Randomized Controlled Trial of a Risk Reframing Tool to Change Mothers' Parenting Associated With Children's Risky Play

Children's risky play is associated with a variety of positive developmental, physical and mental health outcomes, including greater physical activity, self-confidence and risk management skills. Children's opportunities for risky play have eroded over time, limited by parents' fears and beliefs about risk, particularly among mothers. We have developed a digital and in-person workshop version of a tool to reframe parents' perceptions of risk. We examined whether the tool increased mothers' tolerance for risky play and influenced parenting behaviour change, in the short and long term, and whether these changes were greater than those in the control group. We conducted a single-blind (researchers and outcome assessors) randomized controlled trial and recruited a total of 410 mothers of children aged 6-12 years. The risk reframing (RR) digital tool is designed for a one-time visit and includes three chapters of self-reflection and experiential learning tasks. The RR in-person tool is a 45-90 minute facilitated workshop in which participants were guided through discussions of the same tasks contained within the digital tool. The control condition consisted of reading the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play. Primary outcome was increased tolerance of risk in play, as measured by the Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale. Secondary outcome was self-reported attainment of a behaviour change goal that participants had set for themselves. We tested the hypothesis that there would be differences between the experimental and control groups with respect to tolerance of risk in play and goal attainment.