Interactive Educational Toy Design Strategies for Promoting Young Children’s Garbage-Sorting Behavior and Awareness

Zhenwei You (), Tingting Yang, Zhe Li, Yi Li and Ming Zhong
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Zhenwei You: Design Department, School of Digital Media and Design Arts, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Tingting Yang: Design Department, School of Digital Media and Design Arts, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Zhe Li: Design Department, School of Digital Media and Design Arts, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Yi Li: Design Department, School of Digital Media and Design Arts, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
Ming Zhong: Design Department, School of Digital Media and Design Arts, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: Existing educational toys for teaching garbage classification fail to teach about its benefits and positive results. Thus, children do not fully understand the logic behind garbage classification. We summarized the design strategies of garbage classification educational toys according to parents’ evaluations of existing toys and the literature on children’s memory characteristics. Presenting children with all the system information related to garbage classification is essential for their logical understanding. Using interactive formats and personified images enhances children’s desire to play with toys. Based on the above strategies, we designed an intelligent trash can system toy: Incorrect garbage input displays an uncomfortable expression and sad voice. Correct garbage input triggers happy expressions and positive sounds. An animated story then shows how the garbage is treated and recycled into something new. The results of a contrast experiment showed that the accuracy rate of children’s garbage classification was significantly raised after playing with the designed toy for two weeks. The toy also promoted children’s garbage-sorting behavior in daily life. When seeing trash misclassified, the children would correct the mistakes and take the initiative to share relevant knowledge about garbage disposal.

Keywords: educational toys; garbage classification; interaction design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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