Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Supporting children's emotional development and regulation is an important part of early childhood education. However, the targeted use of digital technology in early childhood education has been limited, and social robotics has not been widely applied.
AIM of the study
Our feasibility study was carried out in early education of Tampere City. The aim was to study whether the social robot can be utilized to increase children's positive emotional experiences, reciprocity, and sociability in a kindergarten group. In addition, we studied how the Lumi tablet game, a gamified simulation that measures children's emotional reactions and early moral development, functions as a data collection tool.
MATERIAL and METHODs
Two integrated early childhood education groups of 4–5-year-old children were selected for a four-week study. Participating children in the intervention group (N=17) had both Lumi robot and the Lumi tablet game developed for this study. The robot was involved in group sessions led by the early childhood educators, and in children's free play. The children in the intervention group also played Lumi game as independently as possible. In the comparison group (N=20), only the Lumi game was offered for the children to play. We interviewed early childhood educators of both groups after the four-week study concerning their experiences.
RESULTS
Early childhood educators perceived the social robot as an excellent and versatile tool in kindergarten. The benefits were seen in the training of emotional skills, regulation, and in resolving conflict situations. In the Lumi game, majority of the children chose either neutral or mature emotional reaction for the challenges presented in the game.
CONCLUSIONS
The study suggested that social robotics and the Lumi tablet game may be considered as a promising tool in childhood education. The social robot and the Lumi game have now been tested also in Indian context.
Supporting children's emotional development and regulation is an important part of early childhood education. However, the targeted use of digital technology in early childhood education has been limited, and social robotics has not been widely applied.
AIM of the study
Our feasibility study was carried out in early education of Tampere City. The aim was to study whether the social robot can be utilized to increase children's positive emotional experiences, reciprocity, and sociability in a kindergarten group. In addition, we studied how the Lumi tablet game, a gamified simulation that measures children's emotional reactions and early moral development, functions as a data collection tool.
MATERIAL and METHODs
Two integrated early childhood education groups of 4–5-year-old children were selected for a four-week study. Participating children in the intervention group (N=17) had both Lumi robot and the Lumi tablet game developed for this study. The robot was involved in group sessions led by the early childhood educators, and in children's free play. The children in the intervention group also played Lumi game as independently as possible. In the comparison group (N=20), only the Lumi game was offered for the children to play. We interviewed early childhood educators of both groups after the four-week study concerning their experiences.
RESULTS
Early childhood educators perceived the social robot as an excellent and versatile tool in kindergarten. The benefits were seen in the training of emotional skills, regulation, and in resolving conflict situations. In the Lumi game, majority of the children chose either neutral or mature emotional reaction for the challenges presented in the game.
CONCLUSIONS
The study suggested that social robotics and the Lumi tablet game may be considered as a promising tool in childhood education. The social robot and the Lumi game have now been tested also in Indian context.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2024 |
| Publication type | Not Eligible |
| Event | 2024 Interim Worls Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) - Tampere, Finland Duration: 5 Jun 2024 → 7 Jun 2024 https://waimh.org/page/waimh2024 |
Conference
| Conference | 2024 Interim Worls Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Finland |
| City | Tampere |
| Period | 5/06/24 → 7/06/24 |
| Internet address |
