My project 'Combo' is a modular tool kit for toddlers that addresses issues of immune development in a playful way.
Combo aims to motivate children to get out and explore. It is designed to encourage young children to interact with natural and microbially diverse environments through play. This in turn, strengthens their immune system.
The kit includes a set of action parts that connect using a series of pipes. The children are invited to use these pieces to create their own tool combinations to explore with. The kit also contains a storybook called 'Out We Go' which follows a child and their tools as they explore a range of environments. This book encourages the child and their parents to use the tools in these different environments.
Combo can aid toddlers in developing key skills. It challenges them to use their fine and gross motor skills, as well as encouraging independent thinking, creativity and problem-solving.
Combo encourages children to build a relationship with nature, ensuring that they grow into healthy adults in the future.
Combo is a modular tool kit for children from the age of two onwards that aims to get young children out and exploring natural environments
A series of combinations being used on a beach after they have been assembled
Combo is portable and is intended to be brought to different environments such as beaches, forests, farms and green spaces. All the different parts of Combo fit neatly into the bag for storage and portability
This image features the connectors and their bag. The role of the connectors is to enable the child to build bigger combinations with the pipes and action parts, allowing them to have more freedom with what they can build and use Combo for
Combo tools being used by a parent and child in a forest and meadow
The different parts that are included in Combo. The action parts, connectors, pipes and bags
Combo being used by siblings aged two and four on the beach. This shows the social aspect to combo that can encourage teamwork and social interaction while also facilitating independent play
Parent and child resting after a good time digging and collecting flowers using Combo
Research
The first set of modular tools I made using cardboard, wood and found objects from my home. This was made to test the idea of modular tools and how they could be used
After making the cardboard and wooden models and getting feedback on them, I made versions that I could give to some of my research participants for testing. This set was made using PVC pipes of different lengths and shapes as well as modified parts that I created to fit the pipes. The tests conducted with these tools were great for learning and adapting the design to create the final product