Enhancing Neurobehavioral Gains with the Aid of Games and Exercise (ENGAGE): Initial open trial of a novel early intervention fostering the development of preschoolers' self-regulation

Poor self-regulation during the preschool years predicts a wide array of adverse adult outcomes and, as such, is an important treatment target. We assessed the efficacy of a novel early intervention aimed at fostering the development of preschoolers' self-regulation. Enhancing Neurobehavioral G...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child neuropsychology 2015-07, Vol.21 (4), p.465-480
Main Authors: Healey, Dione M., Halperin, Jeffrey M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analysis of Variance
At-risk
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - rehabilitation
Child
Child Behavior Disorders - psychology
Child Behavior Disorders - rehabilitation
Child, Preschool
Early Intervention (Education)
Early-intervention
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
New Zealand
Parents - psychology
Preschoolers
Self-regulation
Social Control, Informal
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Poor self-regulation during the preschool years predicts a wide array of adverse adult outcomes and, as such, is an important treatment target. We assessed the efficacy of a novel early intervention aimed at fostering the development of preschoolers' self-regulation. Enhancing Neurobehavioral Gains with the Aid of Games and Exercise (ENGAGE) involves parents and children playing a wide range of games targeting self-regulation on a daily basis over a 5-week period. Twenty-five New Zealand families, in whom parents identified their children as difficult to manage, took part in this study. Parent hyperactivity, aggression, and attention problems ratings on the BASC-2 were used to assess improvements in behavioral self-regulation, and subtests of the Stanford Binet-5 and NEPSY-2 were used to assess improvements in cognitive control. Improvements in parent-rated hyperactivity, aggression, and attention problems were maintained throughout the 12-month follow-up. In addition, improvements were found in two neurocognitive areas associated with self-regulation. While more rigorous randomized controlled trials are necessary, ENGAGE shows promise as a novel intervention for developing self-regulation in at-risk preschoolers.
ISSN:0929-7049
1744-4136
DOI:10.1080/09297049.2014.906567