Innovative parenting programs address inequality in young children's development

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/nlh-ipp021921.php

 

News Release 19-Feb-2021
NYU Langone Health / NYU School of Medicine

 

Parent education programs and interventions that begin shortly after the birth of a child have shown to significantly impact parenting behaviors that support social and academic engagement for children growing up in poverty, according to a study led by pediatricians and psychologists across the country, including NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Steinhardt, and the University of Pittsburgh.


•••••

"Lack of opportunities for pretend play and children's book reading leaves children, particularly those in poverty, less prepared for learning, less healthy, and is even linked with lower income throughout their lives," said Alan Mendelsohn, MD, professor in the departments of Pediatrics, Population Health, and the division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and one of the study's principal investigators. "Smart Beginnings provides a practical approach for helping all children have an equal start in school and in life."

•••••

The results of the study showed large increases in parents' engaging their children in reading, playing and talking, measured by surveys and observing parents reading and playing with their children. Comparable impacts across the two sites supports the feasibility for parents from diverse geographic locations and racial/ethnic background to improve parent-child interactions. The study also supports bringing this model "to scale" as an inexpensive solution for reaching families in need.

"One clear advantage of providing parents with a program like the Smart Beginnings project is that it can be delivered at about one-tenth of the cost of other programs with comparable impacts," said lead author Erin Roby, PhD, developmental psychologist and research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "Smart Beginnings' had large impacts, demonstrating that this model has the potential to address some of the most important equity issues of our time."

•••••

With childcare programs closed and social distancing measures in place, many children are missing out on opportunities for development. Pediatricians have noted delays in speech and language as well as trouble sharing and being in groups.

"Children are not getting the cognitive and social experiences that they would normally get outside their home," said Mendelsohn. "Numerous studies suggest that COVID-19 is causing challenges and stressors for families that will affect children throughout their lives, yet there has been little attention to the effects of the pandemic on families with very young children."

Over the last year, Mendelsohn and the team have adapted the Smart Beginnings model to be delivered fully remote to continue to provide support to families in isolation during the pandemic.

Most recently, VIP has expanded to Flint, Michigan, a community deeply affected by a major crisis when its drinking water was contaminated by lead. The team is prepared for a large-scale implementation of the program nationwide. "Expanding our programs will make a tremendous difference for families facing large challenges that will continue long after the pandemic ends," said Mendelsohn.