Citation

Schell SL, Morrongiello BA, Pogrebtsova E. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2015; 40(8): 756-767.

Affiliation

Psychology Department, University of Guelph.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsv030

PMID

25883130

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:  This study evaluated a new online training program, Safe Sibs, aimed at improving supervision knowledge and behaviors of sibling supervisors.  METHOD:  Participants included older children (7-11 years) and their younger siblings (2-5 years). A randomized controlled trial design was used, with older siblings randomly assigned to either an intervention or wait-list control group. Before and after either the intervention or wait-list period, older siblings completed measures of supervision knowledge and their supervision behaviors were unobtrusively observed when with their younger sibling.  RESULTS:  Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvements in supervision knowledge (child development, knowledge of effective supervision practices, injury beliefs, intervention-specific knowledge) and in some aspects of supervision behavior (frequency of proactive safety behaviors to prevent supervisee access to injury hazards).  CONCLUSIONS:  Although adult supervision is ideal, this new program can support older children to become more knowledgeable and improved supervisors of younger ones.

Language: en