Can Educational Robotics Experiences Shape Early Childhood Interpersonal Dynamics? An Exploratory Investigation

Abstract

Interpersonal relationships play a crucial role in our lives. Building strong and positive relationships, especially in early childhood education, fosters social and emotional growth and prepares the ground for future educational success. However, addressing interpersonal challenges among children in early childhood settings through educational robotics experiences re-mains a complex, understudied, and sometimes controversial topic. There are limited resources and interventions tailored to this age range. In this context, our research aims to bridge this gap by experimenting with an intervention itinerary based on educational robotics and analyzing the resulting changes in interpersonal relationships. Our findings support the hypothesis that highly appealing robot-mediated experiences may impact the dynamics of relationships.