred journey.

</aside>