Websites for young children are not something designers tackle very often, but this is likely to change in the very near future as more and more children in the 3-12 year old age group come online. This will lead to an increase in the number of web designs specifically targeting children in this age group, which means that designers really need to start taking note of the habits and expectations of our younger generations.

Children have very little patience.

What do you do when you come across a website that has frustrating navigation or is not user friendly? You stop using it. While children and teens have a similar reaction, it is important to note that they will actually come to this conclusion much more quickly. Be careful about load times for things like videos and images in your web designs, as kids get tired of waiting very quickly.

Children want to be entertained

When an adult goes online, they are often looking for information. This includes visiting news websites, researching unknown areas, and even looking up movie times. Kids, on the other hand, mostly go online for entertainment (aside from homework times). They can play games or watch videos on YouTube, for example. If your web design isn’t strictly for entertainment purposes, adding these elements will hold a child’s attention for longer.

Boys have poorer motor skills.

One of the main problems for designers is that they often forget that there are significant differences between children and adults, the main one being that children are much less dexterous. This means that many children will experience problems when it comes to typing and maneuvering the mouse. Children’s web designs should include larger buttons to minimize the chance of errors.

Children do not differentiate between content and advertising

While adults have what’s known as ‘banner blindness’ (meaning they ignore advertising material), children typically can’t tell the difference between advertisements and web design content. This can cause problems as children often leave the website they wanted to see without even realizing it and won’t come back once they realize their mistake.

When you are approached to undertake a website design project aimed at children (especially those in the 3-12 age group), it is important that you consider the above factors and understand what they mean for your work. Children and adults do not react the same way, and your children’s website will not be successful until you take these different reactions into account.