Questions to consider (not comprehensive) as you engage in the Engineering Design Process:
- What is age-appropriate for the target audience, ages 3-8? What works for an average 8-year-old might not be the right level for a 3-year-old!
- What developmental areas need to be part of the design process? For example, developmental areas can include: physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language development.
- What specific skills does a toy/game require and/or help develop? Does the child need to be able to read and at what level? Have or practice fine motor skills? Have or practice gross motor skills?
- Are there potential modifications for accessibility purposes? For instance, does the toy work well for a child with a vision, hearing, or speech/language impairment? What about autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
- Can you avoid gender- or identity-based assumptions or representations?
- When looking at reviews of existing toys for inspiration, are reviews from child development experts? Educators? Parents/caregivers? Children? Consider different perspectives!
- Is a toy primarily educational? Primarily for entertainment? A balance of both?
Engineering Capstone
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