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Using behavioral insights in early childhood interventions: the effects of Crianza Positiva e-messaging program on parental investment

Author

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  • Juanita Bloomfield

    (Universidad de Montevideo)

  • Ana Balsa

    (Universidad de Montevideo)

  • Alejandro Cid

    (Universidad de Montevideo)

Abstract

We study whether an e-messaging program rooted on behavioral economics insights and administered on top of a parenting workshop helps improve parental investment and commitment. Treated families received messages thrice a week for 24 weeks. The messages were designed to help parents reorient their attention towards positive parenting goals, simplify parental tasks, and reinforce positive identities. Using an RCT on 24 early childhood centers in Uruguay, we find incremental effects over the workshop on the frequency of parental involvement and parenting quality. Effects range around 0.3 standard deviations and are larger for families experiencing more negative shocks and lower negative identity at baseline, suggesting the program triggered the right channels.

Suggested Citation

  • Juanita Bloomfield & Ana Balsa & Alejandro Cid, 2023. "Using behavioral insights in early childhood interventions: the effects of Crianza Positiva e-messaging program on parental investment," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 95-130, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:reveho:v:21:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11150-021-09593-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11150-021-09593-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Ajzenman, Nicolas & Luna, Laura Becerra & Hernández-Agramonte, Juan Manuel & Lopez Boo, Florencia & Perez Alfaro, Marcelo & Vásquez-Echeverría, Alejandro & Mateo Diaz, Mercedes, 2022. "A behavioral intervention to increase preschool attendance in Uruguay," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    2. Mateo-Berganza Díaz, María Mercedes & Becerra, Laura & Hernández Agramonte, Juan Manuel & Lopez Boo, Florencia & Pérez Alfaro, Marcelo & Vasquez Echeverria, Alejandro, 2020. "Nudging Parents to Increase Preschool Attendance in Uruguay," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 10893, Inter-American Development Bank.
    3. Lebedinski, Lara & Carneiro, Pedro & Urzua, Tamara Arnold & Perng, Julie & Boudet, Ana Maria Munoz & Sosa, Katia Herrera, 2024. "Experimental Impacts of a Virtual Parenting Program with Mothers and Fathers," IZA Discussion Papers 17028, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Parenting; Child development; Parenting; Stimulation; Evaluation studies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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