Impact evaluation of the “Crecer Jugando” parenting program
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN16541902 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16541902 |
| Protocol serial number | CJ-IPFOCUS-2025 |
| Sponsors | Focus Consulting, Childhood First Foundation (Fundación Infancia Primero) |
| Funders | SUMMA, Fundación Angelini, Fundación Colunga, Fundación Huella, Fundación Viento Sur, Fundación Ilumina, Fundación Olivo |
- Submission date
- 15/05/2026
- Registration date
- 27/05/2026
- Last edited
- 27/05/2026
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Early childhood is a critical period for cognitive, emotional and social development. Parenting programmes that promote positive caregiver–child interactions through play and responsive caregiving have shown potential to support children's development and family wellbeing. Crecer Jugando is a parenting programme designed to strengthen caregivers' abilities to interact with young children through play, communication and emotional support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Crecer Jugando programme on caregiver–child interaction, parenting practices and early childhood development outcomes.
Who can participate?
Caregiver–child dyads living in the communities where the programme was implemented could participate in the study. The caregiver had to be of legal age and the child had to be between 0 and 48 months. Participation in the study was voluntary.
What does the study involve?
Families who agreed to participate were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group participated in the Crecer Jugando programme, which consisted of weekly group sessions designed to strengthen parenting skills and promote positive interactions between caregivers and children through play and guided reflection. The other group did not participate in the programme during the study period. All participating families completed surveys and assessments before the programme began and again after it ended. These assessments measured parenting practices, caregiver–child interaction and children's development.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants in the intervention group could benefit from learning strategies to support their children's development and strengthen their relationship with their child. The study also contributed to generating evidence about programmes that support families and young children. The risks associated with participation were minimal and mainly related to the time required to attend sessions or complete assessments.
Where is the study run from?
The study was conducted in Chile. The Crecer Jugando programme was implemented by Infancia Primero, and the evaluation was designed and carried out by Estudios y Consultorías Focus. The study took place in the municipalities of El Bosque, Melipilla, Quinta Normal, Limache, Concepción, Maule, Monte Patria, and Río Negro.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in 2024 and ran until 2025, including programme implementation and follow-up assessments.
Who is funding the study?
1. The evaluation was conducted under the EDU-LAC Impact Fund, an initiative led by SUMMA in partnership with the Education Endowment Foundation and the BHP Foundation to generate evidence on innovative educational interventions in Latin America.
2. Fundación Angelini
3. Fundación Colunga
4. Fundación Huella
5. Fundación Viento Sur
6. Fundación Ilumina
7. Fundación Olivo.
Who is the main contact?
Isidora Fuenzalida, Principal Investigator, Estudios y Consultorías Focus, ifuenzalida@focus.cl
Contact information
Principal investigator
Europa 2081, Providencia.
Santiago de Chile
7510162
Chile
 ORCID ID |
0009-0009-5064-0341 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +56227501100 |
| ifuenzalida@focus.cl |
Public
Avenida General Bustamante N°26, Piso 3, Providencia
Santiago Chile
7500776
Chile
| Phone | +56987908021 |
|---|---|
| acastro@infanciaprimero.org |
Scientific
Europa 2081, Providencia.
Santiago de Chile
7510162
Chile
| Phone | +56227501100 |
|---|---|
| bcoloma@focus.cl |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Allocation | Randomized controlled trial |
| Masking | Blinded (masking used) |
| Control | Active |
| Assignment | Parallel |
| Purpose | Supportive care |
| Scientific title | Impact evaluation of the Crecer Jugando early childhood parenting program on caregiver–child interaction and child development: a randomized controlled trial in Chile |
| Study acronym | CJ-RCT |
| Study objectives | 1. To estimate the causal impact of the Crecer Jugando parenting programme on caregiver–child interaction. 2. To evaluate effects on early childhood development outcomes. 3. To assess changes in parenting practices, parental stress and social support. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 26/02/2024, Alberto Hurtado University Ethics Committee (Avda. Bernardo O’Higgins 1825, Santiago de Chile, 8340576, Chile; -; comiteetica@uahurtado.cl), ref: - |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Early childhood development and caregiver–child interaction quality |
| Intervention | This is a multicentre interventional randomised controlled trial with parallel-group design, 1:1 allocation ratio, active waitlist control, and partial masking (blinded outcome assessment for PICCOLO instrument only). Caregiver–child dyads are randomly assigned using a computer-generated sequence stratified by municipality and intervention cycle, with a 1:1 allocation ratio, to either a treatment group or an active waitlist control group. The treatment group receives the Crecer Jugando parenting programme, consisting of 10 weekly group sessions of approximately 90 minutes each, delivered in face-to-face or remote (Zoom) format, focused on strengthening parenting skills and promoting positive caregiver–child interaction through play-based activities and guided reflection. Participants also receive educational resources via a WhatsApp community forum throughout the 10-week cycle. The control group is placed on an active waitlist and receives no programme materials or sessions during the intervention period. Data are collected at baseline and post-intervention follow-up using standardised instruments measuring parenting practices (E2P), caregiver–child interaction (PICCOLO), child development (ASQ-3), and parental stress (PSI-4-SF). |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Completion date | 15/02/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Carer, Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 0 Months |
| Upper age limit | 48 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 600 |
| Total final enrolment | 600 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Caregiver–child dyads with children aged 0–48 months 2. The primary caregiver is of legal age (18 years or older) 3. The caregiver is the primary caregiver of the child 4. Caregivers residing in one of the eight implementing municipalities 5. Caregivers linked to services implementing the Crecer Jugando programme 6. Caregivers willing to participate in the evaluation and complete study instruments |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Caregivers who are not the primary caregiver of the child 2. Children older than 48 months at enrolment 3. Participants who do not provide informed consent 4. Families who had previously participated in a Crecer Jugando programme cycle 5. Families receiving a similar parenting intervention concurrently 6. Infants with a diagnosis of severe disability preventing the use of psychomotor development scales (ASQ-3) |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/03/2024 |
| Date of final enrolment | 15/11/2024 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Chile
Study participating centres
Concepción
4030615.
Chile
Santiago de Chile
8010620
Chile
Limache
6520000
Chile
Talca
3530000
Chile
Melipilla
9580196
Chile
Ovalle
1840000
Chile
Santiago de Chile
8500643
Chile
Osorno
5300000
Chile
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan | Data shared upon reasonable request will include anonymised participant-level data used in the analyses. Data will be available following publication of the results. Access will be granted to researchers for academic and research purposes only. All data were anonymised prior to analysis in accordance with the ethics approval granted by the Ethics Committee of Alberto Hurtado University. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. |
Editorial Notes
27/05/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the Alberto Hurtado University Ethics Committee.
