Child Protection

About This Project

This project is a serious educational game designed specifically for minors under the age of 18 who are part of the child protection system. It’s primary goal is to help these children understand the administrative and legal journey they experience when they are moved from their homes into residential or foster care families.

Using a simulation-style interface, the project provides a safe, digital environment where minors can identify the different professionals involved in their cases and understand the reasons behind the state assuming their custody.

The Challenge

Entering the protection system is often a traumatic and confusing experience for minors. The project faced several critical hurdles in accurately representing this reality.

• Institutional Complexity: Navigating legal criteria and identifying the specific roles of Social Services, Cabildos, and the Judiciary
• Procedural Awareness: Explaining the difference between urgent vs. ordinary procedures and the minor’s legal Right to be Heard
• Content Sensitivity: Teaching system mechanics while strictly avoiding re-traumatizing scenarios like abuse or exploitation
• Systemic Diversity: Representing a vast spectrum of family conditions and unique backgrounds
• Developmental Range: Adapting game concept to represent all ages and personalities, from newborns to teenagers

Our Solution

To achieve a realistic yet safe representation of the protection system, we developed a simulation game that allows users to navigate the different stages of the process. Within this digital environment, users can:

• ✅ Customizable Creatures: Unique personalities representing diverse developmental needs
• ✅ Multi-Context Interaction: Interactions within both residential care and biological family environments
• ✅ KPI-Based Decision Making: Social care reports and age-specific metrics to guide user choices
• ✅ Care Management: Mechanics to interact and manage creature well-being

Development Approach

Working closely with child psychologists, educators, and the team at Asociación Vínculos, we designed gameplay mechanics that reinforce positive digital habits while keeping children engaged and entertained.

The game uses gamification principles to reward safe behaviors and teaches through scenarios rather than lectures, making the learning experience memorable and effective.

Key Outcomes

• Successfully deployed to educational centers across Canary Islands
• Cross-platform availability to support accessibility in minor centers
• Analytics integration allows tracking of minor decisions