Testing the Effectiveness of a Storybook for Teaching Young Children About Home Safety Hazards

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Topic - Health, Growth, Injury

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children under 19 years of age. For preschoolers, many injuries occur in the home. Addressing this issue, the current study assessed if a storybook about home safety could be effective to increase preschoolers’ safety knowledge and reduce their injury-risk behaviors. METHOD. Applying a RCT design, preschool children (3.5 – 5.5 years) were randomly assigned to the control condition (a storybook about healthy eating, n = 30) or the intervention condition (a storybook about home hazards, n = 29). They read the assigned storybook with their mother for four weeks; time spent reading was tracked, and fidelity checks based on home visits were implemented.
RESULTS. Comparing post-intervention knowledge and understanding score, as well as risk behaviors, across groups revealed that children who received the intervention were able to identify more hazards and provide more comprehensive safety explanations, as well as demonstrate fewer risky behaviors when in the company of ‘contrived’ injury hazards. Children in the control group showed no significant changes in safety knowledge, understanding, or risk behaviors. Compliance with reading the safety book and fidelity in how they did so was very good.
CONCLUSION. A storybook can be an effective resource for educating young children about home safety and reducing their hazard-directed risk behaviors.

Authors

• Barbara A Morrongiello, University of Guelph
  Presenting Author

• Alexandra Marquis, Ryerson University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amanda Cox, University of Guelph
  Non-Presenting Author