Adverse Childhood ExperiencesPPOANCT06985017
Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity
A study testing Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity in people with Adverse Childhood Experiences, run by Sacred Heart University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This research project was developed in an effort to support teachers of young children exposed to adversity and to assist them with enhancing children's development through play. The project utilizes an occupational therapist-led teacher training program manual and an accompanying fidelity checklist. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- What is being tested?
- Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 12 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2023to 31 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Teachers and teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity who have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.
Who cannot join
- Individuals who are not teachers or teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity or who do not have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, Connecticut, 06825
About this study
This research project was developed in an effort to support teachers of young children exposed to adversity and to assist them with enhancing children's development through play. The project utilizes an occupational therapist-led teacher training program manual and an accompanying fidelity checklist. This training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom and techniques to reduce teacher/caregiver burnout. The training was facilitated via Zoom with eleven teachers employed by an agency serving children exposed to adversity. The fidelity raters scored the fidelity checklist while reviewing video recordings of the training sessions. Participants responded to a Background Questionnaire via Qualtrics and were interviewed before and after the training. The interview data was used to analyze the impact of the training.
Read the detailed description
This pilot study examines the feasibility of a teacher group training program that aims to equip teachers with the skills of promoting development among young children exposed to adversity through play. The study utilizes occupational therapist-led teacher training program manual entitled Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity (PPOA) and an accompanying fidelity checklist. This training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom.
The project's goals are:
- To determine whether the above program can:
- Increase teachers' perceived competencies supporting play in the classroom
- Change teachers' views of how they can support children's play and playfulness
- To identify program elements that require revisions/modifications based on teachers' feedback pertaining to:
- Aspects of the program that they find to be helpful or less helpful
- Aspects of the training they deem to be feasible to implement in their classrooms in order to promote children's play and playfulness
The PPOA training was facilitated via Zoom with eleven teachers employed by an agency serving children exposed to adversity. The fidelity checklist was scored while reviewing video recordings of the training sessions. Participants responded to a Background Questionnaire via Qualtrics and were interviewed before and after the training. Interview data was used to analyze the impact of the training.
- Conditions
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Being tested
- Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity
- Keywords
- Childhood adversity, teacher training, play, playfulness
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Playing Playfully to Overcome AdversityBehavioural
This training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long weekly sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom and techniques to reduce teacher/caregiver burnout.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity, Online Teacher Training program | Experimental | Forty five minute-long group training sessions conducted by one of the PI-s via Zoom, once a week over five weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Parent/Caregiver's View of Supporting Children's Play and Playfulness
The questionnaire assesses parent or caregiver perception of their support of child's playfulness. It consists of 11 items scored on 3-point scale ranging from 0 (do not agree) to 2 (strongly agree).
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Teacher Perception of Play in the Classroom Survey
The Teacher Perception of Play in the Classroom Survey assesses teachers' confidence in incorporating play and/or playful attitude into the classroom environment. It consists of 14 statements on a 3-point scale ranging from 1 (not true) to 3 (certainly true).
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Open-ended pre-program questions
Three pre-training participant interview questions about their beliefs pertaining to play's role in children's development, what play looks like in their classroom, and what they expect to gain from participating in the training program.
Measured: At enrollment
Post-Training Participant Interview
A set of seven post program questions to learn on the benefits of the program and areas for improvement.
Measured: After 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 May 2025
- Study start1 Mar 2023
- Primary completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Adverse Childhood ExperiencesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- The training program used in this study aims to equip teachers serving children exposed to adversity with the knowledge and skills pertaining to using play and playfulness as vehicles to foster children's growth. NO DRUGS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS STUDY.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 12 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sacred Heart University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Yeshiva University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lola Halperin, Ed.D., OTR/L, Sacred Heart University
- Investigators
- Amiya Waldman-Levi, PhD, Principal investigator, Yeshiva University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06985017
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 210413A
- Acronym
- PPOA
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 12 May 2025
- Last updated
- 22 May 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Deidentified data will be shared through publications.
Publications
Halperin L, Waldman-Levi A. Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity: A Telehealth-Based Group Teacher Training Program. OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2023 Jul;43(3):381-389. doi: 10.1177/15394492231151882. Epub 2023 Feb 7.
PubMed 36748710
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 May 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06985017
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PPOA / 210413A
- Conditions
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Keywords
- Childhood adversity, teacher training, play, playfulness
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 12 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Sacred Heart UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Yeshiva University
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 May 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This research project was developed in an effort to support teachers of young children exposed to adversity and to assist them with enhancing children's development through play. The project utilizes an occupational therapist-led teacher training program manual and an accompanying fidelity checklist. This training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom and techniques to reduce teacher/caregiver burnout. The training was facilitated via Zoom with eleven teachers employed by an agency serving children exposed to adversity. The fidelity raters scored the fidelity checklist while reviewing video recordings of the training sessions. Participants responded to a Background Questionnaire via Qualtrics and were interviewed before and after the training. The interview data was used to analyze the impact of the training.
Detailed description
This pilot study examines the feasibility of a teacher group training program that aims to equip teachers with the skills of promoting development among young children exposed to adversity through play. The study utilizes occupational therapist-led teacher training program manual entitled Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity (PPOA) and an accompanying fidelity checklist. This training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom.
The project's goals are:
- To determine whether the above program can:
- Increase teachers' perceived competencies supporting play in the classroom
- Change teachers' views of how they can support children's play and playfulness
- To identify program elements that require revisions/modifications based on teachers' feedback pertaining to:
- Aspects of the program that they find to be helpful or less helpful
- Aspects of the training they deem to be feasible to implement in their classrooms in order to promote children's play and playfulness
The PPOA training was facilitated via Zoom with eleven teachers employed by an agency serving children exposed to adversity. The fidelity checklist was scored while reviewing video recordings of the training sessions. Participants responded to a Background Questionnaire via Qualtrics and were interviewed before and after the training. Interview data was used to analyze the impact of the training.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- The training program used in this study aims to equip teachers serving children exposed to adversity with the knowledge and skills pertaining to using play and playfulness as vehicles to foster children's growth. NO DRUGS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS STUDY.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity, Online Teacher Training program | Experimental | Behavioral: Playing Playfully to Overcome AdversityForty five minute-long group training sessions conducted by one of the PI-s via Zoom, once a week over five weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Teachers and teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity who have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Individuals who are not teachers or teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity or who do not have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Playing Playfully to Overcome AdversityThis training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long weekly sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom and techniques to reduce teacher/caregiver burnout. | Behavioural | Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity, Online Teacher Training program |
Primary outcome
Parent/Caregiver's View of Supporting Children's Play and Playfulness
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
The questionnaire assesses parent or caregiver perception of their support of child's playfulness. It consists of 11 items scored on 3-point scale ranging from 0 (do not agree) to 2 (strongly agree).
Teacher Perception of Play in the Classroom Survey
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks
The Teacher Perception of Play in the Classroom Survey assesses teachers' confidence in incorporating play and/or playful attitude into the classroom environment. It consists of 14 statements on a 3-point scale ranging from 1 (not true) to 3 (certainly true).
2 secondary outcomes
Open-ended pre-program questions
Time frame: At enrollment
Post-Training Participant Interview
Time frame: After 6 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 May 2025.
- Background: PubMed 36748710Halperin L, Waldman-Levi A. Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity: A Telehealth-Based Group Teacher Training Program. OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2023 Jul;43(3):381-389. doi: 10.1177/15394492231151882. Epub 2023 Feb 7.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Deidentified data will be shared through publications.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Amiya Waldman-Levi, PhD principal investigator
Yeshiva University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity in people with Adverse Childhood Experiences, run by Sacred Heart University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Parent/Caregiver's View of Supporting Children's Play and Playfulness (time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06985017, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 May 2025.