Principle 5

Encourage children to play with others

“Help me find new friends to play with online, without revealing who I am.”
(Harriet, 9 years old, Sweden)

  • A child’s well-being, social life, play, creativity, self-expression and learning can be enhanced when collaborating and sharing with others.
  • Provide children with safe experiences, both online and in person, that help develop relationships and social skills.
  • Offer a healthy social environment by not highlighting differences that can be used in discriminatory ways.
  • Your design decisions are actively shaping the culture surrounding your product or service.

Links to the UN Rights of the Child:
The Right to Development & The Right to Participate

❮ Principle 4
❯ Principle 6
RESOURCES: Design for Play & Learning

Here you can find selected resources to learn more about designing for play and learning.

Evolutionary Playwork (book, 2011)
Playful by Design (pdf)
Children, Technology and Play (pdf)
Exploring Play and Creativity in Pre-Schoolers’ Use of Apps: Media Industry Guide (pdf)
Young Children Playing and Learning in a Digital Age (book, 2018)
Framing Play Design (book, 2020)
ToP – Test of Playfulness (pdf)

D4CR principles
Design for Inclusion

1. Gather and respect children’s views
2. Everyone can use
3. Use communication children can understand

Design for Play & Learning

4. Allow and support exploration
5. Encourage children to play with others
6. Create a balanced environment

Design for Safety & Sustainability

7. Keep children safe and protected
8. Do not misuse children’s data
9. Help children recognise and understand commercial activities
10. Design for future