Randomized controlled trial reveals enhanced play education improves cognitive and gross motor skills in infants, suggesting early educational engagement is beneficial.
Purpose: To evaluate feasibility and effect of Enhanced Play Education (EPE) on development relative to Usual Play Education (UPE) for infants of varying abilities. EPE encouraged child-initiated movement, problem-solving with objects, and responsive communication; UPE reflected popular education. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to the UPE or EPE group and received written, illustrated instructions to perform their play activities 15 minutes daily. Standardized developmental assessments occurred at baseline, after the 4-week intervention, and 1 and 2 months later. Results: Forty-nine infants (M = 3.5 months; 35 with typical development; 14 at risk of developmental delays) and 44 parents were enrolled. Both interventions were feasible. Infants with typical development had greater cognitive and supine gross motor improvements after EPE; infants at risk had greater gross motor improvements after EPE. Conclusion: Educating parents to engage in quality play activities may be an effective method to advance early motor and cognitive outcomes for young infants.
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Orlando et al. (2025) studied this question.
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