This session builds on the foundation established in past Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny Noses sessions. Children have unique intellectual and physical needs, which designers must take into account in order to create engaging gaming experiences. This session provides development guidelines for mobile game design for children (ages 0 to 12), with particular emphasis on developmental milestones, usability, and interaction design findings that are relevant to game developers. Findings are grounded in industry and academic research. Participants will take away findings from existing research on kids and games that can be incorporated into their own game development projects. The discussion will be focused on mobile games, but most findings can be generalized for any child gaming project, regardless of platform. The findings will address children's gaming needs (which are significantly different from older audiences), developmental psychology, UI and input design considerations, usability, and use of storytelling devices. Additionally, participants will have access to a summary document with a list of recommended resources, which includes books and research articles.

1. Little Hands, Foul Moods, and Runny
Noses: Mobile Games for Kids
Carla Engelbrecht Fisher, Ed.D.
No Crusts Interactive

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3. Overview
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• Child Development
Basics
• Design Principles for
Children’s Mobile
Games
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Resources
• tinyurl.com/runnyNoses
• tinyurl.com/kidsMobile
• kidscreen.com Kids Got
Game blog Lentini
• @NoCrusts

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Kids are different
than adults.
Cognitively
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and physically.
© Pragmagraphr

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futurestreet
Child Development in a Nutshell @NoCrusts

6. • Novelty wins
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• Enthusiastically use all 5
senses
• Early gross motor skills
developing
• Language skills: grunting 
speaking single words 
simple word combinations
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• Basic pattern recognition
Infants & Toddlers (0-2)
@NoCrusts

7. • Learn through exploration
No Crusts Interactive 2013
and imagination
• Language takes off
(pronunciation, sentences, s
emantics, conversation)
• Focus on the basics –
shapes, colors, numbers
• Ego-centric and literal
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woodleywonderworks
Preschoolers (3-5)
@NoCrusts

8. • Refine motor skills
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• Use complex
grammar, develop
independent reading skills
• Increasing attention spans
• Early complex mathematical
thinking
• Develop social network
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outside family
USAG-Humphreys
Early elementary (6-8)
@NoCrusts

9. • Enjoy problem-solving
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• Reading becomes a method
of learning
• Understand
multiplication, division, and
logic
• Advanced gross motor skills
• Develops self-expression and
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self-worth
stevendepolo
Tween (9-12)
@NoCrusts

10. Children 0-8 (Common Sense Media 2011)
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• 17% play console video game
once/day. 36% once/week
• Access to
– Smartphone (41%)
– iPod with video (21%)
– and/or iPad (8%)
• 16% multitask while using
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media
Scott & Elaine van der Chijs
Games Use
@NoCrusts

11. Elementary-Aged Children
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• Children ages 5-9 play video games 39 min (weekday) and 45
min (weekend)
• Lower income children, Hispanic, and African-American children
consume more media than white and middle class children
(Baranowski & Frankel, 2012)
• K-5 teachers report using digital games 57%. Middle school 38%
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• 95% use games that were created specifically for educational use.
• Only 18% of teachers report adapting commercial games for
classroom use. (Joan Ganz Cooney Center, 2012)
Games Use
@NoCrusts

12. Design Guidelines
Flickingerbrad
@NoCrusts
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Child-focused apps are increasing presence in App Store
(Cooney Center, 2012) @NoCrusts

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Many topics are saturated (i.e., ABC, matching, flash cards)
@NoCrusts

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Early learning and math are most covered topics.
(Cooney Center, 2012) @NoCrusts

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Co-play opportunities support children’s natural learning styles.
@NoCrusts

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Make more kid-friendly multiplayer games
@NoCrusts

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© rosenblum68
Create opportunities for interaction, even if not embedded into gameplay
@NoCrusts

19. • Be sensitive to older generations
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unfamiliarity. Leverage it into
design
• Engage parents with exchange of
expertise. Don’t allow them to
just sit back and direct action.
• Co-play often requires different
avatars
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Neeta Lind
Intergenerational design can be challenging
@NoCrusts

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Neeta Lind
Opportunities exist to design for mixed skill levels
@NoCrusts

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Create role-playing tools
@NoCrusts

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Create seasonal content and branded screenshots
@NoCrusts

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Popular mechanics can have education layered in or can serve as inspiration
@NoCrusts

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Games present opportunities for executive function practice
@NoCrusts

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Understanding that there’s more beyond the screen is tough for young kids
@NoCrusts

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Understanding that there’s more beyond the screen is tough for young kids
@NoCrusts

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Touch screens and microphones provide great opportunities for music games
@NoCrusts

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Personalization is great for kids
@NoCrusts

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Personalization can also support literacy learning
@NoCrusts

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Multi-touch presents opportunities for math
@NoCrusts

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Multi-touch presents challenges
@NoCrusts

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In-App purchases require thoughtful gates

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Take steps to avoid another “smurfberry” situation
@NoCrusts

34. Letters with Pooh 785MB
The Adventures of Captain Underpants 769MB
No Crusts Interactive 2013
Nick Jr Draw & Play HD 642MB
Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App 257MB
Team Umizoomi Math: Zoom into Numbers HD 196MB
The Monster at the End of This Book 165MB
Super Why ABC Adventures: Alphabet for iPad 160MB
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Wildlife Count Along 126MB
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The Math Tree 90.7MB
Toca Hair Salon 2 35.1MB
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Play at Home with Daniel 34.2MB
Keep an eye on file sizes
@NoCrusts

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A smartphone is not just a little tablet. It’s often a different user experience.
@NoCrusts

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“Second Screen” opportunities?
@NoCrusts

37. Other things to consider…
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• COPPA
• User testing, repeatedly
• Analytics (and COPPA…)
• User generated content (and COPPA…)
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• Marketing and distribution
• Android vs iOS

38. Thanks! Questions?
No Crusts Interactive 2013
• carla@NoCrusts.com
• @NoCrusts
• Kids Got Game on Kidscreen.com
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Roundtable in 30 minutes!
Follow me to Room 114 North Hall