Can my child form a friendship with a robot?
Moxie
Moxie is designed to support social, emotional, and cognitive development through everyday play-based learning and captivating content in children 5-10 years old.
Addressing Functional Behaviors
5 types of social skills
in kids:
1. cooperation
2. assertion
3. responsibility
4. empathy
5. emotional skills
Difficulty with social skills can come from a variety
of reasons:
1. not knowing how to act in
social situations
2. not having enough opportunities
to practice
3. not getting enough feedback
4. not being able to understand
other cues
5. not enough positive reinforcement
Having difficulties with social skills can come from a variety of reasons, like not knowing how to act in social situations, not having enough opportunities to practice, not getting enough feedback, not being able to understand the cues others are sending, or not getting enough positive reinforcement for doing the right thing. Problematic behavior can make it harder for a child to learn and show prosocial behavior.
Kids who struggle to make friends or interact with peers are more likely to have emotional and social problems and poor academic performance.
Lack of social skills contributes to psychological stress, maladjustment problems, social isolation, and reduced self-esteem, which can greatly affect the quality of life in terms of mental and physical health.
Treatment Recommendations
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The goal is to have a child engage in meaningful play, every day, with content informed by best practices in early childhood education.
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Moxie was created to bring a character to life that encourages children to learn about skills they will use on a day-to-day basis before naturally being moved on to direct interpersonal interactions with family and friends.
What is SocialXChat?
SocialXChat™ is a part of our SocialX™ platform that stimulates conversations between the user and Moxie. It utilizes artificial intelligence to assist Moxie in replying verbally and non-verbally to questions from users who are interfacing with Moxie. SocialXChat™ includes cloud-based software, software that is included in the parent App which is downloadable onto a user’s phone, as well as software downloaded onto the robot.
Overview of the SEL Curriculum
Moxie’s missions and activities are designed with a team of child development experts using
CASEL’s evidence-based social and emotional learning framework. Moxie offers a meaningful accompaniment to in-person therapy and alternative screen-based learning designed to help them practice real world skills.
- Nikki Hurst, OTD, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist
Guiding Principles
Play-based Learning with Moxie is built upon guiding principles. Those principles are summarized here for parents and caregivers.
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Content is research based – developed by a team of child therapists, neuroscientists, child development specialists, and learning experts.
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Social-emotional development and cognitive development work together. There is no separation between them in the brain. The approach is social-emotional-intellectual (SEI).
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Every interaction with Moxie includes social goals, emotional goals, and cognitive goals. The child is placed in the role of a mentor to Moxie, and is able to learn through teaching.
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The Social Emotional Learning (SEL) approach is guided by the Five Core Competencies outlined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). The Five Core Competencies are: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.
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Creativity is encouraged through unstructured play activities.
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Interaction time with Moxie is deliberately controlled so that children do not “binge” but move on to direct interpersonal interactions with family and friends.
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Learning transfer is encouraged through “missions” that allow children to share and apply what they’ve learned with others.
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Critical thinking skills are developed through open-ended conversations that encourage interpretations, inferences, explanations, comparisons, and problem-solving.
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Mindfulness activities are used to help children focus and practice self-regulation.
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Opportunities and information are provided for special needs children and their parents through our parent app and website.