Development and Evaluation of a Digital Hygiene Learning Game for Kindergarten Children

Abstract

Improving clean and healthy living habits in early childhood is critical as many young children require structured support to practice daily hygiene routines consistently. Preventable health problems related to poor hygiene behavior, such as diarrheal diseases and infections, remain a significant concern among children under five. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a digital learning game, "Hygiene Hero: Clean Up Buddies," for kindergarten children aged four to six years. The research employed a design and development approach using the Prototyping Model as the software development model, which allowed for iterative refinement through three main phases: Listen to Customer, Build/Revise Prototype, and Customer Test Drives Prototype. The game content was explicitly grounded in authentic daily routines practiced in kindergarten settings, such as washing hands, brushing teeth, sorting waste, and cleaning classroom spaces. Evaluation was conducted through a one-group pre-test–post-test design to examine the game's effect on children's knowledge, and a usability assessment using an adapted System Usability Scale (SUS). The findings showed a statistically significant improvement in children's hygiene knowledge (Z = –2.262, p = 0.024), with the mean score increasing from 81.05 to 89.47. Furthermore, the game achieved high usability with an average SUS score of 88.42, placing it in the "Excellent" to "Best Imaginable" category. This indicated that the interface was appropriate and well-accepted by young learners. This study contributes to early childhood education by demonstrating that digital games designed around authentic classroom hygiene routines and refined through iterative feedback can serve as effective complementary media to reinforce healthy habit formation.