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Texting parents about early child development: Behavioral changes and unintended social effects

Author

Listed:
  • Rodríguez, Oscar Barrera
  • Macours, Karen
  • Premand, Patrick
  • Vakis, Renos

Abstract

Parenting interventions have the potential to improve early childhood development. Text messages are considered a promising channel to diffuse parenting information at low cost. This paper tests whether sending text messages about parenting practices impacts early childhood development. Households in rural Nicaragua were randomly assigned to receive messages about nutrition, health, stimulation and the home environment. The intervention led to significant changes in self-reported parenting practices. However, it did not improve children’s cognitive development. When local opinion leaders were randomly exposed to the same text message intervention, parental investments declined and children’s outcomes deteriorated. These negative effects were strongest for children of the least educated caregivers. Since interactions between parents and leaders about child development also decreased, the negative effects may have resulted from a crowding-out of efforts by local leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodríguez, Oscar Barrera & Macours, Karen & Premand, Patrick & Vakis, Renos, 2026. "Texting parents about early child development: Behavioral changes and unintended social effects," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:183:y:2026:i:c:s0304387826001161
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2026.103833
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    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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