• We will ask your child to wear an activity monitor, called an accelerometer, for six days. Your child will wear the accelerometer on a belt on their waist, only taking it off to bathe or if it would otherwise get wet (for example if they go swimming).
•  We will ask you about the child’s name, date of birth, racial and ethnic background, address, household members, childcare arrangement, medical diagnoses received, and contact information.

There are no study related costs to you. 

Each participant (mother, father, child) will be paid $20 each for completing their portion of the project, for a total of $60 per family for taking part in this study. This will be given as a gift card processed after completion of study participation. However, we understand that your child may refuse to wear an accelerometer for six days. If the parents complete surveys but your child is unable to complete an accelerometer wear, each parent will be paid $20, for a total of $40.

Your child should be between 1-4 years of age to enroll in this study.

This study is fully remote.

An accelerometer (shown above) is a device that records movement and acceleration in 3 dimensions. It does not collect GPS data or send signals via the internet.

This study poses minimal risk to your child. The main risk is the loss of confidentiality. In order to keep your information secure we will not discuss your participation with anyone outside the study team, and we will keep all of your identifiable information stored on password protected Northwestern University and Lurie Children’s computers in secure folders that are only accessible to the study team.

Your child’s participation in the study activities is voluntary. You have the right to refuse to allow your child to participate in the study activities and to withdraw your child from this study at any time you choose. Whatever decision you make, there will be no penalty to you or your child, and no loss of benefits to which you or your child are otherwise entitled.

The study team may share your child’s information for future research. They will remove identifiers such as your child’s name and other information that can be linked to your child before this is done. The study team and other researchers may use this for other studies without getting consent from you or your child.

Your child can stop taking part in this study at any time. Your decision will not affect your child’s regular care.

The study team will not return study results to you or your child. You can ask the study team any questions you have about study results.

If you or your child have any questions, reach out to us via the information provided on our Contact Us page.