Children's Toy Design: Taking the Design of Ecological Observation Toy Box as an Example

Abstract

Currently, insufficient contact between children and the natural environment has become a prominent public health and educational issue. This trend is mainly driven by two factors: the expansion of built environments and the increasing amount of time spent on screens, which puts children's physical and mental development at multiple risks. Taking the ecological observation toy box from educational toys as an example, this paper analyzes the key points in children's toy design. Based on relevant research projects and from the perspectives of children's cognitive psychology and behavioral science, children in the age range of 6-12 years old are identified as the target user group for this study. Additionally, the different needs of children and parents regarding toys are analyzed, a balance is sought between these needs, and the design principles for children's toys are summarized. Building on earlier research, the study's findings were applied to real-world design projects, leading to the creation of an ecological observation toy box tailored to children aged 6-12. By combining theory with practice, the whole research process became more complete.