Abstract
Museums play an important role in children’s informal learning, yet many young visitors still experience galleries as inaccessible or insufficiently engaging (Andre et al., 2016; Piscitelli & Anderson, 2001; Weier, 2004). This project focuses on children’s experiences of museums by examining how different audio formats influence their interaction with artworks. Tangible audio guides, such as Tonies, may offer a more suitable alternative for children’s development, combining physical interaction with short, narrative-driven content that is tailored to their attention spans and social expectations. This study tests whether Tonies improve children’s visual attention, enjoyment and memory compared with conventional audio guides and unguided viewing. In a field experiment involving randomised groups, 39 children aged 5-13 years (M = 9, SD = 1,90) visiting the Kunstpalast Düsseldorf were assigned to one of three conditions: interactive Tonie audio, traditional audio, or no guide. Mobile eye tracking (Tobii Pro Glasses 3) recorded their viewing behaviour, complemented by short questionnaires and concise interviews. The analyses examined fixation metrics, dwell time, the early allocation of attention to defined areas of interest, and self-reported engagement. By contrasting a tangible, narrative-based audio format with more conventional approaches, the study aims to provide museums with actionable insights for designing child-centred interpretive tools, as well as contributing to theoretical work on language-guided attention in naturalistic learning environments.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—The Future of Museum Narratives
KEYWORDS
Visual Attention, Museum Accessibility, Child Visitors
