AI-Integrated Smart Toy for Enhancing Cognitive, Emotional, and Motor Skills in Toddlers

During early childhood, a remarkable phase of human growth unfolds. Neuroplasticity in toddlers refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt remarkably during early childhood. A child’s future can be significantly impacted based on the cognitive, emotional, and motor development during the early stage. Therefore, it is imperative to train children aged 1 to 4 with appropriate care and provide them with a more personalized learning experience, depending on their progress. Toddlers' development of hand and eye movement, facial expressions, rhythms, rhymes, etc., occurs when they play traditional games like pat-a-cake or peek-a-boo at daycares or preschools. Their progress is tracked based on factors such as language development, social and emotional development, working habits, eating habits, personality development, etc. However, carrying out the exercises and monitoring each child's development in situations where many kids are present is challenging. These toddlers need a more individualized approach as the development of every child is different. Immersive technology is currently used in personalized learning using artificial intelligence and IoT sensors like motion and audio sensors. To apply this technology, this study uses AI-integrated smart toys with sensors to engage children in various activities. This will assist individualized learning through personalizing experiences according to every child's requirement, offering possibilities. A systematic design process was followed to determine the challenges in this area, development in children, activities that affect their development, and technology use. A design concept has been proposed after following the double-diamond design process. The suggested design result uses technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, microphones, face detection cameras, and a dashboard reflecting data collected by the smart toy and processed using AI analytics to track the child’s development.