INDIKINA - an interactive digital book for kids

Allergic reactions to food are an important health problem that often affects children. Food allergies are not only among the most common, but also among the most dangerous allergies as they can cause life- threatening anaphylactic reactions. Milk and eggs are foods that cause allergic symptoms especially in children. Adults, on the other hand, are primarily allergic to tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, wheat and soy. There are currently no causative treatment options for food allergies. The main pillars of therapy are therefore medications to control the symptoms and avoidance of the allergy causing food. In addition, patient education is of utmost importance - and this is where the planned science communication project INDIKINA comes in. The aim of this project is to familiarize children with the topic of food allergies. The INDIKINA project intends to create a digital, interactive book for kids that teaches children aged 8-10 years about food allergies in a playful and narrative way. This edutainment approach combines entertainment and learning. Children gain the knowledge and learn, but the focus is on entertainment. The conception, production and distribution of the children`s book is planned in a transdisciplinary project team, which also includes students of life sciences or medicine. The project is based on a participatory approach: primary school children of the age of the target group are involved in the creation of the book from conception to implementation. Their input and feedback will contribute to an interactive book adapted to the needs of the age group. At the end of the project, there will be the first interactive digital children`s book in German on the subject of food allergies, which is tailored to the target group of 8-10 year old children.

Food allergies are among the most common and most dangerous allergies, affecting children in particular very frequently. At present, there is no causal treatment for food allergies. The main pillars of therapy are the medical treatment of symptoms and the avoidance of the culprit foods. Therefore, patient education plays a particularly important role. This is where the science communication project INDIKINA came in, aiming to introduce children aged 6 to 10 to the topic of food allergies in an accessible and engaging way. At the centre of the project was the development of a digital, interactive children's book entitled "Von Sternen und Erdnuessen - Ein Oktopus in Gefahr" ("From Stars and Peanuts - An Octopus in Danger"). The book conveys knowledge about allergies through a child-friendly story, interactive elements, and playful tasks. This approach combines learning and entertainment, enabling children to actively engage with the topic. A key aspect of the book's development was the close involvement of the target group. From the very beginning, primary school children participated in workshops and shared their questions, ideas, and expectations. They learned about food allergies, conducted simple experiments, and contributed ideas for the book. This feedback directly shaped the storyline and interactive elements. Students from the life sciences also played an important role in the project. In writing and illustration workshops, they worked together with experts in allergy research, science communication, children's literature, and digital media to develop the plot, characters, and content. This resulted in a transdisciplinary project combining scientifically grounded information with creative and educational methods. After completion, the participating primary school children tested the digital book. Their feedback was very positive and was used for final improvements. The book was then published online free of charge (www.vonsternenunderdnuessen.at) and presented to the public at the annual Children's Literature Festival. The book received considerable public attention. Coverage in radio, television, and print media in Austria and other German-speaking countries helped to reach a broad audience. Due to numerous requests for a printed version, a physical edition was eventually developed as well. This was presented to the public at "Buch Wien 2025". Since then, printed copies have been distributed free of charge to libraries, schools, kindergartens, and medical institutions, reaching children, parents, as well as educational and healthcare professionals. Beyond the book itself, additional educational formats were created. An interactive workshop on allergies was developed, allowing children to explore allergy research through experiments and hands-on activities. The project demonstrates how scientific content can be communicated in an accessible way through creative and participatory approaches. At the same time, it contributes to raising awareness of food allergies and promoting informed and respectful interaction with affected individuals.