Play-Based Training for Adverse Childhood Experiences

(PPOA Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Sacred Heart University

Disqualifiers: Not teachers, No internet access

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help teachers support young children who have faced difficult experiences by enhancing playtime and reducing teacher stress. An occupational therapist leads a play-based training program called "Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity," conducted online via Zoom over five weeks. The goal is to improve children's playfulness and development while helping teachers manage burnout. Teachers and teacher assistants working with young children exposed to adversity, who have reliable internet and Zoom access, are well-suited for this trial.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative educational strategies that support both children and educators.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on teacher training rather than medical interventions.

What prior data suggests that this training program is safe for teachers and children?

Research has shown that the "Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity" program is safe for participants. This program trains teachers through online sessions to support children who have faced difficult times. Studies have found that teachers feel comfortable with this type of online group training. No reports indicate negative effects from participating in these sessions. The program focuses on enhancing play in classrooms and managing stress without medications or physical treatments, resulting in a very low risk of harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity" program because it offers a fresh approach to helping children who have faced tough experiences. Unlike traditional methods that might focus solely on therapy sessions or medication, this program uses play-based training, delivered through online group sessions. This playful method aims to engage children in a more interactive and enjoyable way, potentially making it easier for them to open up and process their experiences. By reaching participants through Zoom, it also provides greater accessibility, allowing children and teachers to participate from anywhere, thus overcoming geographical barriers.

What evidence suggests that this training program is effective for supporting teachers of children exposed to adversity?

Research has shown that play-based programs can assist children facing challenges. These programs create safe and caring environments, essential for healthy growth. In this trial, the program "Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity" uses online tools to train teachers in encouraging play and managing stress. Studies suggest that when teachers handle stress more effectively, their interactions with children improve, benefiting the children's development. Additionally, play serves as a crucial method for both children and adults to cope with stress and difficult situations. This program aims to leverage these benefits to support both teachers and children. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Amiya Waldman-Levi, PhD

Principal Investigator

Yeshiva University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for teachers of young children who have faced adversity. It aims to help them enhance child development through play and reduce burnout. Teachers must be employed by an agency serving such children to participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Teachers and teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity who have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.

Exclusion Criteria

Individuals who are not teachers or teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity or who do not have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Training

Participants undergo a virtual teacher training program to enhance children's development through play

5 weeks

5 sessions (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are interviewed to assess the impact of the training and provide feedback

1 week

1 interview (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity

Trial Overview The intervention being tested is a teacher training program led by occupational therapists, delivered virtually in five sessions. It focuses on promoting playfulness in the classroom and includes techniques to prevent teacher burnout.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity, Online Teacher Training program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Forty five minute-long group training sessions conducted by one of the PI-s via Zoom, once a week over five weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Sacred Heart University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3

Recruited

340+

Yeshiva University

Collaborator

Trials

13

Recruited

2,600+

Citations

1. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15394492231151882

A Telehealth-Based Group Teacher Training Program Our telehealth-delivered teacher group program focused on play and playfulness in the classroom and stress management for teachers.

2. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/368334371_Playing_Playfully_to_Overcome_Adversity_A_Telehealth-Based_Group_Teacher_Training_Program

A Telehealth-Based Group Teacher Training Program Teacher's exposure to childhood adversity may lead to secondary stress compromising child-teacher interactions. Our telehealth-delivered teacher group program ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8882933/

The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Health ... This research measured the impact of individual ACEs on health and developmental outcomes and found that financial hardship and parental mental illness both ...

4. childhealthdata.org childhealthdata.org/docs/drc/arizona-aces-efinal.pdf

Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences: Fortunately, safe, nurturing relationships and communities can help break the cycle and produce long-term improvements in children's outcomes. The Arizona.

5. publications.aap.org publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/3/e20182058/38649/The-Power-of-Play-A-Pediatric-Role-in-Enhancing

The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing ... Discovering their true passions is another critical strategy for helping both children and adults cope with adversity. One study documented that ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11071601/

Two Sides of the Coin: The Roles of Adverse Childhood ... This study investigates how ACEs and PCEs relate to college students' mental health (N = 321), within the framework of Resiliency Theory.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763418305116

The importance of play for the development of children in ... Taken together, play allows children to experiment and explore, and playful activities provide a secure setting for testing the consequences of many alternative ...

8. cdc.gov cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) | VitalSigns Lower risk for conditions like depression, asthma, cancer, and diabetes in adulthood. · Reduce risky behaviors like smoking and heavy drinking.