Process & Constraints

Our process began with observation and play over several days to gather contextual insights into his daily struggles and physical goals.

• Key Insight (The Problem Trigger):

  • Observation confirmed that the child frequently struggled to reach puzzle pieces and toys on the opposite side of his play mat. This required excessive strain, leading to frustration and loss of focus, often causing early disengagement from activities.

• Balancing Design Constraints:

  • The core challenge was designing a solution that acted as an assistive device (improving reach) while maintaining the integrity of his physical therapy goals (encouraging practice to improve range of motion). The design could not be overly assistive, complex, or unsafe.

  • The solution had to be simple, safe, and engaging enough to encourage both independent use and participation from peers.

  

Results & Design Solution

After considering the functional needs and safety requirements, we developed a playful and highly practical physical prototype inspired by amusement park rides.

• Final Design: A custom lazy-Susan style floor play enhancer. The design uses a stationary base and a central spinning wheel mechanism that allows the preschooler to dynamically rotate himself 360 degrees.

• Key Feature for Adaptability:

  • We incorporated removable handles that attach to the rotating platform. These were designed for days when his arm strength was limited, offering better torque and leverage to pull himself in different directions without overexertion. The handles are detachable to maintain full rotation and reduce clutter when not required.

• Impact on Quality of Life:

  • The playful mechanism instantly increased his ability to complete activities (like puzzles) without relying on adult assistance.

  • Crucially, the dynamic, interactive nature of the device encouraged peers to join in, transforming a functional aid into a social catalyst that significantly improved his inclusion during playtime.

Opportunities for Improvement and Expansion

Given the short time frame and focus on initial validation, future work would prioritize long-term therapeutic efficacy, manufacturability, and scalable inclusion.

• Longitudinal Therapeutic Tracking: The current study validated the immediate positive impact. The next step would be a longitudinal study (6+ months) involving the child’s physical therapist. This would track hard metrics like the actual increase in range of motion, change in muscle strength, and duration of independent engagement over time, proving the device's therapeutic value alongside its functional benefit. We wanted to continue working with the student, but were unable to due to complications with his teacher's health.

• Materials and Manufacturability Research: The initial prototype was functional but not optimized. Future resources would be dedicated to sourcing durable, non-toxic, and easily sanitizable materials.