Effects of Parental Viewing of Children’s Risk Behavior on Home Safety Practices

Objective To examine the effects of parent viewing of their child’s actual risk behavior on home safety practices. Methods Sixty-one 4-to 7-year-old children and their caregivers participated in a three session project. Parents were exposed to one of three videos: (a) their own child with simulated home hazards, (b) a pilot child with hazards, or (c) a control child development video. Observations of home hazards as well as parent measures of supervision and vulnerability were completed pre and postintervention. Results Exposure to a video of a parent’s own child playing with simulated hazards resulted in improved home safety practices. Exposure to a pilot child interacting with home hazards did not increase parent safety behaviors. No group differences in levels of vulnerability were found. Conclusions Parental attitudes are an important consideration in designing successful injury interventions. Increasing parental awareness of their child’s risk to injury may be a valuable tool to change safety behaviors.