Designing for Little Minds: How I Taught UX to Toddlers
This past fall, my son started preschool at a Reggio Emilia-inspired school, and it’s been one of the best decisions my husband and I have ever made. The teachers encourage the children to explore their imaginations, develop empathy, and above all, embrace being kids. With just the right amount of structure, they’re unlocking so much potential in each child to grow up kind, confident, and responsible.
Watching my son thrive in this nurturing environment sparked an idea: how could I explain what I do for a living to young children in a way that’s both engaging and meaningful? As a User Experience (UX) Designer, my work focuses on problem-solving and creating delightful experiences—concepts even toddlers could benefit from understanding. When I proposed the idea to his teachers, they welcomed it with open arms. I was both excited and up for the challenge.
Simplifying UX for Kids
The first step was to break down the terminology into something relatable. I decided to focus on “Experience” and “Design,” skipping the word “User” to make it more approachable. Here’s how I introduced myself and explained my role to the kids:
Experience: “It’s all about how you feel when you do something. Like when you play with your favorite toy or game—if it’s fun and makes you happy, that’s a good experience! If it’s frustrating, that’s not such a good experience.”
Design: “Design is when you make things fun, easy to use, and nice to look at. It helps make things work better and be more enjoyable.”
Experience Designer: “An Experience Designer is someone who makes things easy and fun to use. They make sure everything works well and makes you happy when you use it!”
Once the children understood the basics, I wanted to illustrate how design improves experiences. Using adorable AI-generated pictures of teddy bears, I shared two scenarios.
Learning Through Teddy Bears
The first picture showed a teddy bear standing in the rain wearing sandals:
“When it’s raining outside, how would it feel to wear sandals? Your feet would get wet and you wouldn’t feel very happy.”
“What would make it a better experience?”
The kids excitedly shouted, “Boots!”
“That’s right! Rain boots are designed to keep your feet dry and make jumping in puddles fun.”
AI-Generated: Teddy bear wearing sandals in the rain
AI-Generated: Teddy bear wearing boots in the rain
The second example featured teddy bears trying to wash their hands at a sink that was too tall:
“What happens when you want to wash your hands but can’t reach the sink? You might have to stand on your tippy toes or ask for help.”
“What could make this better?”
“A step stool!” they exclaimed.
“Exactly! A step stool is designed to help you reach tall things and do things on your own.”
AI-Generated: Teddy bear can’t reach the sink
AI-Generated: Teddy bear using a step stool to reach the sink
The Watering Can Project
Inspired by Don Norman’s The Design of Everyday Things and its teapot illustration, I brainstormed how to translate UX design into a physical project. I landed on the idea of a watering can, a simple everyday object that could demonstrate iteration and problem-solving.
Using everyday materials—paper cups, bubble tea straws, and a hot glue gun—I created three iterations:
A simple open cup.
A cup with a spout for easier pouring.
A cup with both a spout and a handle for better grip and accuracy.
I made one for every child so they could decorate their own, adding a personal and creative touch to the experience.
An open cup, a cup with a spout, and a cup with both a spout and handle
A paper watering can decorated with a floral pattern
Bringing UX to Life
In the classroom, I gathered the children around a small plant and a portable toy sink.
“Now that we know what Experience Design is, let’s design something together to help us water this plant!”
First, I used my hands, spilling water everywhere.
Then, I introduced the simple cup: “This helps, but it’s hard to pour without spilling.”
Next came the spout: “This is better! It helps get water into the planter.”
Finally, the handle: “Now it’s easy to hold and pour. We’ve designed a watering can that makes watering plants fun and easy!”
The children lit up with excitement, eager to decorate their own watering cans. Seeing their creativity and enthusiasm was magical, and my son’s pride in me was the cherry on top.
Presenting the final design of a watering can
All the watering cans the children beautifully decorated
Reflections
This project was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I never imagined I could distill my work into something meaningful for toddlers, but it turns out UX isn’t just for adults—it’s about making life better for everyone.
This experience taught me to tap into my inner child, approach challenges with fresh eyes, and stay grounded in what truly matters. By simplifying complex ideas and focusing on creativity, I was able to connect with my son and his classmates in a way I’ll never forget.
I’m proud to say this project wasn’t just about teaching—it was about learning, growing, and finding joy in the process.
