Evaluation of Participant Impressions in a Reflection Workshop Using VR Scenarios Replicating Toddler Tantrums

Abstract

Parental responses to toddler tantrums are critical to child development, yet reflecting on these high-stress moments is often hindered by self-reporting biases and the unique nature of each child's behavior. This study proposes a novel reflection system that uses Virtual Reality (VR) and the metaverse to facilitate objective, collaborative review. We developed a VR scenario simulating a three-year-old’s tantrum in a public space, capturing participants' physical movements and gaze data. These logs were then reconstructed in a metaverse environment for a collaborative reflection workshop. Twelve parents of preschool-aged children participated in this study. During the reflection sessions, participants experienced from multiple perspectives, observing the tantrum scenario from their own perspective, a peer’s viewpoint, a bystander’s position, and the child’s perspective. Qualitative analysis of the sessions and post-interviews indicated that the system effectively prompted participants to articulate insights, including differences in parenting styles and the physical presence of adults from a child’s perspective. While participants noted that the simulation lacked certain real-world stressors like daily fatigue, the high immersion and the ability to compare reactions to standardized stimuli provided insights difficult to achieve through traditional discussion. These results suggest that VR-mediated, multi-perspective reflection is a promising tool for parenting support and behavioral training.

Keywords: Parenting Support, Virtual Reality (VR), Metaverse, Collaborative Reflection

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007655