From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children
Although smart device use among children is increasing, most interventions overlook their cognitive and emotional development or rely too heavily on external control. Such approaches often overlook the developmental needs of children for emotional regulation and autonomy. Therefore, this study aims...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7929 |
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| author | Dayoung Lee Boram Lee |
| author_facet | Dayoung Lee Boram Lee |
| author_sort | Dayoung Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although smart device use among children is increasing, most interventions overlook their cognitive and emotional development or rely too heavily on external control. Such approaches often overlook the developmental needs of children for emotional regulation and autonomy. Therefore, this study aims to propose a child-centred user experience (UX) framework to support digital self-regulation in preschool-aged children. The proposed system integrates multiple psychological theories—including Piaget’s concept of animistic thinking, executive function theory, Self-Determination Theory, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—to support cognitive and emotional regulation during screen use. Key features include persistent visual cues to enhance time awareness and behavioural anticipation, narrative-based character interactions to foster empathy and agency, and ritualised closure routines supported by multimodal and tangible interaction elements. Developed as a mobile prototype, the system was iteratively refined through two-stage consultations with child and adolescent psychiatrists and a developmental psychologist, including formative design feedback and follow-up expert review. Their feedback provided preliminary validation of the system’s developmental validity and emotional coherence. These findings suggest that affectively attuned UX design is a viable alternative to conventional control-based screen-time interventions in early childhood. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cdf42eb6e8664b798c2c2124a0242628 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-cdf42eb6e8664b798c2c2124a02426282025-08-20T03:58:26ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514792910.3390/app15147929From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged ChildrenDayoung Lee0Boram Lee1Piloto Inc., Seoul 06771, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Visual Communication Design, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaAlthough smart device use among children is increasing, most interventions overlook their cognitive and emotional development or rely too heavily on external control. Such approaches often overlook the developmental needs of children for emotional regulation and autonomy. Therefore, this study aims to propose a child-centred user experience (UX) framework to support digital self-regulation in preschool-aged children. The proposed system integrates multiple psychological theories—including Piaget’s concept of animistic thinking, executive function theory, Self-Determination Theory, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—to support cognitive and emotional regulation during screen use. Key features include persistent visual cues to enhance time awareness and behavioural anticipation, narrative-based character interactions to foster empathy and agency, and ritualised closure routines supported by multimodal and tangible interaction elements. Developed as a mobile prototype, the system was iteratively refined through two-stage consultations with child and adolescent psychiatrists and a developmental psychologist, including formative design feedback and follow-up expert review. Their feedback provided preliminary validation of the system’s developmental validity and emotional coherence. These findings suggest that affectively attuned UX design is a viable alternative to conventional control-based screen-time interventions in early childhood.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7929screen time managementchild-centred UX designself-regulationsmart device usagedevelopmentally appropriate technology |
| spellingShingle | Dayoung Lee Boram Lee From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children Applied Sciences screen time management child-centred UX design self-regulation smart device usage developmentally appropriate technology |
| title | From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children |
| title_full | From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children |
| title_fullStr | From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children |
| title_short | From Control to Connection: A Child-Centred User Experience Approach to Promoting Digital Self-Regulation in Preschool-Aged Children |
| title_sort | from control to connection a child centred user experience approach to promoting digital self regulation in preschool aged children |
| topic | screen time management child-centred UX design self-regulation smart device usage developmentally appropriate technology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7929 |
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