None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The current study was a pilot trial of the My Toddler and Me program, an 8-week group program adapted from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Toddler, delivered to a community sample. The community sample comprised caregiver-toddler dyads who were seeking general caregiving support rather than clinical treatment for specific emotional or behavioral concerns. The current study aimed to (a) assess feasibility of running the My Toddler and Me group program in a community setting; (b) explore caregivers' perceptions of the clinical effectiveness and acceptability of the program and the perceived barriers to attending the program; and (c) conducted an preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the My Toddler and Me group program (defined as how well the intervention works in a real-world setting; Rosqvist et al., 2011) by examining caregiver and child outcomes using caregiver-report questionnaires. This pilot assessment of feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of the My Toddler and Me program in a community setting is seen as an important step before conducting a larger randomize control trial to access program efficacy. It was hypothesized that: 1. The program would be deemed feasible based on the facilitator’s ability to successfully deliver the complete My Toddler and Me group program on multiple occasions. 2. Caregivers would be accepting of the program, as evidenced by expressions of positive regard for the program during post-group interviews. 3. There would be preliminary evidence of program effectiveness in improving caregiving variables the program seeks to target, as assessed by caregiver-report questionnaires. Specifically, increases in caregiving self-efficacy, caregiver mentalization (ability to identify and understand child’s mental states), competence in managing negative toddler emotions, caregivers sense of social connectedness, and a decrease in levels of helplessness and caregivers’ perceptions of their child as hostile. 4. There was will be preliminary evidence of program effectiveness in improving child variables, as assessed by caregiver-report questionnaires. Specifically, improvement in child outcomes from pre- to post-intervention including lower levels of social-emotional/behavioral problems (e.g., aggression, defiance, anxiety, and withdrawal) and higher levels of social-emotional abilities (e.g., empathy and compliance), initiative, relationship functioning, and self-control.
Interventions
Name: My Toddler and Me group program
Description: The My Toddler and Me group program, adapted from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Toddlers, is an 8-week face-to-face group-based caregiving program designed for caregivers of toddlers approximately 12 to 24 months old. The program consists of 1.5-hour weekly sessions, facilitated by trained clinicians (typically a Psychologist and Child and Family Health Nurse), with caregivers and toddlers attending together. The groups are held in a comm
Name: My Toddler and Me group program Description: The My Toddler and Me group program, adapted from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Toddlers, is an 8-week face-to-face group-based caregiving program designed for caregivers of toddlers approximately 12 to 24 months old. The program consists of 1.5-hour weekly sessions, facilitated by trained clinicians (typically a Psychologist and Child and Family Health Nurse), with caregivers and toddlers attending together. The groups are held in a community-based location (e.g., a local hall). Central to the My Toddler and Me group program is the use of parent-child play, through which parents learn and practice key skills and approaches such as using specific praise, describing play, labelling and managing emotions, and supporting toddlers' listening abilities. The program involves a mix of didactic teaching, role plays, discussions, and live coaching during caregiver-child play sessions. Skills and approaches taught include helping caregivers manage toddlers' emotions, fostering play skills, supporting caregivers in regulating their own emotions, enhancing toddlers' listening abilities, and easing transitions between activities - an area where toddlers often face challenges. It aims to provide an accessible, supportive, and engaging experience, equipping caregivers with the skills and insights needed to build positive caregiver-child relationships and support their toddler’s social-emotional development. Adherence to program is assessed using fidelity checklist completed at the end of each session.
Sponsors
Karitane
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Prevention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
11 Months to 24 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria required that families (a) had a child aged between 11-24 months and (b) were sufficiently proficient in English to participate in an English-speaking group and complete study measures and protocols.
Exclusion criteria
Families where severe parental mental illness involving suicidality or significant cognitive or behavioural impairment (e.g., psychosis) is evident.
Outcome results
None listed