Heartie Builder

by yuhan Lu

Heartie Builder is an educational toolkit designed to develop emotion regulation (ER) skills in children aged 6-10, and help them manage emotions as they arise. Through a combination of hardware and software components, children can build Heartie - a personal interactive companion that can share their feelings and requires gentle care to maintain emotional balance. The design process engages children's existing emotional knowledge through guided exploration, allowing them to experiment with sensors, lights, and soft materials while building their companion. Children then use Heartie in their daily lives for ongoing ER practice, following a situated, child-led approach rather than parent-driven instruction.

Parents and guardians play a supportive role by guiding children's interactions with Heartie and using it as a communication tool for emotional reflection and discussion. This creates opportunities for structured emotional regulation practice and learning. To support this process, I provide an intuitive handbook for both children and guide for parents, enabling effective use of Heartie at home, school, and while traveling.