User Centered

We've all seen this before, a kids menu that comes with crayons and several activities to keep them occupied in the waning minutes before the food arrives. This particular game is an age old classic- connect the dots! It says so clearly on the top of the page. What more do you need to know here? The very next thing you see after "connect the dots" are dots numbered 1-4 from left to right. Seems pretty obvious, even to a five year old as evident by his crayon trail you can barely make out in this picture (sorry for the poor quality)

Unfortunately, my son didn't get to the bottom of the page where he needs to connect only dots that share the same number. It says "Help Sara read the special message" then something about only connecting the 1 to the 1, the 2 to the 2... etc. First off, what kind of connect the dots is that? Isn't that just "help me write letters?" Second, thanks for giving a 5 year old every indication that he needs to follow 1,2,3,4... while burying the instructions at the bottom of the page (it didn't come out in the photo)

End result? A screwed up picture because of a perceived understanding (ie- assumed interface). Further, my 5 year old had to endure a couple minute discussion on interface design and how a poor design attributed to the why he couldn't find recognizable letters anywhere in there once he finished.

Bummer. I guess no happy holidays for us.