What are the best practices for designing mobile apps for children?

2 Make your app engaging and fun

Children love to play and learn through play. Therefore, you need to make your app engaging and fun for them. You can use elements such as animation, sound, color, humor, and interactivity to capture their attention and stimulate their curiosity. You can also use game mechanics such as rewards, levels, goals, and feedback to motivate them and keep them interested. However, you should avoid using excessive or inappropriate stimuli that may distract, confuse, or frustrate them. You should also balance the entertainment and educational value of your app, and avoid making it too easy or too hard for them.

3 Ensure your app is usable and intuitive

Children have different levels of motor skills, language skills, and cognitive skills than adults. Therefore, you need to ensure your app is usable and intuitive for them. You can use gestures, icons, images, and voice commands to make your app easy to navigate and control. You can also use clear and simple language, instructions, and feedback to make your app easy to understand and follow. You should avoid using complex or unfamiliar words, symbols, or concepts that may confuse them. You should also test your app with real children and observe how they use it, and make adjustments based on their feedback.

4 Consider your app's accessibility and safety

Children may have different abilities and disabilities that affect how they access and use your app. Therefore, you need to consider your app's accessibility and safety for them. You can use features such as subtitles, captions, audio descriptions, and text-to-speech to make your app accessible for children with hearing or vision impairments. You can also use adaptive and responsive design to make your app adaptable for different screen sizes, orientations, and devices. You should also protect your app from unauthorized access, data breaches, or inappropriate content that may harm or exploit children. You should also comply with the relevant laws and regulations regarding children's privacy and consent, such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

5 Involve your app's stakeholders

Children are not the only stakeholders of your app. You also need to involve their parents, teachers, and other caregivers who may influence their app choices, usage, and outcomes. You can involve them in the design process by asking for their opinions, preferences, and expectations. You can also provide them with information, guidance, and support on how to use your app with their children. You can also create features that allow them to monitor, control, or participate in their children's app activities. By involving your app's stakeholders, you can increase your app's credibility, trustworthiness, and value.

6 Keep your app updated and relevant

Children are constantly changing and growing. Therefore, you need to keep your app updated and relevant for them. You can use analytics, feedback, and reviews to measure your app's performance, user satisfaction, and impact. You can also use updates, improvements, and new features to enhance your app's functionality, quality, and appeal. You should also keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and standards in the mobile app industry and the children's market. By keeping your app updated and relevant, you can retain your app's users, attract new users, and achieve your app's goals.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?