Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Background: Globally, rates of children with physical and mental health problems are increasing. Health issues in early childhood often persist into adulthood, highlighting the need to ensure children are supported to flourish from the start of life. Objectives: This protocol describes methods used to test the acceptability and feasibility of a novel digital Flourishing Intervention (designed to empower parents and promote child wellbeing), comprising a Flourishing Check (a newly developed online questionnaire) and a Pathway Tool (an online directory of high-quality, evidence-based programmes and resources). Methods: Using a randomised feasibility trial, participants (N = 600 parents of children aged 0–5 years) will complete the Flourishing Check. The intervention group (n = 400) will access the Flourishing Check and Pathway Tool, whereas a waitlist control group (n = 200) will access the Flourishing Check only. Results: The primary aim is to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention through a mixed-methods design incorporating quantitative data from pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and qualitative data from focus groups. This will be assessed using a traffic light system, which will inform if and how to proceed to a future effectiveness trial. Secondary aims are to assess changes in parent and child outcomes. Primary outcomes will be assessed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Secondary outcomes will be analysed using mixed-effects regression models. Conclusions: We anticipate that the Flourishing Intervention will be feasible and acceptable to parents. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12626000187347).
Keywords
digital intervention, early years, flourishing, parenting, protocol, wellbeing
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
5-1-2026
Article Number
581
Volume
13
Issue
5
Publication Title
Children
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Funding Information
This research was funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), grant number MRF2035649.
Funding received from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
true
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Talati, Z., Kennare, J., Bear, N. L., Gibson, L. Y., Power, R., Kruger, V. Z., Silva, D., Prescott, S. L., & Davis, J. A. (2026). The flourishing child: Study protocol for an acceptability and feasibility trial of a digital early childhood flourishing intervention. Children, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/children13050581