Social and Physical Activity as Rehabilitation for Preschool Kids With Cancer

"The hospital-based part of the intervention includes daily facilitated group-structured active play sessions during the weekdays (i.e., Monday-Friday) at the hospital for 40 weeks. All sessions will be 45 minutes long and structured using the RePlay Model following four core principles: 1) ritual practices; 2) reinforcement of movement through repetition; 3) devel-opment through appropriate challenges; and 4) adjusting activities to accommodate treat-ment-related side effects. All activities are performed together, where healthcare pro-fessionals, parents, and children all participate to support social development.~The group-structured active play sessions will take place at the pediatric oncology ward and will be facilitated by a health professional (i.e., an exercise professional or physiother-apist)."

"The parent educational program consists of two educational sessions within the first three months of the child's treatment trajectory. The sessions have the aim of providing the par-ents with knowledge and skills to facilitate structured active play at home:~1. A 30-60-minute session with general information on gross motor function development, common physical side effects of cancer treatment, and the importance of physical activity and active play.~2. A 60-minute practical, interactive introduction to structured active play and the RePlay Model - including inspiration for active play activities they can do at home that challenge different gross motor skills.~The parents will receive practical material on gross motor development stages and skills as well as descriptions of active play activities that target gross motor functions."

The online facilitated structured active play sessions at home are provided daily during the weekdays (i.e., Monday-Friday) in the afternoon (e.g., 16.00-17.00). A healthcare profes-sional (i.e., an exercise professional or physiotherapist) facilitates these sessions, guiding the families through active play activities following the RePlay Model structure. When the families log on for the online sessions, a healthcare professional will instruct them through different play activities. Each family will receive basic essential home-structured active play equipment (e.g., bean bags, balls, bingo games, items for an obstacle course) for the online sessions. The sessions will be conducted through video connections (Teams or Skype). Families who do not have an iPad or suitable computer will receive an iPad from the research group for the nine-month intervention.