Overview
The Parenting within the Preschool System project seeks to optimise the effectiveness and scalability of the Naungan Kasih Positive Parenting Programme within a national government education system for low-income families in Malaysia. Adapted for parents and caregivers of children between ages four and five, two remotely delivered programmes: ParentChat and NKText (derived from ParentText 2.0) will be tested, in addition to a PLH in-person programme.
In early 2024, the team began trial implementation activities. The pilot cluster randomised factorial trial was completed in the first half of the year. The second phase RCT began in June 2024 and will conclude in September 2025. Additionally, the team finalised a comprehensive roadmap for scaling the NK programme in Malaysia, marking the start of Phase 2 of the Human Safety Net (THSN) NK@Scale project.
Context
This study aims to optimise the effectiveness and scalability of two Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) human-digital playful parenting interventions (ParentChat and ParentText) on parenting, learning through play, and child educational outcomes when embedded within a national government education system for low-income families in Malaysia.
Objectives
The objectives of this study are as follows:
- To evaluate the implementation, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of ParentChat and ParentText when delivered within the government-run preschool system
- To assess the scalability of ParentChat and ParentText within existing government services by examining user engagement, programme fidelity, and sustainability
- To examine whether the combined delivery of ParentText or ParentChat has an impact on user engagement, programme effectiveness, and programme scalability
- To support the long-term sustainability of programme implementation and scale-up of Parenting for Lifelong Health within government services in Malaysia.
Study Setting
This study will be conducted in rural and peri-urban Malaysian communities selected by KEMAS.
Study Significance and Impact
The findings of this study will inform the national scale-up of universal remotely delivered playful parenting interventions for low-income families with young children in Malaysia. It will make an important contribution to our understanding of how playful parenting interventions can have a meaningful impact on parenting, learning through play, and early educational outcomes. The findings will also benefit advocacy work for the scale-up of human- digital evidence-based playful parenting programmes in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
