StoryEcho: A Generative Child-as-Actor Storytelling System for Picky-Eating Intervention
2026-04-09 • Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Computer Interaction
AI summaryⓘ
The authors studied how picky eating in young children affects family mealtime and looked for new ways to help. They created StoryEcho, a storytelling system that puts kids as characters who influence stories by trying different foods in real life. The system encourages children to engage with stories outside mealtimes and gently supports trying new foods without pressure. Their study with 11 families showed that StoryEcho helped kids be more willing to try foods they usually avoid and reduced stress for parents. This suggests that involving children actively through personalized stories can support healthier eating habits over time.
picky eatingdietary diversitychild-centered interventionstorytelling systembehavioral interventionfamily routinespreschool childrenformative studyuser engagementparental pressure
Authors
Yanuo Zhou, Jun Fang, Yuntao Wang, Yi Wang, Nan Gao, Jinlei Liu, Yuanchun Shi
Abstract
Picky eating in children can undermine dietary diversity and the development of healthy eating habits, while also creating recurring tension in family feeding routines. Prior interventions have explored food-centered designs, enhanced utensils, and mealtime interactive systems, but few position children as active participants in intervention processes that extend beyond single mealtime interactions. To better understand everyday responses to picky eating and child-acceptable intervention mechanisms, we conducted a formative study with caregivers and kindergarten teachers. Based on the resulting design considerations and iterative stakeholder review, we designed StoryEcho, a generative child-as-actor storytelling system for picky eating intervention. StoryEcho engages children outside mealtimes through personalized stories in which the child appears as a persistent story character and later shapes story development through real-world food-related behavior. The system combines non-mealtime story engagement, lightweight post-meal feedback, and behavior-informed story updates to support repeated intervention across everyday family routines. We evaluated StoryEcho in a between-group field study with 11 families of preschool children. Results provide preliminary evidence that StoryEcho can significantly increase children's willingness to approach and try target low-preference foods while reducing parental pressure around feeding. These findings suggest the promise of generative child-as-actor storytelling as a design approach for home-based behavior support that unfolds through recurring family routines.