The global pool of second screen apps comprises so many “means of play” for grown ups, that lately its focus began shifting towards children. While we enjoy getting away with an interactive game or a juicy second screen app that covers our favourite TV show that we can kill commercial breaks with, when it comes to children…let’s just say things get a bit more complicated, borderline tabu. That is because we already feel guilty for our Instagram intoxicated blooming youth, so the general consensus is nowadays based on a classic Simpsons wheeze “Won’t somebody please think of the children?!”
Photo Source: http://blog.davender.com/
And app developers sure have, since we are now able to talk and discuss the topic of Play-Along apps. What seems like a brilliant idea to some, appals and outrages others, therefore we can expect plenty of ideological clashes from now on (the market’s still fresh).
From Concept To Dual-Screen Playground
The idea emerged a couple of years ago, and one of the first prominent second screen apps for kids was developed back in 2013 by UK based agency SyncScreen, a concept app for the children’s show Mister Maker. The app was tested on 4 -6 year olds, with plenty of measurements and assessments made by both app specialists and educational reps. The results proved that children are capable of attention control, meaning they can easily shift their attention from one screen to another, with no hard time whatsoever. Moreover, the fact that both screens promoted the same message, thus conveying a “single global task” (Professor Plowman, 2013), the kids were all the more focused, which makes it a wonderful and intriguing learning tool. Makes sense though, doesn’t it?
Proper Timing, Proper Pacing
So what was the secret of the Mister Maker app? Proper timing, proper pacing. According to professor Plowman from the University of Edinburgh, what made that particular app “tick” was the fact that its developers took all the steps and right measurements so as to ensure the exact cognitive load children can handle without getting overwhelmed by the amount of actions taken and information received. Basically, with children it’s all about mental activity and sticking tight to the fine line between what’s manageable and what’s not. No overcrowding, no oversimplifying, just the right amount. Like the perfect dish.
Photo Source: http://treadingonlego.com/
A good clue in terms of how to keep the balance steady is this: the on-screen visuals and the narrative sequences need to go hand in hand, which means a little bit of both, and strictly that. We might get tempted to go harder on the visual path instead of the narrative one because “hey! kids!”, but science says no, and science was right.
Also, timing is key. If you ever consider developing a Play-Along app, make sure you know the TV show by heart, because that will guarantee its success. Unlike adults, children tend to let go far easier to things (don’t we all know it!), so if the app gets too “exciting”, they will completely abandon the TV show. The app will then lose its purpose and soon enough it will be history. So, as with every second screen app out there, the rule of thumb is “be kind with television”, as TV is not the foe, but the friend, and its purpose is to support the claims of your fun app.
Once again, as with every second screen app, it has to “grow with the show”. Don’t let it get behind. It might be a kids’ show, but it will still develop at a fast pace. Children have the ability, as it has been proven, to engage in a dual screen experience with no “intelligence side effects”, but they do need to keep themselves busy, so make sure your app always finds a way to stimulate their brains in the most fun way possible.
What I saw from the children was that they were overjoyed to be able to make something that was as good as Mister Maker’s and they clearly still enjoyed watching the show. The parents liked it too, pleased that their child could join in without necessarily covering the house in glitter and glue.
