Kiddio-Food Fight™ A Vegetable Parenting Video Game

Pediatrics

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTHEunice Kennedy Shriver

NICHD

Tom Baranowski, PhDProfessor of Pediatrics (Behavioral Nutrition & PA)

USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, Texas, 77030, USA

www.bcm.edu/cnrc/faculty/?PMID=9519

Kiddio-Food Fight™A Vegetable Parenting

Video Game

Games for HealthJune 13, 2012

High vegetable intake

Related to lower…CVDSeveral cancersType II DiabetesMaybe Obesity


Child Food Preferences

A primary determinant of intakeKids tend to eat what they like

Formed early in life

Parents are primary influences on children’s food preferences and intake

Common parent complaint – “I can’t get my child to eat vegetables”


Parenting Practices

Behaviors that influence child’s behavior

Recent research identifies parenting practices as either:EffectiveIneffective

Our Goal - Train parents of preschool children to enable their child to eat more vegetables


Skilled Behaviors can be learned

Simulations have been used to teach how to…Fly an airplaneDo surgeryInteract with patients

Video games can employ simulations

Adult learning requiresSelf-selected practiceFeedback


Issues for Casual Game

What are important parenting practices

36-item child temperament measure too long for game

Not clear how to word Value/Reasons statements


Formative Research (1)

International Survey of Pediatricians, Health Care Providers and Educators for food parenting36 food parenting statements

Cause short or long term harm?Short term effectiveness?Long term effectiveness?Basis for food parenting selections



Child Temperaments – Created three short statements: He/She likes to listen to rhymes and songs. When

working on a project he/she concentrates deeply and carefully follows rules and instructions. When something changes, he/she quickly notices.

He/She often shows his/her frustration or discomfort and easily becomes sad when not able to finish a project. He/She is often afraid of the dark and when upset may be difficult to calm down.

He/She has lots of energy, is easily excited and often goes fast on the playground. He/She enjoys meeting new people and going to new places.

Validated against 36-item questionnaire



Self Determination TheoryValues / Reasons Intrinsically Motivated

BehaviorRelatedness

People make decisions consistent with valuesReasons tie values to behaviors


Cognitive testing of Values for Vegetable Parenting

Most commonly selected Values:“Raising a wholesome child”“Raising a healthy child”“Being a role model”“Being respected by others”


Reasons linking “Raising a healthy child” Value to VPP

“Encouraging my child to eat vegetables helps my child to be healthy because it helps…”Keep them from getting sick, so they don’t

miss schoolKeep them from getting… cancer (… heart

disease, …obese, …diabetes)Them be in good shapeMy child learn healthy eating habits


Kiddio – Game Mechanics

7 stage gameEnter at neutral with Kiddio refusing veggie offered

Select effective parenting - move 1 step towards winning

Select ineffective parenting – move 1 step towards losing

Turn off TV, remove toys, close door to outside – move 1 step towards winning

Time out optionWorks only at Level 7Otherwise lose points


Casual video game (5-15 minutes per session or episode)

Played anywhere, any time

G4 iPhone app

Audience – Parents of pre-schoolers (3-5 year olds) who have difficulty getting their child to eat vegetables

Kiddio-Food Fight™


Tailored to child’s temperament


Dottie (best friend) has a child just a little older that yoursShe has faced all these

problems with her child and “knows” what works

Game Storyline


Simulate parent-child interactions

Select from alternative parenting statements


Kiddio’s facial expressions and reactions to parent statement selections

Feedback to parents is immediate


Change environment (TV, door, toys, timeout)

Choose vegetable to serve Kiddio

Talk to Dottie for help

Additional Game Activities



Alpha testing (qualitative)16 parents of 3 to 5 year olds, 3 ethnic

groupsMost parents enjoyedNeed tutorial or directions woven into gameImprove feedback

More Kiddio facial gesturesEnd of episode feedbackNo website feedback

Abbreviate number and wording of Values & Reasons


Feedback on parenting selections “Oreo” – positive comment, what was

wrong, positive comment

Goal Setting to do effective parenting with own child Select parenting practice, day, meal

Identify likely problems

Identify likely problem specific solution

Tailored motivational statement Values, reasons

Earn points with optional leader board

Behavior Change components


Create 24 more episodes5 levels of difficulty

Use same game design / engine

Future (1)


Based on qualitative research, made changes to make more user friendly

New Kiddio Menu (2)


Future (3)

Conduct outcome evaluation RCTPrimary outcome:

Child vegetable intakeSecondary outcomes:

Child BMIVegetable parenting practicesHome vegetable availability

Moderating variables:Parent BMIParent vegetable intakeParenting style


Dêkuji! (Czeck)

DANKE! (German)

MUITO OBRIGADO! (Portuguese)

M OI! G� (Chinese, Cantonese)

ARIGATŌ! (Japanese)

MERCI BEAUCOUP! (French)MUCHAS GRACIAS! (Spanish)

SERDECZNIE DZIĘKUJĘ! (Polish)

SHUKRAN! (Arabic, Middle East)

TACK SÅMYCKET! (Swedish) TAKK! (Norwegian)

EFcHARISTo! (Greek)

Xie Xie! (Chinese, Mandarin)

Dank u wel (Dutch)

Khawp Khun maxh! (Thai) Grazie! (Italian)

ThankYou!


Formative Research

Model of Goal Directed Behavior

Attitudes toward VPP

Positive anticipated emotions regarding VPP

Negative anticipated emotions regarding VPP

Subjective norms related to VPP

Desire (motivation) to use VPP

Perceived behavioral control regarding VPP

Intentions to use VPP


Offer as an app in the iTunes App store to get consumer feedback

Future (1)

Date post:	20-Jan-2015
Category:	Health & Medicine
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Kiddio-Food Fight™ A Vegetable Parenting Video Game

Health & Medicine