Get to Know Bright Futures Guidelines and Core Tools

Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 4th Edition, provides detailed information on well-child care for health care professionals. The care described in the Bright Futures Guidelines—health promotion and anticipatory guidance, disease prevention, and early detection of disease—contributes to positive health outcomes. These outcomes reflect physical and emotional well-being and optimal functioning at home, in school, and in the community. They include the following:

• ​Having a loving, responsible family/caregivers that is supported by a safe community​
• Accomplishing the developmental task of childhood and adolescence related to social connections, competence, autonomy, empathy, and coping skills​​
• Attaining a healthy weight and body mass index and normal blood pressure, vision, and hearing
• Pursuing healthy behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, safety, sexuality, and substance use
• For children with special health care needs or chronic health problems, achieving self-management skills and the freedom from real or perceived barriers to reaching their potential

Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit Presentation

This narrated presentation​ provides a detailed overview of the Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit, and how these resources can be incorporated into your daily practice.

Use the Bright Futures/AAP Periodicity Schedule and the Bright Futures Pocket Guide as Your Go-To Practice Reference Tools

The Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care ​(also known as the Bright Futures/AAP Periodicity Schedule) presents, in chart form, the screenings, assessments, physical examinations, procedures, and timing of anticipatory guidance recommended for each age-related visit in the Bright Futures Guidelines.

Share the Pocket Guide With Others in Your Practice

The Bright Futures Pocket Guide ​is a 7- by 4-inch booklet that summarizes each visit's developmental observation, physical examination, medical screening, immunization, and anticipatory guidance. Keep it in your pocket for a handy reference during visits.

Use the Bright Futures Core Tools During Each Visit

The Core Tools are three key documents from the Bright Futures Tool and Resource Kit, 2nd Edition that will guide you and your patients through each visit.​

The Core Tools include the following:

• Previsit Questionnaires
• Visit Documentation Forms
• Parent/Patient Education Handouts