## 5 Results and Iterative Feature Refinement
### Thematic Analysis of Expert Feedback  
#### 5.2.1 Shared Themes Across Experts  
Through inductive thematic analysis of expert interview transcripts, five key themes were identified that reflect shared clinical values and developmental design considerations in early childhood UX. These included the need to frame transitions relationally rather than authoritatively, to support self-regulation through persistent visual cues, and to design emotionally attuned, developmentally appropriate dialogue. Experts also emphasised symbolic closure routines that promote autonomy, as well as feedback that reinforces progress and growth over simple success or failure. These themes provided a conceptual basis for refining the UX system in a way that aligns with the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural needs of preschool-aged children. Rather than merely correcting surface-level usability issues, the design revisions focused on enhancing emotional resonance, supporting symbolic understanding, and creating a more developmentally attuned interaction environment. The five themes were as follows:  
1. Emotionally framed interaction;
2. Persistent visual cues for time awareness;
3. Developmentally adaptive dialogue;
4. Ritualised closure and autonomy support;
5. Process-oriented feedback. Table 2 summarises these core themes, presenting representative insights and illustrative quotes from the expert interviews. These themes were not only repeatedly expressed across experts but also directly informed design decisions in the prototype, as detailed in Section 5.3. They served as conceptual anchors that grounded the refinement process in both clinical insight and developmental theory. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \hline
**Theme** & **Summary of Expert Insights** & **Supporting Quote** \\ \hline  & Experts advised framing transitions in relational terms (e.g., care-based metaphors) rather than as imposed rules. They warned that directive language like \"promise\" could induce guilt, recommending empathy-driven dialogue to foster a psychologically safe, cooperative interaction. & \"The term 'promise’ should be used with caution, as it can lead to negative framing.\" \\ \hline  & Experts agreed that persistent, intuitive visual cues are essential for preschoolers with underdeveloped time perception. They emphasized that a continuously visible, color-coded timer functions as a powerful Discriminative Stimulus (DS), helping children anticipate transitions and learn to self-regulate. & \"A visual timer is essential. You must enable the children to be able to check it continuously.\" \\ \hline  & To foster intrinsic motivation, experts argued for providing flexible and gradual supportive pathways to disengagement, rather than just offering a choice. This is especially critical for children with low impulse control, enabling them to feel a sense of agency and accomplishment. & \"The true goal is for the child to stop by their own decision... and to actually feel good about it.\" \\ \hline  & Experts strongly advised against binary success/failure metrics. They advocated for a process-oriented approach that visualizes growth over time (e.g., shorter disengagement latency) and provides immediate positive reinforcement to foster a sense of competence. & \"It’s not about a binary Yes/No distinction... if the time it took to disengage has significantly decreased... then that is also development and growth.\" \\ \hline  & Experts strongly advised against binary success/failure metrics. They advocated for a process-oriented approach that visualizes growth over time (e.g., shorter disengagement latency) and provides immediate positive reinforcement to foster a sense of competence. & \"Child and Adolescent Psychiatric A who screen changes to show 'Great job!'... Things that visually ascend, or a star that spins and lands on their head...