Can a short chat in the Doctor's waiting room boost early child development?

NCT ID NCT03126292

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested a simple parenting program called 'Sit Down and Play' in a primary care clinic for low-income families. Over 12 months, 60 parents with young children were randomly assigned to receive the program or a safety handout. Researchers measured changes in parent-child interactions, parental knowledge, and stimulating activities at home to see if the program could help support early child development.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Sit Down and Play (SDP) behavioral intervention

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to support early child development in primary care settings.

What could go wrong

This is a small pilot study with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to all families. The intervention is brief and may not produce lasting changes.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for PARENTING are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

developmental disability

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Illinois at Chicago

    Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States