Preschoolers Learning and Active in Play (PLAY) Study

What is the goal of this study?

We invite you to join an exciting new research study called PLAY (Preschoolers Learning and Active in PLAY) to help kids ages 3 to 5, their teachers, and families be more active and healthy. Researchers at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington are testing whether wrist worn activity trackers help preschoolers, teachers and parents engage in more active lifestyles. Children ages 3 to 5, childcare providers/preschool teachers, and parents are eligible to participate in this 6-to-12-month program.

Benefits of participating in the PLAY Study:

• Childcare programs receive free STARS trainings for their providers, active play equipment, and one to one consultation with coaches for goal setting and action planning.
• Children, teachers/staff, and parents receive activity tracker watches that are theirs to keep.
• Participants help scientists discover new ways to improve health.

Who can join the study?

Children ages 3 to 5 that attend a participating childcare program, childcare providers/preschool teachers, and parents are eligible to participate in the six-month program.

What will happen if my child takes part in this study?

All childcare centers first go through a screening process to assess eligibility. Qualifying centers will then be randomly assigned to either begin the program immediately or to a six-month waitlist before starting the program.

Children ages 3 to 5 will be asked to:

• Wear a small activity monitor belt for three or five separate
  weeks
• Wear an activity tracker on their wrist every day for six months

Parents will be asked to:

• Answer survey questions.
• Receive health/activity related text messages

Teachers/staff will be asked to:

• Wear a small activity monitor belt for three or five separate
  weeks
• Answer survey questions
• Wear an activity tracker on their wrist every day for six months
• Receive health/activity related text messages.

Who can I contact for more information?

If you are interested in learning more or having your child or childcare center participate in the PLAY program, please contact the PLAY study team at PLAY@seattlechildrens.org.

Meet the PLAY Team

Pooja Tandon, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator 

Dr. Pooja Tandon is a pediatrician and researcher at the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and an associate professor at the University of Washington. Her research has been funded by the American Heart Association, the Safeway Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Her current projects focus on studying the connection between outdoor play, physical activity and various health and development outcomes in preschool age children. Her favorite physical activity is taking long walks but she recently discovered standup paddle boarding and loves it.

Kim Garrett, MPH

Clinical Research Supervisor

Kim Garrett is a clinical research supervisor at Seattle Children's Research Institute supporting several physical activity projects. Her research interests include user-centered intervention development, theory-driven program evaluation and environmental and policy influences on physical activity, eating behaviors and health outcomes. She received her MPH from the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health and her BA in English from the University of Puget Sound. Her favorite ways to PLAY are weight-lifting, hiking, and going on family walks with her dog, Apollo.

Aisha Alsinai, BS, BA

Clinical Research Coordinator

Aisha Alsinai is a clinical research coordinator at the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Her research interests include development and health outcomes, health equity, and policy approaches addressing health disparities. Her favorite physical activity is going on walks and hiking.

Albert Hsu, BS

Clinical Research Associate

Albert Hsu began working at Seattle Children’s in 2007 after graduating from Washington State University, where he earned a BS in psychology. He has been working with Dr. Tandon since 2010. His research interests include physical activity in preschoolers, accelerometry and movement based analytics, and childhood obesity. His favorite physical activities include tennis, hiking, and playing with his dog. 

Dylan Kinard, BS

Clinical Research Coordinator

Dylan is a clinical research coordinator at the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Her research interests include early learning and social cognitive development, user-centered iterative prototype design, and adolescent identity development. Before coming to Seattle Children's, she worked as a lead toddler teacher and loved helping kids develop and progress their gross motor skills. Her favorite ways to PLAY are taking urban hikes around the city and paddle boarding.