One of the presentations at the scientific workshop "Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Early Childhood Education" held in Hanoi on August 16, 2024, was a research study on the application of AI and robotics in early childhood education at South Korean hospitals.

Health education is a crucial foundation for children's holistic development. However, in reality, health education for preschoolers in many places still faces many limitations. Most early childhood education programs currently focus on cognitive and social skills, with little attention paid to cultivating healthy lifestyle habits in children.

1. The Importance of Health Education for Preschoolers

Until now, health education has primarily focused on the hospital environment, concentrating solely on patients. However, children, especially those undergoing treatment, often lack adequate knowledge about their own health. This leads to various consequences such as difficulty adhering to treatment protocols, anxiety, fear, and negative impacts on quality of life. Additionally, safety and hygiene management in educational institutions and families still has many shortcomings. Children are not equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills to protect their own health. Health education for preschoolers today is not merely about teaching children how to wash their hands or eat a balanced diet. It is about equipping children with the necessary knowledge and skills to protect their own health and develop healthy lifestyles from a young age. A child who is physically and mentally healthy will be the seed for a sustainable and developing society.

Drawing on the shortcomings and advanced developments in artificial intelligence technology, AI and robotics have opened up a new direction for health education. By leveraging data analysis and intelligent interaction capabilities, these technologies can provide children with personalized learning experiences, helping them understand their bodies and form healthy habits. The combination of traditional education and modern technology will help improve the effectiveness of health education for children.

2. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Health Awareness Among Preschool Children"

To cater to the diverse needs of young children, health education necessitates a personalized approach. Each child exhibits unique characteristics, interests, and developmental rates. AI technology, with its capabilities in data analysis and machine learning, offers efficient personalized educational solutions. By generating interactive, engaging, and tailored learning programs, AI empowers children to comprehend their health, cultivate healthy habits, and take proactive steps towards self-care. For instance, a child with a fondness for animals can learn about nutrition through games involving various animal species, while a more exploratory child might participate in virtual journeys to discover the human body.

AI-powered educational games enable children to learn about food groups, the importance of physical activity, and personal hygiene in a fun and effective manner. For example, children can engage in games like "Building a Healthy Meal" or "The Body Exploration Adventure."

Intelligent AI-generated animated characters can serve as reliable companions for children, aiding in their comprehension of health concepts.

AI can analyze data on each child's preferences, abilities, and learning progress to create customized lessons. If a child enjoys animals, AI can generate a nutrition lesson using images and stories about different animal species.

AI can monitor children's learning progress and provide teachers and parents with detailed reports on their development. This enables teachers to adjust their teaching methods and parents to offer more effective support.

AI can provide immediate feedback on children's actions, empowering them to self-assess and modify their behavior.

AI can process large amounts of data to provide detailed analyses of children's health status, offering teachers and parents a comprehensive view and enabling them to make informed decisions.

3. A Case Study: Integrating AI and Robotics in Pediatric Health Education

Facing the challenge of effectively communicating the importance of personal health to children, Samsung Medical Center introduced the Social Robot. This research represents one of the pioneering efforts to apply social robotics within a hospital setting. To assess the feasibility and efficacy of this approach, we posed the following research questions:

• Safety: Is the use of social robots in hospitals safe for both children and healthcare professionals?

  
  

• Interaction: Can social robots effectively interact with children of varying ages?

  
  

• Content: What interactive content is most suitable to meet children's needs and support the treatment process?

  
  

• Response: How will children react to the presence and interaction with a social robot?

  
  

A 2021 study pioneered the exploration of social robots' potential in providing psychological support to eight pediatric cancer patients and seven caregivers. The research involved in-depth interviews to evaluate the usability and interactive experiences with the social robot. The research results were truly moving. Interactions with the social robot brought joy and hope to pediatric cancer patients. Children, who often faced significant life challenges, found solace in conversations with the robot. The robot's quick response time further enhanced feelings of closeness and companionship, making the children feel less alone. This study demonstrates that technology, when applied humanely, can bring about positive changes in people's lives.

To help children better understand their illnesses and treatment processes, the research team developed 24 diverse lessons integrated into the social robot. The content not only covered knowledge about diseases such as pediatric cancer and leukemia but also provided mindfulness exercises to help children relax, reduce stress, and develop a more positive outlook on their health and life. By observing the long-term interactions between children and the social robot, we noticed a significant change in children's behavior. Initially, children were curious and exploratory. However, as interaction time increased, children formed deep connections with the robot, expressed through direct communication, care, and concern for the robot as a friend. This indicates that social robots are not merely entertainment tools but also play a crucial role in promoting children's social and emotional development, especially in a hospital setting.

Conclusion: Social robots and AI technologies have the potential to play a significant role in health education. Pilot studies have shown that interactions with social robots positively impact children's emotional stability and provide education tailored to their developmental levels. Researchers have also made initial conclusions that personalized education effectively increases children's understanding and engagement. These findings suggest that social robots can be beneficially applied in various educational contexts, extending beyond the hospital setting.
AI technology will facilitate the creation of dynamic and interactive health lessons, benefiting not only children in Korea but also those in other countries worldwide, including Vietnam. Children will be able to easily acquire knowledge and develop healthy lifestyle habits.