Balancing Emotions and Electronics for Preschoolers
Brief Tech-Parenting for Regulatory Screen Use in Young Children: A Pilot Study
This pilot will try a brief virtual therapy for caregivers of preschoolers (ages 30–54 months) to reduce using screens to manage children's emotions and see if that improves kids' self-regulation.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 30 Months to 54 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Boston Children's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT07394166 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot tests a brief caregiver-delivered program (Brief-RSU) designed to reduce caregivers' use of screens to regulate young children's emotions and boredom. The intervention includes three 60-minute virtual group sessions for caregivers and remote data collection at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a one-month follow-up. The study will enroll 30 English-speaking children aged 30–54 months and their caregivers and measure changes in caregiver practices (e.g., emotion coaching, reduction in regulatory screen use) and child emotion and behavior regulation. The program adapts an existing brief tech-parenting intervention for school-age children to specifically target regulatory screen use in preschoolers.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Caregivers of English-speaking children aged 30–54 months who report using screens to help calm or occupy their child and who meet the study's inclusion/exclusion criteria are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children with intellectual disability, global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, those in the custody of child protective services, and non-English-speaking families are not expected to be eligible or to benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce caregivers' reliance on screens for calming children and improve preschoolers' emotional and behavioral self-regulation.
How similar studies have performed: The team has previously developed an effective brief tech-parenting program for school-age children, providing preliminary support for the approach, but directly targeting regulatory screen use in preschoolers is a novel extension.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Caregiver endorses regulatory screen use * Child age 30-54 months at enrollment * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Intellectual disability or global developmental delay * Autism spectrum disorder * Child in the custody of DCF
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- Developmental Medicine — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Virginia Peisch, PhD
- Email: virginia.peisch@childrens.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-355-0725
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.