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Introduction to Adventures in Parenting

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:

For more information


News Articles

  • Is Your Teen Unmotivated at School? That Might Change

    If your teen seems disinterested in school, new research suggests there's a good chance that things will get better over time. More...

  • Social Media, Binge Eating Often Go Together for Kids

    "Children may be more prone to overeating while distracted in front of screens. They may also be exposed to more food advertisements on television," said study author Dr. Jason Nagata. More...

  • Stressed and Distracted, Kids and Their Teachers Say Virtual Learning Isn't Working

    Meltdowns are familiar to any parent of young children, but when they occur during a school day -- with other young siblings trying to learn through a screen and two parents working remotely -- chaos ensues. More...

  • When Kids Misbehave, 'Verbal Reasoning' Can Sometimes Backfire

    Most parents know that child behavior experts recommend against spanking, but new research suggests that so-called "positive" discipline methods don't always work either. More...

  • Anchor It! Toppling TVs, Furniture Can Injure and Kill Kids

    Experts are warning that unsecured televisions, bedroom dressers and other heavy furniture can crush, maim and even kill curious children, and the issue may only worsen during stay-at-home lockdowns. More...

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    • There’s ‘A Path Forward’ to Reopening Schools, CDC Officials Say

      New studies suggest a return to in-person classes could be warranted, according to officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More...

    • Tips for Parents of Kids With Diabetes

      Kids with diabetes can lead full, fun lives, but they have special needs. Here's what parents should know. More...

    • Toddler Tantrums? Pediatricians Offer Tips to Curb Bad Behavior

      Toddler behavior won't always be good. Outbursts are normal. Yet, you can also use those aggravating moments to help shape your little one's behavior, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). More...

    • Many Parents Support 'Teens Helping Teens' Mental Health Programs at Schools: Poll

      It may take a village to support teens' mental health, whether it's during the pandemic or later. One option is having school-based mental health programs that offer peer support leaders. More...

    • How Divorce Harms Kids, and How to Lessen That Harm

      Kids who see their parents bicker during a separation or divorce are more likely to develop a fear of abandonment, new research warns. More...

    • New Year, New Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe and Healthy

      A new year can be a fresh start for you and your kids -- and perhaps no year has needed a fresh start more than this one. So, a leading doctors' group is offering parents tips for a healthy "reset" in 2021. More...

    • Parents Feel the Strain as Pandemic Adds New Role: Teacher

      Many parents were forced to become "proxy educators" for their children without adequate training as schools transitioned to distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More...

    • Involved Dads Make a Difference for Disadvantaged Teens

      Dads matter: New research shows how attentive, involved fathers can really boost the mental well-being and behavior of teens from low-income families. More...

    • Poll Charts U.S. Parents' Biggest Worries During Pandemic

      A new national poll found that parents' top concerns for their children include overuse of social media and screen time, internet safety, depression, suicide, unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity. Overall, they ranked COVID-19 as number 10 on their list of worries. More...

    • Parents, Don't Worry if Baby's Sleep Is Erratic

      New parents can relax: Research suggests it's normal for infants' sleep patterns to vary widely. More...

    • How to Keep Kids Resilient in a Strange Holiday Season

      A hospital survey found that two-thirds of parents worry that the effects on their children's mental health will be more challenging the longer the COVID-19 pandemic goes on. More...

    • AHA News: The Heart Health Risks of Being a Single Parent

      "This is a group of people who are kind of carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, right?" said Dr. Natalie Stokes, a cardiology fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "You're taking care of kids. You're trying to provide for your family." More...

    • Poll: 1 in 3 Parents Pick Holiday Gathering Over COVID Safety

      In a new nationwide poll of 1,443 parents, about one in three said the benefits of gathering with families for the holidays outweighed the risk of spreading the virus. More...

    • Does Parents' Nagging Kids About Screen Time Even Matter?

      Parents' constant refrain, telling their teens to turn off the TV, stop playing video games or put down the cellphone, may not be necessary. More...

    • Too Many Kids Still Get Antipsychotics They Don't Need

      Doctors are continuing to prescribe the drugs "off-label" for kids with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression and conduct disorders, the research found. More...

    • Is the Pandemic Harming Kids' Mental Health?

      The findings suggest the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on children because of disruptions to their everyday life, anxiety about illness and social isolation. More...

    • Kids With Food Allergies Can Become Targets for Bullies

      As if having food allergies isn't hard enough on a child, new research shows that almost 1 in 5 of these kids are bullied. More...

    • Almost 1 in 5 Parents Are 'Vaccine Hesitant,' Study Finds

      Nearly one in five American parents described themselves as "hesitant about childhood shots" in 2019, a new U.S. government study finds. More...

    • Are Healthy Kids Getting Too Many Heart Tests?

      The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is advising parents and pediatricians to avoid unnecessary tests, and has released a list of common medical practices and therapies that may not be needed for young patients. More...

    • Lockdowns Can Widen Kids' Waistlines – Here's How to Curb That

      Stuck at home, bored. Fiddling with their phone or playing video games. Munching on snack foods to while away the time. More...

    • Social Media 'Kid Influencers' Are Promoting Junk Foods

      In a new study, researchers viewed the top 50 kid influencer videos on YouTube and found that 9 out of 10 featured unhealthy foods. Nearly 1 in 3 promoted a fast-food chain. More...

    • It's Tough to Change the Minds of 'Vaccine-Hesitant' Parents, Study Finds

      When parents have concerns about the safety of childhood vaccinations, it can be tough to change their minds, as a new study shows. More...

    • Your Guide to a Safe and Happy Halloween

      The truly scary thing about Halloween this year is that it's occurring during a pandemic, but there are safe ways to celebrate, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says. More...

    • Plan Ahead to Keep Halloween Safe for Kids With Asthma, Allergies

      his Halloween may be especially challenging for parents of children with asthma and allergies, as they also have to guard against COVID-19. More...

    • Parents Often in the Dark When Kids Take Up Vaping

      Parents are often clueless when their kids start smoking e-cigarettes, a new study finds. More...

    • FDA Warns of Danger From 'Benadryl Challenge,' Asks TikTok to Remove Videos

      Parents and other caregivers need to be more aware of the potentially lethal "Benadryl Challenge" circulating on social media, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday. More...

    • Holidays Can Be a Fright for Kids With Food Allergies

      Parents of kids with food allergies probably won't be surprised to hear that Halloween is an especially risky time for their youngsters. More...

    • How to Help Ensure Your Students Get Enough Sleep

      Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. parents say their children don't get enough sleep on school nights, an American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) survey finds. More...

    • More Than 1 in 3 U.S. Pediatricians Dismiss Vaccine-Refusing Families

      Parents who choose to forgo or delay their children's vaccinations may quickly find themselves without a pediatrician. More...

    • Are At-Home 'Learning Pods' the Right Fit for Your Family?

      For many families, the 2020 back-to-school season is anything but normal. While school officials throughout the country have worked to figure out how to safely educate students during the pandemic, parents have been coming up with their own plans. More...

    • TikTok 'Benadryl Challenge' Has Killed at Least One Teen

      A new internet dare, broadcast widely on teen-friendly TikTok, urges kids to overdose on the over-the-counter antihistamine Benadryl. But the "Benadryl Challenge" has already killed one teen and sent others to the ER, experts warn. More...

    • AHA News: Healthy Food for At-Home Students Starts With This

      Alexis Wood, assistant professor of pediatrics-nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, agreed. "Parental stress and guilt is not going to help anything," she said. "It's going to make it worse, if anything." More...

    • AHA News: How to Keep Kids Active While Learning From Home – and Why That's Vital

      When schools close to protect families from the coronavirus, the main worry for many parents might be the lost learning. But for students who end up staying indoors and staring at phones and monitors most of the day, there could be health costs, too. More...

    • Cyberbullying Could Rise During Lockdown, But Parents Can Stop It

      Cyberbullying is less common among teens who feel loved and supported by their parents, new research shows. More...

    • AHA News: As the Coronavirus Upends Schools, Experts Say Don't Forget the Arts

      For some parents and schools, education amid a pandemic will mean a focus on reading, writing and arithmetic. But brain experts say don't forget the singing, dancing and painting. More...

    • How to Keep Your Kids Trim Through Quarantine

      A lot of kids have been pushing up the scale numbers while home during the pandemic -- and parents need to take steps to prevent the dreaded "quarantine 15," an expert says. More...

    • Help Your Child Cope With Back-to-School Jitters

      Back-to-school season can be a time of stress for many kids -- even in the best of times. But pandemic fears add to the anxiety many kids will experience with the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, according to David FitzGerald, a child and adolescent psychologist at UConn Health in Farmington, Conn. More...

    • As Pandemic School Year Starts, Survey Shows Most Parents Are Overwhelmed

      As the school year begins across America under the shadow of COVID-19, a new survey shows most parents are feeling overwhelmed and abandoned. More...

    • Help Your Kids Navigate School Amid a Pandemic

      This school year comes with special challenges for kids as the United States grapples with a coronavirus pandemic, but experts say parents can help their children navigate the tough emotional terrain. More...

    • 2 in 3 Parents Nervous About Childhood Vaccines During Pandemic: Survey

      With coronavirus cases climbing in the United States, many parents are wary of taking their kids in for vaccinations, new research finds. More...

    • Spanking on the Decline in American Homes

      About one in three parents said they spanked their kids in 2017 compared to 50% in 1993, new research shows. More...

    • Parents: Sharpen up on Your Sunscreen Knowledge

      Most American parents know that sunscreen is important for their children, but there are gaps in their knowledge of its proper use, a new survey finds. More...

    • Stalking, Harassment of Partners Common Among Teens

      Nearly half of U.S. teens have been stalked or harassed by a partner or done the deed themselves, a new study finds. More...

    • When Teens Feel Loved, Conflicts With Parents Are Easier to Manage: Study

      Parents can ease conflict with their teens by showing them warmth, researchers say. More...

    • How the Pandemic Is Changing Summer Camp

      If your children are going to summer school or camps this year, you may need to prepare them for safety precautions that will be in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, an expert says. More...

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