Play With Me: Effects of a shared activities parenting intervention on parenting and relative reinforcing value of food.

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated impacts of a novel shared activities intervention designed to promote positive parent-child interactions, which may function as an alternative reinforcer to food. The 4-week, at-home Play With Me intervention combines didactic parenting videos and play kits with materials for parent-child activities to practice skills. Aims of the present study were to examine the intervention's acceptability and its effects on parenting and the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of food versus parent-child activity at post-intervention.

Development of a measure of the relative reinforcing value of food versus parent-child interaction for young children.

The relative reinforcing value (RRV) of food captures individual differences in the motivation to eat and is associated with weight status among infants, children, and adults. Currently, there is no concurrent measure of the RRV of food versus a non-food alternative for 4-to-5-year-old children. The present study aimed to develop and validate a measure of the RRV of food versus time spent interacting with a parent in the context of reading among 4-to-5-year-old children.