InterKidz
InterKidz is helping to create a new, sociable society. How? Through its motto: ‘Play together, grow together.’
A study project by: Felicia Kress, Laura Pereira Freudenberg and Alena Schneider
2nd semester, 2024
Supervising lecturers: Martin Haas, Prof. Andrea Krajewski, Dieter Stasch, Torben Toepper, Tomas Zebis
Definitions
To begin with, we will explain two terms which are important for understanding the aims of the InterKidz project:
Interpersonal: Interpersonal means that people communicate directly with one another, exchange ideas or maintain relationships face to face.
Interactive play equipment: Interactive play equipment is play equipment that directly or indirectly encourages interaction between children.
Thematic area
The ‘InterKidz’ project was developed with a focus on its thematic link to the World Design Capital 2026 in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region. The theme of this event is ‘Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life’ and the guiding principle ‘Let’s shape the way we want to live’.
For the second semester, this gave rise to the theme “Let’s create a new way of living together! An interactive guide’. Under this overarching theme, ideas were developed, presented and grouped into thematic clusters. This led to the formation of the project team, which, through the ideas they developed themselves, covered the new thematic area: ‘Let’s create spaces where our children can learn to live together and experience this first-hand’.
Why is InterKidz necessary?
Pov: Your child is sitting at home alone in front of the computer again, chatting with their friends. Although they feel the urge to go outside and do something with them, they remain glued to the screen.
The problem underlying this project is excessive media consumption among children, which has risen sharply in recent years and can have many negative effects on their development and health. This high level of media consumption also hinders children’s social interaction, as this often takes place digitally.
Despite their high media consumption, children often prefer outdoor activities and meeting up with friends in their free time, yet they frequently stay indoors. Discussions with parents revealed clear requirements for the project: children should play outdoors together with other children, make use of attractive spaces and do so without using media.
InterKidz is being used to meet precisely these requirements and to offer children more opportunities once again to engage in active and social activities.
What does InterKidz aim to achieve?
The InterKidz project therefore aims to encourage children to interact more with others without digital media and to learn how to socialise with one another.
The activities are to be moved outdoors to get children away from their screens and out into nature. At the same time, parents are to recognise how important this form of interaction is and learn how to support their children in this.
Once the project has been implemented, children should experience more interpersonal social interactions, which should lead to a more sociable society.
Parents are to act as supporters who actively help their children to build healthy social relationships.
In the long term, the importance of interpersonal social interaction in society is set to increase, with the aim of fostering a socially engaged community that spans generations.
What does InterKidz offer?
To achieve this, InterKidz is based on two key concepts: one for playgrounds and one for a web application.
For children aged 3–12
who want to do things with other children and have fun
have fun
, InterKidz
a concept for interactive playgrounds
designed to strengthen children’s social skills whilst encouraging them to socialise more.
Unlike traditional playgrounds, the play equipment is designed to encourage children to interact with one another. This is achieved through the design and layout of the equipment, as well as through tasks that are meant to be tackled together.
In addition to the playground concept, there is a web application for parents of children aged 3–12,
who wish to encourage their children’s social development and social interaction without the use of digital media.
InterKidz is a complementary, responsive web application
which supports the organisation and use of public spaces. It helps parents to find these playgrounds, obtain information about them and become aware of the importance of social skills.
Unlike traditional information websites, InterKidz helps parents find suitable public spaces designed to promote their children’s social development and social interaction, whilst also providing activities and games that support this.
What is this new sense of community?
InterKidz aims to create this new sense of community, fostering a new generation of socially-minded individuals and highlighting the importance of interpersonal social interaction in the digital world.
How can democracy be strengthened?
InterKidz promotes an open society through democratic principles, supports education, cooperation and participation, offers transparency and self-determination, ensures equal opportunities and social inclusion, and thereby strengthens social cohesion.