Randomized Controlled Trial of a Risk Reframing Tool to Change Mothers' Parenting Associated With Children's Risky Play

Summary

Children's risky play is associated with a variety of positive developmental, physical and mental health outcomes, including greater physical activity, self-confidence and risk management skills. Children's opportunities for risky play have eroded over time, limited by parents' fears and beliefs about risk, particularly among mothers. We have developed a digital and in-person workshop version of a tool to reframe parents' perceptions of risk. We examined whether the tool increased mothers' tolerance for risky play and influenced parenting behaviour change, in the short and long term, and whether these changes were greater than those in the control group.

We conducted a single-blind (researchers and outcome assessors) randomized controlled trial and recruited a total of 410 mothers of children aged 6-12 years. The risk reframing (RR) digital tool is designed for a one-time visit and includes three chapters of self-reflection and experiential learning tasks. The RR in-person tool is a 45-90 minute facilitated workshop in which participants were guided through discussions of the same tasks contained within the digital tool. The control condition consisted of reading the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play.

Primary outcome was increased tolerance of risk in play, as measured by the Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale. Secondary outcome was self-reported attainment of a behaviour change goal that participants had set for themselves. We tested the hypothesis that there would be differences between the experimental and control groups with respect to tolerance of risk in play and goal attainment.

Conditions

• Risk Assessment
• Parenting

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

RR Digital Tool

Participants proceed through three chapters in the tool: https://outsideplay.ca. Chapter 1: most important attributes they want for their child; their child's favourite play activities; their own childhood play activities; how their child's and their own play activities compare. Chapter 2: imagining themselves in three video segments where they must decide whether they allow their child to climb a tree, walk home from school, and use box cutters to build a fort. They reflect on their barriers and things that helped them let go. Chapter 3: revisiting the most important attributes they want for their child and whether there is anything they want to change, setting a realistic goal, outlining steps for attaining that goal, and setting start date.

BEHAVIORAL

RR In-Person Workshop

Participants engage in a facilitator guided discussion of the same tasks as the RR digital tool. Participants are taken through each task using PowerPoint slides that include the videos from the digital tool. The facilitator guide contains detailed guidance on discussion for each component and length of time to be dedicated to each slide. Participants are provided with a paper booklet to complete that mimics the online tasks.

BEHAVIORAL

Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play

The position statement summarizes the issues and research regarding children's access to outdoor play and provides recommendations for various stakeholders. It states that "access to active play in nature and outdoors - with its risks - is essential for healthy child development" and recommends increasing children's opportunities for self-directed play in all settings. The Position Statement includes recommendations for parents, educators, health professionals, administrators and various level of governments to address the barriers to children's outdoor play. It addresses common misconceptions and encourages that danger be differentiated from risk and outdoor play and fun be valued as much as safety (ParticipACTION Canada, 2015; Tremblay et al., 2015).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Lawson Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• University of British Columbia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mariana Brussoni, PhD · University of British Columbia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-12-01

Primary Completion

2018-09-30

Completion

2018-09-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations