Little Mindful: An accessible web app designed to help children learn about emotions and empathy.
OVERVIEW
Little Mindful is an innovative and interactive learning platform designed to guide children through the vibrant landscape of emotions and empathy. This case study delves into the journey of the project from concept to a dynamic educational tool, offering a window into how technology can be harnessed to nurture kinder, more empathetic future citizens.
User Research
UX Design
Visual Design
Animation Prototyping
Solo Designer
TOOLS
TYPE & TIMELINE
Figma
Miro
Adobe Creative Suite
Contract work
Product Launch
3 weeks
TEAM
ROLE
The problem
Despite the growing recognition of emotional intelligence as a key factor in overall well-being and success, traditional education systems often overlook this aspect of child development. Many children struggle to understand and articulate their emotions, leading to challenges in social interactions and personal growth. There is a significant need for accessible, engaging, and effective tools that can bridge this gap in emotional education.
RESEARCH
A platform to educate through play
Method : Literature review.
Despite the growing recognition of emotional intelligence as a key factor in overall well-being and success, traditional education systems often overlook this aspect of child development. Many children struggle to understand and articulate their emotions, leading to challenges in social interactions and personal growth. There is a significant need for accessible, engaging, and effective tools that can bridge this gap in emotional education.
Market research
Method : Competitive analysis, market trends observations.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
The market for emotional intelligence educational tools includes a mix of general educational platforms and specialized SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) platforms like "Second Step," "Emotionary," and "Zones of Regulation."
These platforms vary in their approach, with some offering broad educational content that includes SEL components, while others focus specifically on emotional intelligence and social skills.
Large, General Educational Platforms: These have the advantage of brand recognition and a wide audience, integrating SEL as part of a comprehensive curriculum.
Specialized SEL Platforms: These often provide a more focused and in-depth approach to emotional intelligence education, with content specifically designed to address emotional learning.
Second Step
Emotinary
Zones of Regulation
GAPS & OPPORTUNITIES
Many existing platforms do not offer a holistic approach that covers a broad range of emotions and social skills in an engaging manner.
There is a lack of platforms that fully cater to children with different learning needs, including those requiring voice control and screen reader capabilities.
Few platforms provide adequate resources and tracking tools for parents and educators to actively participate in the child’s emotional learning journey.
Developing a school version of the platform that can be integrated into classroom curriculums, offering educators structured lesson plans and activities aligned with educational standards.
Utilizing AR for immersive learning experiences, AI for personalized content recommendations, and incorporating mindfulness and mental health resources could set "Little Mindful" apart.
Target audience
Method : Contextual inquiry, user personas, user journey mapping.
The involved parent
The involved parent is digitally-savvy and always seeking the best resources for their children. They want a user-friendly platform that engages their kids with fun, educational activities while allowing them to participate actively in their learning journey.
The curious learner
The curious learner is eager to understand their own emotions and those of others. They are looking for an engaging platform that makes learning about feelings fun and interactive.
The enthusiastic gamer
The enthusiastic gamer loves playing video games and solving puzzles, always looking for new, fun, and educational games. They are looking for a platform that offers a vibrant, game-like environment through engaging activities and rewards.
DEFINING GOALS
Method : Empathy maps, user stories, information architecture.
Addressing children’s needs
Offering Age-Appropriate Learning
The content and activities are tailored to be age-appropriate, ensuring that children can easily grasp and engage with the concepts presented.
Interactive and Engaging Format
Recognizing that children of this age learn best through play and interaction, "Little Mindful" uses gamified learning to keep them engaged and motivated.
Supporting Emotional Vocabulary Development
The platform helps children build a vocabulary around emotions, which is crucial in expressing themselves and understanding others.
IDEATION & CONCEPTUALIZATION
Method : Crazy eights, sketching, wireframing.
The website features a responsive design, ensuring a seamless navigation experience across various devices, from desktops to tablets and smartphones. With just a few clicks or taps, children can easily switch between learning modules, track their progress, and engage with the interactive content, making "Little Mindful" an accessible and enjoyable platform for learning about emotional intelligence.
FINAL DESIGNS
The "Little Mindful" website is designed with inclusivity and accessibility at its core, ensuring that every child can navigate and enjoy the learning experience independently.
Recognizing the diverse needs of its young audience, the platform is fully compatible with voice control and screen reader technologies. This commitment to accessibility empowers children, including those with visual impairments or motor difficulties, to explore "Little Mindful" with ease and autonomy.
NAVIGATING WITH EASE
The navigation system of "Little Mindful" is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, catering to the ease of use for its young audience.
The navigation bar, prominently displayed on the left, provides immediate access to key areas. Each menu item includes an icon and text, ensuring easy recognition and navigation for all users.
Interactive lesson plan
The Lessons section of "Little Mindful" captivates young minds with interactive content on emotions and empathy. Each lesson transforms abstract concepts into relatable experiences using animated stories, role plays, and real-life scenarios.
Children embark on emotional adventures to explore feelings, recognize responses, and practice empathy. Mini-quizzes and reflection activities reinforce learning, ensuring a deep understanding of emotional intelligence.
Digital reading nook
The "Reading" page on "Little Mindful" is designed as a cozy digital nook, offering a warm and inviting space for children to explore the world of feelings and empathy through literature.
This special section of the platform provides a selection of carefully chosen books, each rich with stories and lessons on understanding emotions, practicing empathy, and fostering kindness. Children can choose between read-along options, where narrations bring the stories to life alongside animated illustrations, and independent reading, allowing them to delve into the tales at their own pace.
Learning through play
This vibrant section is filled with a diverse array of games tailored to teach core aspects of emotional awareness and empathy in an engaging, interactive manner. Children have the opportunity to dive into various activities such as emotion recognition challenges, puzzles that unravel the complexity of feelings, memory games focused on identifying and understanding different emotional expressions, and much more.
Each game is crafted not only to entertain but to build critical skills like identifying and articulating emotions, understanding the perspectives of others, and practicing positive social interactions.
- resources to help kids through their big feelings
Calm Corner
The "Calm Corner" page on "Little Mindful" serves as a serene hub of resources and interactive exercises designed to help children navigate through their big feelings. Recognizing the importance of healthy coping mechanisms, this dedicated space offers a variety of tools aimed at fostering emotional regulation and mindfulness.
Children can explore and engage in guided activities such as breathing techniques, meditation sessions, and grounding exercises, each presented in a child-friendly format with engaging animations and soothing audio. Beyond these interactive exercises, the Calm Corner also provides a collection of ideas and practices that children can undertake independently.
DESIGNING FOR KIDS AND PARENTS
One of the project's major achievements is the development of a user-friendly interface that appeals to children with its vibrant colors, intuitive navigation, and interactive content, while also providing a dashboard for parents. This dashboard allows parents to monitor their child’s progress, understand the concepts being taught, and find tips on reinforcing these lessons in daily life.
This dual engagement model emphasizes the importance of collaboration in the child's emotional learning journey, making "Little Mindful" a tool for shared experiences and growth.
Key take aways and future directions
Enhanced Tracking Features
Future updates aim to include more detailed tracking functionalities for parents and educators, offering insights into a child’s progress, areas of strength, and topics that may require further attention. This feature will enable a more personalized learning experience and facilitate targeted support from adults.
Resources for Caregivers and Teachers
Recognizing the pivotal role of educators and caregivers in a child's development, "Little Mindful" is set to introduce a comprehensive resource hub. This hub will include guides, activities, and strategies for teaching emotional intelligence, enabling a consistent learning experience across different environments.
School Version
To integrate "Little Mindful" into formal education, a specialized school version of the site is in development. This version will be tailored for classroom use, aligning with educational curriculums and providing teachers with tools to incorporate emotional intelligence lessons into their teaching plans.
The "Little Mindful" project stands as a testament to the potential of technology in enhancing emotional and social learning. By continuously evolving and adapting to the needs of children, parents, and educators, "Little Mindful" is poised to make a lasting impact on the way emotional intelligence is taught and learned, paving the way for a more empathetic and emotionally aware generation.