Exploring the benefits of creative play spaces for young children with familial links to neurodivergence and their families through digital storytelling

About the Project

This practice-based PhD will co design, test, and evidence digital storytelling (DS) approaches that support very young children at familial risk of neurodivergence (ND) and their caregivers. Using the Darlington-based Theatre Hullabaloo’s creative play spaces and outreach programmes as living labs, the project will develop a toolkit of ready to use family interventions, DS informed play designs, and actionable guidance for the pre diagnostic years. By combining DS with observation and short formative measures, the research will generate a robust qualitative, practice led evidence base that clarifies which aspects of creative play environments, facilitation, and sensory design most effectively support communication, regulation, exploratory play, and caregiver confidence.

The PhD will culminate in a family toolkit and staff continuing professional development (CPD) resources centred on DS guided creative play, alongside scalable models for wider dissemination, training, and potential commercialisation.