In order to develop a device to repel children and alert parents regarding household hazards, the investigators will: 1) Determine sound stimuli that have aversive characteristics for young children, and 2) determine the alerting properties of the same sound stimuli for parents. Ultimately, a series of devices which serve to repel children and alert parents when a child approaches a hazard would be produced and marketed. Based on preliminary pilot work, five sound stimuli will be used in a Phase I study of 30 children at ages 24, 36, and 48 months. The children will be exposed to the sound stimuli, and their behavioral responses will be video recorded and evaluated for aversiveness by """"""""blind raters"""""""" using a standardized scale. Following confirmatory and more detailed studies anticipated in Phase II, sounds found to be most effective to repel children and alert parents will be incorporated in a product line of devices for children's environment.
