START-Play Study

STUDY BASICS

Are you the parent of a child 7-16 months old? Does your child have trouble sitting for more than a brief period, or is unable to move from a sitting to a crawling position? If so, you and your child may able to take part in a research study on sitting and reaching skills in infants. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

Early in life, infants learn to sit independently and to reach for and grasp objects. These early motor skills are thought to be very important for a child’s continuing development. Delays in sitting and reaching skills can lead to difficulties with spatial concepts, social relationships, and problem-solving and play skills. The purpose of this study is to study an early intervention called Sitting Together and Reaching to Play (START-Play). START-Play promotes the development of sitting and reaching skills in children with motor development delays. Researchers hope to learn how START-Play, when administered by caregivers and guided by physical therapists, affects the ability of infants to think and problem-solve, and how it compares to usual early intervention programs.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD?

• Ages 7-16 months old
• Have gross motor delays (problems with sitting, crawling, or moving)
• Have trouble sitting on their own for more than a brief period OR show difficulty moving in and out of sitting positions and crawling
• Must be able to sit propped up for at least 3 seconds

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participation involves 5 study visits over 12 months at your home or child’s daycare. During these visits, researchers will videotape your child while they play and evaluate their posture, movements, and overall development. After the first in-home assessment, your child will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) into an intervention or control group. If your child is in the intervention group, a therapist will visit twice weekly for 3 months to work with you to provide intensive, individualized daily activities for your child. Children in both groups will continue to receive their usual early intervention services.