8 guidelines for usability testing with children

guidelines for usability testing with children

guidelines
for usability testing
y g
with children

www.di8it.com | info@di8it.com | @di8it


1
Don`t think of children as young
adults,
adults they are a special user
group with their own specific
mental model.



2 In general don`t use your own or colleagues’
children as usability participants.
hild bilit ti i t



3 Children work best in their natural environments.



4 Make the lab a little more child-friendly by
placing some props or colorful posters on the
walls but don`t overdo, make the setting as
natural as possible
possible.



5 Show children and parents around the lab. Letting children see the
workings of the lab relaxes then and builds trust in you.
Explain that team members like to watch children use their designs,
and when in another room, they can talk to one another about how to
fix things
things.



6 If possible, before the test, try to set things up in
the way they a child is accustomed to. Pre-schoolers
may find it difficult to use an unfamiliar mouse,
keyboard or other input device
device.



7

Don`t plan long testing sessions with children.
Children get bored, discouraged and tired much
easier, on average plan for an hour and give
enough time for play and exploration.
Preschoolers will l on average about 30
h l ill last b
minute.



8
When planning a series of tasks,
switch the order around for different
children so that the same tasks do not
always come at the end of the test
when children are tired.



1 Don t think f hild
D `t thi k of children as young adults, th are a special user group with th i own
specific mental model.
d lt they i l ith their

2 In general don`t use your own or colleagues’ children as usability p
g y g y participants.
p

3 Children work best in their natural environments.

4 Make the lab a little more child friendly by placing some props or colorful posters
child-friendly
on the walls but don`t overdo, make the setting as natural as possible.

5 Show children and parents around the lab. Letting children see the workings of the
lab relaxes then and builds trust in you. Explain that team members like to watch
children use their designs, and when in another room, they can talk to one another
about how to fix things

6 If possible, before the test, try to set things up in the way they a child is
accustomed to. Pre-schoolers may find it difficult to use an unfamiliar mouse,
keyboard or other input device.

7 Don`t plan long testing sessions with children. Children get bored, discouraged
and tired much easier, on average plan for an hour and give enough time for play and
exploration. Preschoolers will last on average about 30 minute.

8 When planning a series of tasks, switch the order around for different children so
that the same tasks do not always come at the end of the test when children are tired.



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8 guidelines for usability testing with children

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