Caregivers' Perceptions of Ride-On Cars and Behavioral Changes for Young Children With Motor Delays

Area of Science:

• Pediatric rehabilitation
• Assistive technology
• Child development

Background:

• Motor delays in toddlers present significant challenges for children and their families.
• Caregiver perceptions and involvement are crucial for the successful adoption of mobility devices.
• Limited caregiver experience with mobility devices can be a barrier to their use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate caregiver perceptions of ride-on car (ROC) use in toddlers with motor delays.
• To observe behavioral changes in children after ROC training compared to conventional therapy.
• To assess the impact of ROC intervention on caregiver willingness to invest in mobility devices.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month intervention study involving 37 toddlers with motor delays and their caregivers.
• Participants were divided into an ROC training group (27) and a conventional therapy group (10).
• Caregiver questionnaires (binary, multiple-choice, open-ended) were administered pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Over 70% of caregivers lacked prior experience with mobility devices.
• Child's ability and age were identified as primary barriers to mobility device use pre-intervention.
• Caregivers in the ROC group showed increased inclination to budget for mobility devices post-intervention compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric physical and occupational therapists play a vital role in educating caregivers about mobility devices.
• Collaborative interventions enhance caregiver confidence and resource allocation for assistive technology.
• Raising awareness of government subsidies and resources is essential for improving access to mobility devices.