Hobble

Abstract

The aim of this project was to stimulate young children with cancer to engage in physical play to decrease the stagnation of their physical development. Children from the age of 2 to 5 are in the middle of their physical growth and development. This is also the age group with the highest risk of being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The disease and treatment cause stagnation in the children's physical development. The body focuses on fighting the disease and that stops the children from moving and playing because they feel weak and insecure. Therefore, the goal is to create a (home) situation in which young children with ALL can freely play, while doing therapeutically relevant movements without professional supervision. What is missing from the current solutions like exercise programs from physiotherapists is a solution that attune to children’s natural way of engaging in physical activity, namely through play. Such solutions acknowledge the child as a child again, rather than a patient.

Hobble was created with the intention to hide the therapeutically relevant exercises and movements in the toy, so the children could freely play. Hobble can walk forward by means of two wheels that can be switched for others. Each set or combination of wheels changes Hobble’s behaviour and walking pattern. The result is that Hobble’s characteristics and role change, dependent on the child’s interpretation. Hobble can walk, chase, follow, stunt and get stuck. Hobble has a hard time walking straight and is intentionally clumsy so it needs help often. This stimulates locomotion and gives children a sense of control that boosts their confidence and motivation to play more. Thus, Hobble elicits therapeutically relevant movement that the physiotherapists want to seem. Ultimately letting the children play naturally like any other child while getting healthy.