One of the main processes involved while creating a successful website design is to ensure keeping the target audience in mind. So, when you plan on designing a website for kids, it is imperative to keep their interests and behavior in the center.

Apart from the interest of the kids, in order to design a child-friendly website, one needs to take care of a lot of other factors as well.

And, that’s precisely what we’ll be discussing in this article today.

Gone are the days when internet surfing and websites were only for adults and teens to access.

Today, a lot of websites are available for children to engage and learn from. And, with the accessibility of the internet through smartphones and tablets, children as young as 3-5 years old are also enjoying the world wide web.

So, if you too are planning to launch a kid-friendly website and wondering how to go about creating the web design for kids, then here are some of the best practices and tips you can follow.

Play around with colors

For kids, using a webpage on the internet is largely about getting fascinated and attracted by the color contrast of the screen. So, when planning on designing a website for kids, make sure you are using vibrant colors to get them attracted. 

You can strategically choose shades from the color wheel and use them as background, icons, buttons, cartoon figures, and, of course, your website logo.

Ensure fast page load speed

Even with adult users, the page load speed of a website is an important aspect to keep in mind when designing a website. With kids, the window of patience is even lesser. 

Adult website users would still try and figure out some features of a website even if a few are providing trouble. But, children who experience even the slightest of the problem in using a particular website will leave the site immediately.

It’s all about entertainment for kids

A child-friendly website is considered successful only if the user (a kid) is fully entertained while using the website. While adults mainly use the internet to obtain information, children use the internet to find entertainment.

So, even if your website is not exclusively designed for kids, but they make a significant part of your target audience, it is highly advised to add some engaging elements such as games or other forms of interactive material that could keep the attention of children.

Avoid any kind of distraction

Children can get distracted very easily. So, if they see a banner-ad popping up on the page while they are busy playing a quiz, they might not be able to identify and differentiate it as an ad that can be avoided. 

Allowing too many ads on your website can surely get you some earning but, you lose on your #1 objective of getting views and traffic to your website. All this goes away when the kid clicks on the ad and leaves your website.

 

Use familiar figures and icons

The overall objective of designing a website for kids is to make them stick to your website and entertain them as long as they are on it. One of the best practices that can be put in place for this purpose is by using recognizable shapes. 

Familiar icons and figures of animals, fruits, and other objects that they may find around them work perfectly in creating that appeal for the kids; especially younger ones. 

This helps in encouraging and reinforcing the learning process amongst children.

Keep simpler navigation and CTAs

Creating web design for kids requires additional efforts in keeping the UI simpler and clearer. It needs to be as user-friendly as possible.   

So, make sure the icons, navigation, and call-to-action buttons are all very well placed. 

One thing that can help dearly in your website design for kids is the use of large buttons and graphics instead of text. Additionally, since children have more difficulty moving a mouse or sensitively using a touchpad or touch screen, particularly for the younger ones, it is a good practice to keep buffering distances and clickable areas larger to help minimize mistaken clicks

Consider designing a website for kids of different age group

This may surprise you but, it is an established fact that children can be wary of age differences and may not be interested in engaging with something that is not in their age bracket.   

For instance, a 9 years old child may find a website, designed for children up to 5 years of age, too ‘babyish’. On the other hand, they will have difficulty interacting with something they find ‘too old.’

Thus, creating a kid-friendly website design requires distinct usability approaches and narrowly targeted content. Take your time to do extensive research and separate different age groups per design, including;

- 3 to 5 years

- 6 to 8 years

- 9 to 12 years

To conclude…

Designing a website for kids is ‘not a child’s play’! (Pun absolutely intended) 

When you create a website design for kids falling in the age group of 3 and 12 years, it is essential to bear the differences between the internet usage of children, teenagers, and adults in mind. Young children are not as understanding as adults, or even teenagers for that matter. They are more likely to leave a website when it does not meet their youthful expectations.

As the designer or the owner of the website, you need to ensure certain important parameters are matched in order to make your design successful. 

If you are looking for professional help in creating a web design for kids, simply get in touch with our team of experienced designers at support@graphicszoo.com