"Kind of Empowered": Perceptions of Socio-Emotional Development in Children Driving Ride-on Cars

• Published in: Rehabilitation psychology 2023-05, Vol.68 (2), p.155-163
• Main Authors: Barchus, Rebecca, Barroero, Chelsea, Schnare, Wendy, Dean, Sarah M., Feldner, Heather A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Automobiles; Caregivers; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Child, Preschool; COVID-19; Delayed Development; Developmental Disabilities; Disabled Children - psychology; Emotions; Family; Female; Human; Humans; Male; Motor Disorders; Psychosocial Development; Socioemotional Functioning
• ISSN: 0090-5550; 1939-1544; 1939-1544
• DOI: 10.1037/rep0000482

Purpose/Objective: Early powered mobility (PM) experiences can be essential facilitators of self-initiated mobility, socialization, and exploration for young children with disabilities. Cerebral palsy (CP) and developmental delay are two of the most common diagnoses associated with motor disability in young children with 1 in 345 children diagnosed with CP and 1 in 6 with developmental delay in the US. The purpose of this study was to explore the longitudinal experiences and caregiver perceptions of socio-emotional development in particular, in young children with disabilities during modified ride-on car (ROC) use. Research Method/Design: A qualitative, grounded theory approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 families (children ages 1-4 with CP or developmental delay) at baseline, 6 months (as able due to COVID), and 1 year following ROC introduction. Data were coded independently by three researchers using constant comparison until data saturation occurred and themes emerged. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: "Leveling the Playing Field," "Breaking Down Barriers," "Fun and Work: ROC as Toy and Therapy Device," and "Mobility is a Pathway to Autonomy." Conclusions/Implication: Children and caregivers viewed ROCs as both fun and therapeutic, consistently identifying perceived benefits for children's socio-emotional development. This qualitative study provides a better understanding of the complexities and impact of ROCs on children and their families in the socio-emotional domain and may help facilitate clinical decision-making when introducing PM to young children with disabilities as part of a multimodal approach to early intervention. Impact and Implications Although the impact of motor skill development has been described in the literature, little attention has been given to caregiver perceptions of their child's mobility using assistive technology in early childhood. This qualitative study is among the first to describe caregiver perceptions of the socio-emotional impact of an adapted toy ride-on car to facilitate self-initiated mobility in their children with disabilities. These results provide important data about the perceived positive socio-emotional impacts of mobility technology intervention as one of the key benefits of access to self-initiated mobility experiences for young children with disabilities. These lived experiences can help facilitate clinical decision-making and policy regarding the timing, urgenc