Promoting Parent Involvement in School-Based Physical Activity and Nutrition Programs

This study evaluated the effect of enhanced parent communication strategies on parent exposure and involvement and on parental social support for children’s physical activity and healthy eating. A quasi-experimental design was employed to evaluate the effect of three Marathon Kids program conditions on knowledge and involvement in the MK program and social support for children’s energy-balance behaviors among 2nd and 4th grade parents. The three program conditions consisted of:  1.) a usual & customary MK comparison condition (MK Basic) (n=273 parents); 2.) MK Enhanced condition (n=116)- which included increased messaging about MK (e.g., newsletters, emails, bulletin boards); and 3.) an enhanced plus school organizing condition (MK Wellness Team Initiative- MKWT) (n=168)- which included efforts to form and guide parent wellness teams in addition to parent communication strategies. Parents in the two enhanced communication/parent outreach conditions reported higher exposure to MK messages, school wellness activities (MKWT), and child participation in specific facets of MK program. Findings support the value of enhanced communication strategies in increasing parent exposure to program activities and in providing social support of children’s involvement in program activities such as student tracking of miles and attendance at MK events. Findings to be presented will include further qualitative and quantitative results from the evaluation; best practices for enhancing parent engagement; opportunities for improvement, and further parent engagement strategies to be employed in the future.