What is the name of your organization?
HealthDesign for Kids
What is the name of your solution?
Dino Clinic: Decision Aid Game
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
An interactive game that empowers children to understand symptoms, build autonomy, and engage meaningfully in clinical decision-making.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Cambridge, MA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
Not registered as any organization
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Children and adolescents are often excluded from decisions about their health, leading to poor communication, delayed care, and worsened health outcomes. Despite their growing cognitive and emotional capacities, youth are rarely equipped with the tools to recognize symptoms, articulate concerns, or know when to seek help. Globally, over 1.2 billion adolescents face significant barriers to health literacy and care access, especially in rural and underserved communities where provider shortages, stigma, and costs can further delay treatment. Studies show that involving young patients in decision-making improves health outcomes and trust, yet there is a lack of accessible, age-appropriate tools to facilitate this. Many clinical decision aids are designed for adults and fail to engage children meaningfully. This solution addresses a critical gap: empowering youth with the knowledge and confidence to describe symptoms and participate in their own healthcare. By gamifying this experience, we make learning engaging, culturally adaptable, and scalable across diverse contexts. In doing so, we respond to a global need for youth-centered innovations that promote autonomy, reduce delays in care, and support lifelong health-seeking behaviors.
What is your solution?
Our solution is an interactive, game-based tool that helps children recognize symptoms, understand their bodies, and participate in healthcare decisions. Designed with kids in mind, it uses engaging storytelling, character-driven play, and simple visuals to teach users how to describe what they're feeling and when they should seek help. Through relatable scenarios and choose-your-own-adventure style gameplay, players are guided to identify symptoms, explore possible next steps, and learn how to communicate concerns to caregivers or providers. The game builds health literacy, encourages autonomy, and reduces anxiety about clinical settings. Our technology is mobile- and tablet-compatible, making it accessible in low-resource settings, schools, or clinics. It’s built using game development platforms like Unity and includes localized language options and adaptive content based on age and region. The back end uses light analytics to help caregivers and clinicians track how users interact with the game, supporting further care or education if needed. The game is designed in collaboration with clinicians, designers, educators, and youth themselves to ensure it's accurate, empathetic, and fun. By meeting kids where they are, we turn health education into a tool for empowerment and early intervention.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution is designed to serve children and adolescents, particularly those in underserved or marginalized communities, who often face barriers to understanding and participating in their own healthcare. These youth may live in rural areas with limited access to providers, belong to families with low health literacy, or experience cultural or systemic barriers that make seeking care difficult. Many are never taught how to describe what they’re feeling, when symptoms are serious, or how to advocate for themselves. By giving children a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive tool, our game helps bridge these gaps. It empowers young users to understand their symptoms, build confidence, and practice decision-making in a safe, supportive environment. This early foundation encourages trust in the healthcare system, reduces delays in seeking care, and helps prevent miscommunication between patients, caregivers, and providers. The solution is especially impactful for children with chronic conditions, mental health concerns, or those navigating complex family or social dynamics. It also supports parents, educators, and clinicians by providing a shared language for discussing health. Ultimately, this solution centers youth as active participants in their own care, promoting health equity, autonomy, and improved long-term outcomes from a young age.
