Perceptions of a Community-Based Playgroup to Promote Caregiver Knowledge of Resources and Prevention of Developmental Delays in a Rural Setting

For children living in rural communities, the likelihood of having a developmental delay substantially increases compared to children living in urban areas (Weglarz-Ward et al., 2019). This can be due to a lack of access to resources, limited education, and geographical isolation. Despite the rising trend of developmental delays among rural children, there is a noteworthy lack of early intervention resources for both the child and their family. This trend of minimal resources is demonstrated in Lincoln County, Nevada. Using an occupational therapy lens, a community-based playgroup program was developed for residents in Lincoln County. Community-based playgroups involve a structured interaction between caregivers and their child/children in a community context and incorporate the occupation of play, socialization, and caregiver education. This is consequential as there are currently no community-based programs in place within Lincoln County, Nevada. Semi-structured interviews, clinical observations, and a needs assessment were completed to gather information on where the disparities in resources are and how the program can fill them. The guiding question throughout this project was as follows: “What are the perceptions of stakeholders of children ages zero to three regarding the development of an occupational therapy-based playgroup that focuses on enhancing their understanding of developmental milestones?” Utilizing the information gathered from caregivers, teachers, and stakeholders, a community-based playgroup was developed to meet the needs of the community, thereby increasing the feasibility of caregivers to attend.