Introduction to Adventures in Parenting

Have you heard the latest advice about parenting?
Of course you have. From experts to other parents, people are always ready to give you parenting advice. Parenting tips, parents’ survival guides, dos, don’ts, shoulds, and shouldn’ts—new ones come out every day.
But with so much information available, how can anyone figure out what really works? How do you know whose advice to follow? Isn’t parenting just common sense anyway? How can the experts know what it’s like to be a parent in a real house?
What’s a parent to do?
Try RPM3—a no-frills approach to parenting from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
For over 30 years, the NICHD has conducted and supported research in parenting and child development. We’ve talked to experts, parents, and children. We’ve collected statistics, identified myths, a...More
Fast Facts: Learn! Fast!
What is the RPM3 approach to parenting?
- The first thing you need to know is that there are no perfect parents.
- Parenting isn't all-or-nothing.
- Successes and mistakes are part of being a parent.
- Start to think about the type of parent you want to be.
- RPM3 stands for:
- Responding to your child in an appropriate manner.
- Preventing risky behavior or problems before they arise.
- Monitoring your child's contact with his or her surrounding world.
- Mentoring your child to support and encourage desired behaviors.
- Modeling your own behavior to provide a consistent, positive example for your child.
- By including responding, preventing, monitoring, mentoring, and modeling in your day-to-day parenting activities, you can become a more effective, consistent, active, and attentive parent.
- Learn how to apply the RPM3 approach if your child is:
News Articles
AHA News: What Parents Can Do When Kids With Congenital Heart Defects Grow Up
"As part of the process, parents or caregivers need to change their role as the primary caregiver to the person that's in more of the supportive role. Someone who's still there to help, but not the person that's necessarily calling the shots," said John, who also is an associate professor of pediatrics at George Washington University. More...
Poll Finds Most Parents Would Use CBD to Treat a Child — Is That Wise?
Cannabidiol (CBD) products are wildly popular among older adults for treating chronic pain and anxiety, and a new poll suggests that nearly three-quarters of U.S. parents think CBD might also be a good option for their kids when other meds don't work. More...
FDA Warns of Infant Formula Powders Tied to Infections
Several powdered infant formula products have been recalled by Abbott Inc., following reports of four infants developing bacterial infections after consuming the products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday. More...
Kids' Poisonings Rise as More Parents Bring Pot Edibles Home
These THC-loaded products, often sold as gummies, cookies and brownies, have fueled a four-year increase in the number of emergency calls for young children who mistakenly think they're yummy treats. More...
Lockdowns May Not Have Harmed Toddlers' Language Learning: Studies
The pandemic has dramatically disrupted kids' normal routines, but a new study suggests the initial lockdowns of 2020 did not necessarily hinder preschoolers' language development. More...
45 MoreU.S. Kids Still Dying From Toppling TVs, Furniture
Since 2000, there have been nearly 600 tip-over deaths involving furniture, TVs or appliances, and 81% of those victims were children 17 and younger. More...
AHA News: Amid a National Mental Health Crisis For Kids, Here's How Parents Can Help
School closures. Family strains. Isolated and quarantined friends. Even when young people haven't directly experienced COVID-19, the pandemic has strained their mental health. Often severely. More...
The 'Oreo Test' and Other Ways to Help Kids' Oral Health
Worried your kid isn't brushing his or her teeth properly? You might want to try the Oreo test. More...
Screens Near Bedtime Bad for Preschoolers' Sleep
It's crucial to keep preschoolers away from screens and other sources of light in the hour before bedtime if you want them to get a good night's sleep, researchers say. More...
Getting Your School-Age Child Into a Healthy Sleep Routine
Most parents have dealt with having to hurry a sleepy child out the door on a school morning, but experts say taking the time to establish good sleep routines for your kids is worth the effort. More...
Many Kids Aren't Wearing Helmets While Sledding, Poll Finds
When American kids do downhill skiing or snowboarding, they almost always wear a helmet, their parents say, but they're far less likely to do so when cruising down a neighborhood hill on a sled. More...
Kids' Behavior Worsened With Remote Learning: Study
As the Omicron variant surges and U.S. schools deal with a substitute teacher shortage and related pandemic fallout, don't be surprised if a return to remote or hybrid learning leads your kids to act out, a new study warns. More...
Later School Start Times Boost Parents' Health, Too
New research suggests that students aren't the only ones who benefit from later start times: Their parents also catch a break. More...
Parents Underestimate How Much Time Teens Spent Online During Pandemic
Parents significantly underestimated their teens' social media use -- especially girls' -- during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the study showed. More...
Mom & Dad's Holiday Stress a Downer for Kids, Poll Finds
Many parents want to make the holiday season magical for their kids, but for some the stress they feel trying to live up to that ideal may actually be doing the opposite. More...
Pandemic Saw Big Declines in Kids' Use of Drugs, Alcohol, Vaping
There may be a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, with U.S. health officials reporting an "unprecedented" decline in teens' use of alcohol, marijuana, other illegal drugs and vaping. More...
'Baby Talk' Is Really Helping Baby Learn
You may feel silly doing it, but baby talk helps your infant learn the basics of human language, a new study suggests. More...
Reading With Your Toddler? Books May Beat Screens
Toddlers are more likely to interact with their parents when they're sharing a paper children's book rather than a tablet, University of Michigan researchers found. More...
Are Your Holiday Gifts on the 'Noisy Toy List'?
A screeching rubber chicken tops this year's list of noisy toys that pose a threat to children's hearing. More...
Many Kids, Teens Think Girls Don't Care About Computer Science
The misconception that girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering begins at a young age in the United States. More...
Most Parents Say Their Kids Aren't Thankful Enough: Poll
As American families sit down to celebrate Thanksgiving, a majority of parents say they want to raise grateful kids but they don't think they're succeeding. More...
Pandemic Curbed Kids' Efforts to Lose Excess Weight
A new study is highlighting yet another consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic: It has likely made it even harder for kids with obesity to manage their weight. More...
AHA News: Family-Based Programs Targeting Childhood Obesity Can Be Good for Parents, Too
Family-based programs to encourage healthier eating and physical activity have long been regarded as an effective way to put children diagnosed as overweight or with obesity on a path to a better future. More...
Teen Social Media Posts About Cutting, Other Self-Harm Are Soaring
American teens are increasingly turning to the social media giant Instagram to share graphic images of their own attempts to harm themselves, a new study reveals. More...
Wealthier Parents More Likely to Get COVID Vaccines for Young Kids: Poll
In a finding that suggests a family's income influences parents' views on COVID vaccines for their younger kids, a new survey shows the more money parents make, the likelier they are to get their kids a shot. More...
No Evidence Violent Video Games Lead to Real Violence: Study
Will boys fixated on gore-filled video games become violent in real life? Many parents may worry that's the case, but new and reassuring research finds violent video games don't trigger actual violence in kids. More...
For Kids Afraid of Needles, These Tips May Help Ease COVID Shots
Most kids fear needles, but a few simple steps can help your young one get their COVID-19 shots with the fewest tears shed, experts say. More...
U.S. Adolescents' Daily Screen Time Doubled During Pandemic
As teens dramatically stepped up their screen time during COVID-19 lockdowns, their well-being took a hit, a new study reveals. More...
Pediatricians Offer Advice on Keeping Trick-or-Treaters Safe
As COVID-19 continues to grip the United States, parents need to plan ahead to keep their children safe on Halloween, experts say. More...
Many Parents Worry That Kids Fell Behind in Schooling During Pandemic
It is a fear that millions of parents have been harboring since the pandemic began: Will their children fall behind in school due to disruptions caused by lockdowns, closings and social distancing? More...
Be Your Teen's Best Partner as They Learn to Drive
Parents of teen drivers can play a crucial role in making their children safe drivers, the Governors Highway Safety Association says. More...
As COVID Cases Drop, Fauci Tells Families to Enjoy Halloween
It's okay for American children to go trick-or-treating this Halloween, Dr. Anthony Fauci says. More...
Kids With Food Allergies Are Often Targets for Bullies
Life is challenging enough for teens and pre-teens with food allergies. But bullying often comes with the territory, making their situation worse. More...
As Kids Turned to Screens During Pandemic, Their Mental Health Suffered
It should come as no surprise that researchers discovered that kids who exercised more and used technology less during the pandemic had better mental health outcomes. More...
Active Learning Best for Students: Study
Whether you're a kid or a college student, you'll learn more with interactive activities, discussions, movement and even AI-enhanced technologies than you will just sitting still and listening, a new study suggests. More...
Infant Deaths Spark Baby Loungers Recall
The death of eight babies has prompted the Boppy Company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recall more than 3 million baby loungers, they announced Thursday. More...
New Tricks to Turn Your Fussy Eater Around
If your children are picky eaters, bribing or pressuring them will probably backfire. But there are other steps you can take to help them get over their fussiness, researchers report. More...
Watch Their Backs -- Don't Overload Those Schoolbags
After more than a year at home, children are heading back to classrooms across the country. But they're also toting heavy bags on their backs again. More...
Tips to Helping Your Teen Get Enough Zzzzzs
Close to 8 in 10 high school students don't get enough sleep on an average school night, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More...
Kids' Temporary Tattoos Can Harm Skin Function
More moisture was lost in skin with transfer tattoos compared to non-tattooed skin, which can damage the epidermis, the skin's thin protective barrier, the study found. More...
Kids Piled on Extra Pounds During Pandemic
During lockdowns, American kids gained more weight than before the pandemic, and the number who became obese also increased, researchers report. More...
Pandemic Had Many Young Athletes Reconsidering Their Sport
The pause in youth sports caused by the COVID-19 pandemic wound up shaking some budding athletes to their core, a new U.S. survey shows. More...
As Classes Resume, Some Health Tips From the CDC
Students face a number of challenges as they head back to school this fall -- from potential exposure to COVID-19 and other illnesses to injuries on the playing field. More...
Parents, Look Out for Mental Health Issues as College Kids Return to Class
This year of pandemic isolation and anxiety has been tough for many, but an expert says college students are at particularly high risk for mental health issues as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. More...
Get Your Kids on a School-Ready Sleep Schedule
After a year of learning online in their pajamas at home, many kids may struggle to wake up early for class as schools reopen this fall, an expert says. More...
AHA News: Protecting Children's Mental Health as They Head Back to School
Experts say heading back to school will be anything but routine this year. Which means parents and teachers will need to take extra steps to protect children's mental health. More...
How Your Kid's Education Could Make You Healthier
If you're a parent, here's another reason to encourage your kids to get a good education: Children's educational successes or failures can impact their parent's physical and mental health, new research suggests. More...
Drowning Deaths for U.S. Kids Have Fallen 38% Since 1999
Newly released numbers for 1999 through 2019 show steady progress in reducing the number of young lives lost to drowning. More...
Parent's Words Key to Young Kids' Fears Around Vaccination
What's the best way to help your young child handle the stress of getting shots? New research claims that perfectly timed encouragement makes all the difference with vaccinations. More...
Summer Drowning Deaths Can Happen Quickly: Know the Facts
The best way to prevent drowning in children and teens is to guard against the danger on multiple fronts, a leading pediatricians' group says. More...
Resources
Articles
- Adventures in Parenting
- Introduction to Adventures in Parenting
- So where do we start?
- RPM3: How responding, preventing, monitoring, mentoring, and modeling can help you be a successful parent
- Responding
- Prevention
- Monitoring
- Mentoring
- Modeling
- Now what should I do?
- Under 3
- Under 3: Responding
- Under 3: Prevention
- Under 3: Monitoring
- Under 3: Mentoring
- Under 3: Modeling
- Between 4 and 10
- 4 to 10: Responding
- 4 to 10: Prevention
- 4 to 10: Monitoring
- 4 to 10: Mentoring
- 4 to 10: Modeling
- Between 11 and 14
- 11 to 14: Responding
- 11 to 14: Prevention
- 11 to 14: Monitoring
- 11 to 14: Mentoring
- 11 to 14: Modeling
- RPM3 Summary
- References
- Infants: Parenting and Child Development
- Early Childhood: Parenting and Child Development
- Adventures in Parenting
News
- AHA News: What Parents Can Do When Kids With Congenital Heart Defects Grow Up
- Poll Finds Most Parents Would Use CBD to Treat a Child — Is That Wise?
- FDA Warns of Infant Formula Powders Tied to Infections
- Kids' Poisonings Rise as More Parents Bring Pot Edibles Home
- Lockdowns May Not Have Harmed Toddlers' Language Learning: Studies
- U.S. Kids Still Dying From Toppling TVs, Furniture
- AHA News: Amid a National Mental Health Crisis For Kids, Here's How Parents Can Help
- The 'Oreo Test' and Other Ways to Help Kids' Oral Health
- Screens Near Bedtime Bad for Preschoolers' Sleep
- Getting Your School-Age Child Into a Healthy Sleep Routine
- 40 more
- Many Kids Aren't Wearing Helmets While Sledding, Poll Finds
- Kids' Behavior Worsened With Remote Learning: Study
- Later School Start Times Boost Parents' Health, Too
- Parents Underestimate How Much Time Teens Spent Online During Pandemic
- Mom & Dad's Holiday Stress a Downer for Kids, Poll Finds
- Pandemic Saw Big Declines in Kids' Use of Drugs, Alcohol, Vaping
- 'Baby Talk' Is Really Helping Baby Learn
- Reading With Your Toddler? Books May Beat Screens
- Are Your Holiday Gifts on the 'Noisy Toy List'?
- Many Kids, Teens Think Girls Don't Care About Computer Science
- Most Parents Say Their Kids Aren't Thankful Enough: Poll
- Pandemic Curbed Kids' Efforts to Lose Excess Weight
- AHA News: Family-Based Programs Targeting Childhood Obesity Can Be Good for Parents, Too
- Teen Social Media Posts About Cutting, Other Self-Harm Are Soaring
- Wealthier Parents More Likely to Get COVID Vaccines for Young Kids: Poll
- No Evidence Violent Video Games Lead to Real Violence: Study
- For Kids Afraid of Needles, These Tips May Help Ease COVID Shots
- U.S. Adolescents' Daily Screen Time Doubled During Pandemic
- Pediatricians Offer Advice on Keeping Trick-or-Treaters Safe
- Many Parents Worry That Kids Fell Behind in Schooling During Pandemic
- Be Your Teen's Best Partner as They Learn to Drive
- As COVID Cases Drop, Fauci Tells Families to Enjoy Halloween
- Kids With Food Allergies Are Often Targets for Bullies
- As Kids Turned to Screens During Pandemic, Their Mental Health Suffered
- Active Learning Best for Students: Study
- Infant Deaths Spark Baby Loungers Recall
- New Tricks to Turn Your Fussy Eater Around
- Watch Their Backs -- Don't Overload Those Schoolbags
- Tips to Helping Your Teen Get Enough Zzzzzs
- Kids' Temporary Tattoos Can Harm Skin Function
- Kids Piled on Extra Pounds During Pandemic
- Pandemic Had Many Young Athletes Reconsidering Their Sport
- As Classes Resume, Some Health Tips From the CDC
- Parents, Look Out for Mental Health Issues as College Kids Return to Class
- Get Your Kids on a School-Ready Sleep Schedule
- AHA News: Protecting Children's Mental Health as They Head Back to School
- How Your Kid's Education Could Make You Healthier
- Drowning Deaths for U.S. Kids Have Fallen 38% Since 1999
- Parent's Words Key to Young Kids' Fears Around Vaccination
- Summer Drowning Deaths Can Happen Quickly: Know the Facts
Self-Help Groups
Links
Videos
- Positive Behavior Support: Making Clear and Effective Requests
- Monitoring and Limit Setting: Clear Rules
- Bullying Prevention: Lessons from Research and Practices
- Boys & HPV Vaccine
- Accident Proofing Kids
- Teaching Kids to Get Moving
- Kids and Brain Strain
- Risks in Delaying Childhood Vaccinations
- Are Kids Getting Enough Sleep?
- Most Kid's Fevers, No Worries
- 26 more
- Guidance for Uncertain Times: Mindful Parenting
- Dipping into Swim Safety
- Sick Kids: Viral vs. Bacterial
- Focusing your Children on Fitness
- Parents Slow to Recognize Obese Children
- Monitoring and Limit Setting: Privilege Removal
- 3 Easy Tips to Get Children Active
- NAMI's Ask the Doctor Calls--Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- All in On Water Safety
- Finding Effective Mental Health Treatment for Children
- Helping Children with Divorce
- Preventing Death by Suicide-Strategies to Help Children, Youth and Families
- Vaccines: Separating Myth from Reality
- Back to School: Dr. Stephen Whiteside on Routines
- Dr. Bridget Biggs on Bullying
- Weight Control For Children: Improving Physical Activity
- How to Talk to Teens: A Developmental Approach
- 6 Top Tips for Parents
- Bipolar Mom Struggles With The Daily Routine
- Get Moving: Simple Ways to Improve Physical and Mental Health
- Stop the Chaos! Tips for Creating a Peaceful Household When Mom has ADHD
- Common Childhood Illnesses & Immunizations
- Positive Parenting & Promoting Mental Health
- Childhood Obesity & Healthy Eating
- The Long term Impacts of Bullying
- Preventing Childhood Obesity
More Information
- Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Amy J. L. Baker, Ph.D. on Parental Alienation
- Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Annie Fox on Parenting 21st Century Teens
- Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Marsha Temlock, MA on Adult Child Divorce
- Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Sarah Chana Radcliffe, M.Ed., C.Psych.Assoc. on Raising Kids without Raising Your Voice
Topics
Related Topic Centers
- Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
- Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
- Family & Relationship Issues
- Internet Addiction and Media Issues
- Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
- Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
- Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
- Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
- Childhood Special Education
- Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
- Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
- Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
Abuse
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Adoption
Autism
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
Childhood Special Education
Divorce
Family & Relationship Issues
Intellectual Disabilities
Learning Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Parenting
Self Esteem
Anxiety Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Conversion Disorders
Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
Dissociative Disorders
Domestic Violence and Rape
Eating Disorders
Impulse Control Disorders
Intellectual Disabilities
Mental Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Personality Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Schizophrenia
Sexual Disorders
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Suicide
Tourettes and other Tic Disorders