{
  "abstract": "Objectives This study evaluated the impact of Crecer Jugando, a preventive and promotional parenting support program for families with children aged 0–48 months in vulnerable contexts in Chile. The evaluation aimed to determine its effects on parenting skills, caregiver–child bonding, child development, parental stress, and social support networks.Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 600 caregiver–child dyads, of which 324 completed the process. The program consisted of 10 weekly group sessions and a digital forum, implemented in both face-to-face and online formats. Impact was measured using standardized instruments (E2P, PSI-4-SF, ASQ-3, PICCOLO). Analyses included Intention-to-Treat (ITT), Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE), heterogeneous and marginal effects, as well as cost-effectiveness estimation.Results The program showed significant improvements in parenting skills, especially reflective and formative dimensions, and increased caregiver–child interactions (reading, singing, playing). Parental stress was consistently reduced by over 0.4 standard deviations across dimensions. Positive effects were also observed in child socio-individual development and caregiver–child bonding (teaching dimension). Effects became significant after at least three sessions. No major differences were found between online and face-to-face formats, except for slightly higher perceived social support in the latter. Cost-effectiveness ratios proved competitive compared to international benchmarks.Conclusions Crecer Jugando effectively strengthens parenting practices, reduces parental stress, and supports child socio-emotional development. Its flexible delivery model and cost-efficiency reinforce its scalability and sustainability. Longitudinal follow-up is recommended to assess cumulative effects on child development.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fundación Infancia Primero, Santiago, Chile"
      ],
      "name": "Magdalena Mongillo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fundación Infancia Primero, Santiago, Chile"
      ],
      "name": "María de los Ángeles Castro"
    }
  ],
  "title": "147 Impact evaluation of the early childhood program Crecer Jugando in Chile",
  "uid": "b6c0e53b-cfb9-522f-9d60-78df262cd1e7"
}