Designing Websites for Kids

When designing a website for kids use bright, vivid colours that will visually stimulate the kids. Make sure the kids comeback to your site by creating a happy mood. This can be done by using a cartoon character as a vocal point on the page. Use eye catching graphics in the background or a theme ie for my site it could be a running track or the stadium. Use large typography, large buttons and large icons because they will draw children into your site.

Navigation

When creating the navigation for a kids site make sure you use big icons and large text incorporated with the icons. Also use sound effects on the navigation buttons. Use a voice to help them with the navigation.

Print Out Pictures & Colouring Pages

It is a good idea to have print out pages on your site so the children can print out pictures to colour in.

Below is a list of the best conventional practices for designing a website for kids:

• create elements that are large and visually memorable
• use bright, vivid colours that stimulate the senses
• incorporate elements from nature
• create depth in design
• add navigational elements that are large and easy to find
• use video
• include printable elements
• break the grid
• make modifications based on usability testing

Below is a list on the best unconventional practices for designing a website for kids:

• create a happy, playful mood
• use animated characters
• use graphic-heavy navigation bars
• use flash animation
• use motion and sounds that trigger when the page loads
• include a "games" section
• change the cursor to contribute to the theme
• add voices to navigation rollovers
• be accountable to both children and parents

I found this information on the smashing magazine website below:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/11/27/designing-websites-for-kids-trends-and-best-practices/

Final Major Project Proposal

After the feedback I got back from my tutor's Jay and Sally I have decided to create a Flash website for my Final Major Project.

I would like to design a flash website aimed at primary school children promoting the London 2012 Olympics. The site would educate the children about next years Olympics and briefly describe to them the 39 disciplines included next years Olympics. This will be done by using still cartoon characters to display the events with a minimal amount of text next to them describing that chosen sport. I will also educate the children about each nation competing at the games by including the flags of each nation with a minimal amount of content about each nation on the site. I will include simple icons and navigation so they can find their way around the site. I will use bright colours so it stands out to young children. I will also try and add a voice to the navigation so the children can hear what page they are on. The main objective for this site is to get young children interested in next years Olympics in London. The site needs to stimulate the children so they don't get bored so I think using cartoon characters could help do that. It could feature colour in pages of the cartoon characters for the children to print out and colour in.

I think this will be a challenge for me because it is taking me away from my comfort zone of building a website in html and css. However I don't want to just be known as a one trick pony who can only create html, css websites. So I think it is a good idea to push myself in another direction for this project to prove to myself and others that I can do other things. So this is my proposal for my Final Major Project.

Major Project Pitch

On Fri 30th September I pitched my ideas for my major project to Jay and Sally. I began by pitching the Roadrunner magazine idea to them both. After discussing the pro's and con's of this idea to them they decided I needed to move away from this idea because I am passionate about running and therefore in my comfort zone. So they said forget about that idea and let's hear your idea 2 so I pitched idea 2 to them. After discussing idea 2 with them they gave me some feedback. They like the idea of creating a website for children based on the London 2012 Olympics. However they want me to move away from creating a website in html, css, because I need to push myself further. So it was decided I should create a one off website in Flash or an interactive piece something that would take me away from my comfort zone.

Jay and Sally suggested I looked at the School Curriculum website http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-1-and-2/subjects/index.aspx so I could find out what I need to include on the site to keep children interested. I also looked at the CBeebies website http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/ to see what they included on the site. I noticed they use bright colours and big icons and when you click on the navigation they have a voice telling you what page you are on. Also they don't use a lot of text and content because it is aimed at young children and they would lose interest if there was a lot of content. So my site needs to have a minimal amount of text and content on it.