Snackpals
An interactive tool for co-creating meals with children. Playful animations guide parents and kids through snack preparation.
Research shows that children raised in stress-free food environments will develop healthier eating habits than those raised in food environments that are strict and pressure-filled. Snackpals is an interactive table interface that creates an open-ended food environment where kids are in the driver’s seat.
The Snackpals design team at IDEO CoLab included myself, Carly Berry and Fahad Punjwani.
The brief.
How might we…
... use emerging technology to improve childhood nutrition in the future?
... apply learnings from behavioral science research to improve parents’ interactions with their kids around food?
A playful space for co-creation.
The Snackpals concept divides snack prep tasks between the adult and child and gives them separate individual spaces on the table to work. This simple separation encourages parents to not overly monitor their child’s actions, empowering the child to take ownership over their own tasks.
Interface
The interactive interface is divided into two zones, one for the child and one for the adult. The instructions appear on the surface and areas are provided for the needed tools. Animated characters, the “Snackpals”, provide helpful tips and encouragement throughout the process.
For this prototype the interface was projected onto the table from above.
Emerging tech meets behavioral science.
We know it can sometimes be hard for parents to let their children lead, especially in the kitchen. However, behavioral science tells us that taking initiative and responsibility is essential for proper child development. To create these growth opportunities for children, we channeled parents’ attention to their own tasks, creating room for children to be their own leader.
