Common mistakes people make when designing interactive digital media content for children and strategies to avoid these common and possibly fatal mistakes; Slideshow created by (c)Carolyn Handler Miller

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The Seven Kisses
of Death
Of Children’s Interactive Media
Carolyn Handler Miller
Dust or Magic
November 9, 2010
© Carolyn Handler Miller

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The Death Kisses
 The dust part of
Dust or Magic
 My own term
 Death Kisses:
 Common but dangerous
pitfalls
 Highly seductive
 To adults: logical,
sensible, intelligent
 But to kids: repellant!

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Death Kisses:
They Are Everywhere!

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Many Kids’ Projects
Hopelessly
Infested with Them!

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Learned to Spot Them First Hand
By Writing for Kids Media

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Confirmation:
Research for My Book
Multiple Interviews with Developers

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General Characteristics:
 Adult perspective of what projects for
children should be like
 Easy to resort to
 Slip into projects when under pressure
 Seem very attractive
 Based on faulty assumptions

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So, just what are these
Death Kisses???

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#1. Kids Love Anything Sweet
 True for food, not
entertainment!
 Sweetness is adult
wishful thinking – want
to present happy, sunny
world that is all good
 But kids know truth:
world not really like this!
 Sweetness = boring,
bland, childish, false

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#2. Give ‘Em
What’s Good for ‘Em
 The medicinal
approach!
 Often done with true
earnestness, adult zeal
 “Smarten ‘em up fast!
 Problem: too heavy
with pedagogy, too
light on fun

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#3. You’ve Just Got
To Amuse ‘Em
 The “junk food”
approach
 Cheap on quality,
meaningful content
 Sells kids short
 Fatal assumptions:
Kids can’t tell
Kids just want lots of
empty fun

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#4. Always Play It Safe!
 Yes, we want to
avoid violence &
inappropriate
content
 But that does not
mean removing
action, conflict,
tension!
 Too safe = totally
boring!

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#5. All Kids Are Created Equal
 Democracy is fine in
nations, not in kids’
products
 Kids vary hugely at
different ages; boys
& girls not identical
 “One size fits all”
strategy doesn’t
work here

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#6: Explain Everything
 An adult fear: not being
clear
 Faulty assumption:
kids can’t figure out
things on their own
 Leads to drowning kids
with words, instructions
 Lazy on our part (better
ways take work)
 Annoying for kids –
they enjoy figuring
things out

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#7. Make Sure All Characters
Are Wholesome!
 Yes, we want
positive role models
 But too positive and
too perfect = dull,
bland & lifeless
 Characters lack
personality,
individuality – just
“white bread”

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And Now…
10 Strategies to
BANISH
The Death Kisses…

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#1. Devise a Way to HOOK
Your Players
 In other words, build in
a compelling mission,
goal or challenge
(example: Oregon Trail)
 Should be
Clear-cut
Easily
understandable
Highly desirable

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#2. Inject Meaningful Tension
 Adds excitement w/o
violence
 Essence of drama
 Some techniques:
 “The ticking clock” (must
succeed at something by
certain time, or disaster)
 Conflict (opposing
characters after same
goal)
 Challenges to overcome

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#3. Offer Genuine Substance
Kids Hungry for Meaningful Content!
(Example: powerful themes in The Lion King: treachery, murder, courage)

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#4. Create Characters Who Are
Multifaceted and Dynamic
 Example: Mia (Kutoka
Interactive)
 Not perfect
 Overly curious
 Tiny but plucky
 Gets into trouble
 Has enemy (Romaine)
 Well developed
characters provide
energy, interest,
excitement
 Kids can ID with them

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#5. Create System of Rewards
 Rewards:
 Powerful motivators;
incentives to keep going
 Positive reinforcement
 Way to measure progress
 Loss of rewards (or
penalties): possibility adds
tension
 Can be: a score; words
of praise; $; powers;
advancement; even
jellybeans (as in Toontown
Online)

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#6. Make Product Easy
To Understand and Use
 Classic picture
books good model
 Few words
 Ample visuals
 In interactive media,
good interface
design essential
 Makes for enjoyable
product
 Helps avoid lengthy
explanations

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#7. Make Product Adjustable
To Child’s Abilities
 Provide easy to
difficult levels or
challenges
 Many advantages:
 Avoids frustrating
beginning players
 Keeps more skillful
players challenged,
involved
 Makes product more
repeatable
 Expands age range of
product

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#8. Supply Liberal Doses
Of Humor
 Humor adds life and
color
 Makes product fun
 Caution: kids’ humor
NOT same as adult
humor
 Love what’s gross, rude &
offensive (non politically
correct!)
 Love what’s ridiculously
silly, unexpected, absurd
 Visual and character humor
rather than puns, word play

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#9. Build in Meaningful
Interactivity
 Player’s “job” should
make sense
 Players choices
should make a
difference – have
impact
 Interactivity should
be abundant,
keeping player
active
 Should not be overly
repetitive

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#10. Respect Your Audience!
(Don’t talk down; understand who they are;
give them something worthwhile)

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Questions?
 Please ask now!
 Or email me:
Carolyn@CarolynMiller.com
 Or check out my book 