Initially, we learned about the different developmental stages children go through and decided to focus on a specific age range within one stage. However, after reading some insightful articles online, we decided to adjust our target group.
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In general, when designing for children, focus on a two-year age range, max.
(A Practical Guide To Designing For Children — Smashing Magazine, 2024)
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Through our research, we discovered that even a single year can make a significant difference in how kids think and behave. Many experts in game design and UX emphasize the importance of narrowing the target age group when designing for children. Unlike adults, kids in different age ranges exhibit distinct behaviors and ways of interacting, making it crucial to tailor the experience to a specific age group.
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What age group are you trying to create an experience for? Children have very different stages of development, that depend on their age, which results in completely different wants, needs and abilities.
(What Are The Best Practices For Designing Games For Children?, 2023)
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This was a new and interesting insight for us, so we decided to adjust our target group from 7–12 years old to 10–12 years old. We chose not to include the 7–9 age group because we felt that the sjoel game tends to be more popular with slightly older children. Additionally, we believe the concept of the game will be easier for them to understand. However, this doesn’t mean that younger kids won’t be able to play, it might just be in a different way, such as with the help of a caregiver, or they might play without fully understanding the concept behind it.
What are the best practices for designing games for children? (2023, 1 december). https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-best-practices-designing-games-children-ne6sc
A practical guide to designing for children — Smashing magazine. (2024, 13 februari). Smashing Magazine. https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/practical-guide-design-children/