Perspectives of infant active play: a qualitative comparison of working versus stay-at-home parents

Value of video-based education to enhance infant motor development

BACKGROUND

Parents play a vital role in promoting infant motor development and physical activity; however, there is little information available to parents on how to support healthy movement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing video-based education to improve infant physical activity and motor development.

METHODS

This multiple case study consisted of semi-structured interviews with mothers (n = 12) and early childhood experts (n = 5, e.g., pediatrician, home visitor). Participants watched pre-recorded videos and answered questions which were developed following Bowens and colleagues guide for designing feasibility studies. Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach.

RESULTS

Most mothers (91.7 %) reported they were highly likely to recommend the videos to others and said the best way to share these videos would be through an app or social media (83.3 %) or health care entities (e.g., hospital, pediatrician, 75 %). Half of mothers (50 %) reported they would be interested in seeing videos once a month or once every couple of months. Further, all experts agreed parents would be somewhat or highly likely to use the videos and a majority (80 %) stated they were highly likely to recommend and share videos like these. Experts' top suggestions for sharing the videos was through an app/social media (40 %) and credible websites (40 %).

DISCUSSION

Overall, the videos appear feasible for mothers. Both groups primarily suggested that videos be disseminated through social media, online, or through an app. Future research should engage parents and healthcare providers in developing videos.

The Effect of a Parent-Directed Program to Improve Infants' Motor Skills

Poor motor skills are associated with several factors that might delay children's development. Therefore, early programs to promote a child's motor development are essential. Within the first year of life, parents have a critical role in promoting their infant's motor development. However, little research has explored parent-directed programs that promote infant development in a Scandinavian context. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a parent-directed program to improve infant motor development.

METHODS

Parents of infants received a parent-directed program that included guidance from health visitors on ways to promote motor development, videos with motor development activities and a bag with related materials. Two municipalities in Denmark took part in the study (one intervention, one control). Health visitors in both municipalities measured the infants' age-appropriate motor skills once when the infants were between 9-11 months of age. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

No difference was detected in motor development over time in the two municipalities regarding the proportion of children with age-appropriate motor skills.

CONCLUSIONS

A parent-directed program in which parents were guided to play and encourage motor development with their infant showed no effect on infants' age-appropriate motor skills at 9-11 months.