ANALYZING EDUCATIONAL GAME DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR CHILDREN’S SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AFTER PANDEMIC COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to daily life, especially for children worldwide who have had to adapt to new norms. After the pandemic, children experienced profound effects, particularly on their social development and emotional well-being. Play is a crucial activity serving as both a medium for learning and development. Educational games designed with appropriate elements can help address these socioemotional challenges. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the design elements of educational games that can support children's socioemotional development. A qualitative approach is used in this study, involving semi-structured interviews with seven selected experts through purposive sampling. The data obtained were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. The experts proposed nine themes related to the design elements of educational games, including suitable content, active engagement, interactivity, motivation, curriculum integration, cognitive development, emotional development, social development, and parental involvement. Thus, this study has the potential to assist educators and game developers in formulating effective strategies to enhance children's holistic learning experiences, thereby supporting their socioemotional development.