Weitzman Institute Study Finds Incorporating ‘Prescription for Play’ into Well-Child Visits Positively Influences Parent, Provider Perception of Importance of Play for Children
Ivers Heine, Stephanie
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marianne O’Hare
Weitzman Institute Study Finds Incorporating ‘Prescription for Play’ into Well-Child Visits Positively Influences Parent, Provider Perception of Importance of Play for Children
May 25, 2022, Middletown, Conn. – A pilot study of the Prescription for Play (P4P) program conducted by the Weitzman Institute found providers and caregivers experienced a considerable change in knowledge about why play is important and providers experienced a change in how regularly they introduce learning through play to pediatric families after embedding P4P in well-child visits, among other key findings. This research builds on previous research that has established the importance of play in supporting the social-emotional development of young children.
P4P, a social impact program of The LEGO® Group supported by The LEGO Foundation, provides free LEGO® DUPLO® brick kits and educational brochures to pediatricians to distribute to 18-to-36-month-old patients and their caregivers. Participating providers are trained to start a conversation about the importance of play during well-child visits and demonstrate different ways for caregivers to actively engage in one-on-one play with their child.
Findings from the pilot study revealed that caregiver participants had an increased knowledge of the benefits of play on a child’s development and shared this knowledge with friends and family.
The study also showed that around 80% of caregivers reported an increase in the number of days per week they played with their child. In addition to knowledge and behavioral changes in participants, the P4P program enhanced the well-child visit by offering health care providers a new tool to measure developmental growth in real-time while allowing the provider and families to build trust.
“The mental wellbeing of children is critically important, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Weitzman Institute Program Manager Julie Beckham. “We are thrilled that integrating the Prescription for Play program into well-child visits is yielding positive results for families and providers and we look forward to introducing the program to many more providers across the U.S.”
“The fundamental role of play in early childhood development is well established,” added Linda Fitzgerald, Senior Program Manager, Social Impact and Partnerships at the LEGO Group. “With Prescription for Play we’re aiming to reach caregivers of young children with this message where virtually all of them go—the doctor’s office. The pilot research shows that health care providers can seamlessly integrate the program into their well-child check-ups, and that caregivers are receptive to the message. The more time caregivers spend playing with their children, the greater the benefit to the child.”
The Weitzman Institute conducted the pilot study at Connecticut Pediatrics at Community Health Center, Inc., a Federally Qualified Health Center located in Hartford, Connecticut, to better understand the way the program influences behaviors and perceptions of play with both providers and caregivers.
To learn more about the pilot study’s findings, read the research brief Play Promotion for Pediatric Patients: A Feasibility and Pilot Study of Embedding ‘Prescription for Play’ In Well-Child Visits: bit.ly/Rx4PlayBrief.
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About The Weitzman Institute
The Weitzman Institute is the research and innovation arm of Community Health Center, Inc., dedicated to inspiring primary care innovation and improving health outcomes for the medically underserved. With its expertise in quality improvement, the Weitzman
Institute is partnering with organizations around the globe to transform the primary care delivery system through research, training and education. For more information, visit
www.weitzmaninstitute.org.
Kindest regards,
Stephanie Ivers Heine
(She/Her/Hers)
Director of Creative Services
Community Health Center, Inc.
19 Grand Street, 2nd floor
Middletown, CT 06457
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