WE PLAY for Parents: Community-Engaged Adaptation of an Online Physical Activity Intervention for Parents of Young Children with Autism

Physical activity plays a vital role in children’s healthy development, and parents are the first and most influential figures in encouraging young children’s physical activity. Children with autism require specialized support to facilitate physical activity, yet there are scant examples of research-based interventions of this sort for parents. The purpose of this study was to adapt an extant theory-based intervention originally designed for teachers (Wellness Enhancing Physical Activity for Young Children, WE PLAY) to be suitable for parents of children with autism. Parents of children with autism ( N = 20) reviewed WE PLAY for Parents and provided systematic feedback to inform further tailoring for parents as interventionists. Almost all participants rated the WE PLAY for Parents intervention components as either helpful in their current form or helpful with minor modifications. Participants also reported they had increased their perceived knowledge, confidence, and motivation to promote physical activity, and they valued practical strategies and multimedia demonstrations. Suggested adaptations for further tailoring included more diverse video examples and additional scaffolding strategies. Using a community-engaged framework allowed the study team to develop an adapted intervention (WE PLAY for Parents) with enhanced relevance and usability for promoting caregiver-mediated physical activity in young children with autism.