Transforming Early Years Play Through Soft Robotics

The first Garden Co‑Design Workshop was held on the 21st of January, and brought together parents and carers, babies, and the Somabotics Garden research team for an exploration of interactive tactile and wearable technologies. The hands‑on session marked an exciting first step in co‑designing an immersive public installation that blends soft robotics, sensory play, and real‑world family experiences.

The workshop aimed to:

• Capture parents and carers’ initial impressions of tactile and wearable soft‑robotic technologies
• Highlight opportunities for playful, novel sensory experiences
• Explore ethical considerations around soft robotics in early childhood settings
• Observe emergent interactions of parents and babies mediated by the intermediary prototypes
• Test research methods including video capture, observations, questionnaires, and interviews

Insights gathered during the workshop will directly drive:

• The design of the interactive environment, including lighting, materials, structure, and sound
• The development of soft‑robotics elements and the ways families will interact with them
• The aims and structure of the second research workshop [date: 4 Mar 2026]
• The data‑collection strategy for the final public installation

The workshop also enabled the Somabotics Garden team to explore broader research questions

• What are the opportunities and challenges when integrating soft robotics into parent–child interactions in public spaces?
• How do we meaningfully evaluate babies’ sensory experiences?
• What can we learn from parents observing their child’s play?

The workshop began with a soothing soundscape provided by Jeremy Harrison, Lead Artist: Playground and head of the Theatre for Young Audiences Centre at the Bruford College, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for families. Parents were then introduced to the Somabotics Garden project before moving into an interactive, video‑recorded play session.

Parents and babies engaged directly with early soft‑robotic prototypes, supported by open conversations with researchers about behaviour, emotions, and engagement. This interaction provided the team with information on:

• What families found enjoyable or intriguing
• How babies responded to tactile and dynamic materials
• Parents’ perceptions of safety, comfort, and future use of soft robotics
• What environmental features enhance meaningful parent‑child play

Findings from the first workshop will support the foundation for designing the Garden installation—an imaginative and nurturing space that invites families to discover, play, and connect through cutting‑edge soft‑robotic technology.