Adapting Co-Design Methods with Children with Neuromotor Disorders to Develop Digital Solutions that Promote Active Lifestyles

Physical activity (PA), defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as any body movement involving the musculoskeletal system, provides health benefits from an early age. In addition, regular PA supports the treatment of chronic diseases and improves the well-being of children with clinical conditions such as neuromotor disorders (ND). However, both medical and psychosocial barriers can hinder children with compromised health conditions from maintaining active lifestyles. The recent diffusion of digital tools has proven to be a valuable tool in overcoming these barriers and promoting PA even among children with chronic diseases. Starting from these assumptions, this study presents preliminary results from the reframing of existing co-design methods through the active involvement of children with ND as co-designers in the process itself. Within this framework, children play a role in shaping knowledge around inclusive co-design practices aimed at improving PA. Intuitiveness and accessi- bility of these methods, together with the transferability of the outcomes into clear and specific design requirements are the main challenges tackled by the research. The resulting adapted methods will serve as a foundation for future work aimed at designing digital solutions that can enhance motivation toward active lifestyles, as well as for further investigating children’s perspectives on PA.