Attributes like these make building apps for kids a formidable proposition.
I definitely wouldnt have gotten into programming if I hadnt played games as a kid, saidMark Zuckerberg.
These winning apps may someday be responsible for creating the next Zuckerberg.
Building apps for kids isnt easy.
In fact, its often quite difficult.
But the most popular interactive apps for kids have achieved success because they follow certain best practices.
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When designing digital products for children, the finish line is just a small part of the story.
Here are four key differences to consider when building apps for kids.
Of course, the rug is not clean after just one swipe because that wouldnt be hard enough.
Gelman says that micro-conflicts (like vacuuming a dirty rug) help children resolve their own inner conflicts.
Most successful childrens apps generate a response (feedback) to every interaction.
Children expect to be rewarded for whatever they do.
Kids develop much faster than adults: an app for a four-year-old wont be a fit for a six-year-old.
A good rule of thumb is to focus on a two-year age range.
There are differences to consider between a four- and an eight-year-old.
The best apps for children share many similarities.
Here are the four key similarities of designing apps for kids and designing for adults.
People expect consistency
Children and adults both expect consistent design patterns.
Contrary to popular belief, kids dont like it when everything on their screens does something cool.
According to Gelman, both kids and adults get annoyed by design elements that seem random and unnecessary.
People dont want to be re-routed to a landing page that tries to upsell them on another offer.
People enjoy a little something extra
Gelman calls this alagniappe.
A lagniappe is a little something extraan Easter eggthrown in to delight people.
Both adults and kids enjoy these small, unexpected interactions that enhance their experience with an app.
Lagniappes are different from shocks, which people dont enjoy.
It would be best to observe groups of girls and boys who know each other at least slightly.
Surprisingly, any silly thing a child does could potentially tell designers how children may use their app.
Toca Tea Party, the popular iPad app by Toca Boca, is a prime example.
The creators set out the elements and let the children play with it.
Now we have premade cakes but you get to set the table.
One of the most appreciated features was spilling.
That came from the kids.
Ooooh, he spilled!
Doing so helps designersnot because the kids designs will be goodbut because designers will understand the kids different perspectives.
Is she mischievous like Tinkerbell or caring like The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella?
They love bright colors, and they want feedback on everything they do.
For example, a child might put together a 100-character word or a fascinating amalgamation of seemingly nonsensical sounds.
Kids will understand that they made a mistake on their own by listening to the result.
Mistakes are ok. Its ok to make mistakes,Pierre Abel, the creator, said.
Mistakes are a natural part of learning.
Integrate the mistake into the learning.
Otherwise, theyre useless.
There are a lot of apps out there where the person didnt do their homework.
If I ever have a doubt, I ask experts and they explain everything to me.
ensure it isnt entirely scripted, he recommended.
Give kids the ability to take their own path or journey through a new experience.
Guerrero citesVectorparkas a good example.
Vectorpark is very good at interactivity and the physicality of interactions.
Playing around with objects feels super-nice.
The concepts are always surprising which fires up the kids (and adults) imagination.
Kids are more imaginative and physical than adults.
Challenging the norms can often give an interesting perspective on play, and usually challenging norms is fun too.
A teacher heard one child using these words to describe the computer work: Its fun.
Hard fun boils down to the belief that everyone enjoys themselves when they are working on something challenging.
Combine learning and fun, and youll have an app kids cant help but stick to.
A dad agrees and shamelessly called out the kids appTalking Tom Cat 2on Smashing Magazine.
A lot of apps do this, but Talking Tom Cat is the absolute worst.
Your app will be deleted, and well never do business again.
The children are out future.
Its a big responsibility, and designers ought to tread carefully.
