A Book Interaction Scheme to Enhance Children's Reading Experiences and Preferences

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Cultivating early reading habits is crucial for children's development.
• Traditional book engagement faces challenges in attracting young readers.
• Understanding children's interaction with books informs design strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of book interaction design on 5-6 year old children's reading experiences.
• To analyze how design elements influence reading time, preferences, and emotional responses.
• To provide practical guidelines for publishers to enhance children's book design.

Main Methods:

• Study focused on preschool children aged 5-6 years.
• Measured reading time, emotional responses, and subjective ratings.
• Assessed preferences for different book interaction designs, including sensory, folding, and pop-up elements.

Main Results:

• Preschool children (5-6 years) showed a preference for sensory book interactions.
• Book interaction design significantly affected reading duration, affective experience, and overall ratings.
• Girls in this age group particularly favored folding and pop-up interaction designs.

Conclusions:

• Sensory and interactive elements in book design are highly valued by young children.
• Tailoring book designs to specific interaction preferences can enhance reading engagement.
• Findings offer actionable insights for publishers to create more effective and appealing children's books.