1-2-3 Magic

Mental Health Substance Use Prevention or Treatment In-home Parent Skill-Based Does Not Currently Meet Criteria

1-2-3 Magic is a parenting program designed for parents and caregivers of children ages 2–12. The 1-2-3 Magic program aims to teach parents and caregivers to effectively communicate and to set boundaries with their children while reducing arguing, yelling, and physical punishment.

 

Group leaders deliver 1-2-3 Magic to groups of parents and caregivers, focusing on three essential strategies: (1) Controlling Obnoxious Behavior, (2) Encouraging Good Behavior, and (3) Strengthening Relationships. 

 

Group leaders deliver parenting techniques and skills associated with each essential strategy. For Controlling Obnoxious Behavior, group leaders work with parents to address challenging behaviors (called “Stop Behaviors”), such as whining, arguing, fighting with siblings, or having tantrums. “Stop Behavior” techniques support parenting though neutral or non-emotional interactions with children that enable children to understand the consequences of their actions. Neutral approaches aim to allow parents to talk less and to communicate without arguing or lecturing. Group leaders seek to prepare parents for children’s initial resistance to using these techniques and explain how children may push back. For Encouraging Good Behavior, group leaders support parents to encourage children to initiate positive behaviors (called “Start Behaviors”), such as cleaning rooms, completing a night-time routine, or doing homework. “Start Behaviors,” techniques include introducing routines to children by first clearly defining the expectation and then practicing the routine, giving praise, making simple and direct requests, applying natural consequences, and tracking progress with charts. For Strengthening Relationships, group leaders aim to support parents to reinforce the bond with their children. To promote the parent-child relationship, group leaders offer relationship-building skills, including sympathetic listening and creating fun one-on-one moments that foster warmth and connection.

 

1-2-3 Magic can also be delivered to Spanish-speaking families using 1-2-3 Magia and to Christian families with 1-2-3 Parenting with a Heart, which follows the same structure and format with Christian examples. 


The Prevention Services Clearinghouse’s independent systematic review of 1-2-3 Magic found that no studies of the program achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution.

 

As of December 2025, the ACF Assistant Secretary has final approval authority over the determination of the program or service rating. For more information, please visit the FAQ on the rating determination policy.


Date Last Reviewed by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse (Handbook Version 2.0): Mar 2026

Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Mar 2026


Sources

The following sources informed the program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information: the program or service manual. 


This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0

Target Population

1-2-3 Magic is designed for parents of children ages 2–12.

Dosage

1-2-3 Magic does not specify frequency or duration requirements. The number and length of sessions needed to deliver the program content can vary by size of group or delivery setting.

Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings

Group leaders typically deliver 1-2-3 Magic in community centers, schools, hospitals, and in the home. 

Education, Certifications and Training

1-2-3 Magic group leaders are not required to have professional credentials, though the program is suited to those working with children and families in educational or mental health settings. Group leaders can complete an optional online 6-hour long developer-led training to become certified. 

Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review

1-2-3 Magic 

  • Phelan, T. W. (2016). 1-2-3 Magic: Effective discipline for children 2-12 (6th ed.). ParentMagic, Inc.
  • Phelan, T. W. (2012). 1-2-3 Magic leader guide (2nd ed.). ParentMagic, Inc. 

1-2-3 Magia 

  • Phelan, T. W. (2018). 1-2-3 Magia: Disciplina efectiva para niños de 2 a 12 (Spanish ed.). Sourcebooks. 

1-2-3 Magia is a Spanish translation of the primary manual and was not determined to have any substantial adaptations from 1-2-3 Magic. Therefore, 1-2-3 Magia was not considered to be different program or service for the purposes of the review. 

1-2-3 Parenting with Heart 

  • Phelan, T. W., & Webb, C. (2018). 1-2-3 parenting with heart: Three-step discipline for a calm and Godly household. Sourcebooks. 

1-2-3 Parenting with Heart is an adaptation for Christian families and was not determined to have any substantial adaptations from 1-2-3 Magic. Therefore, 1-2-3 Parenting with Heart was not considered to be a different program or service for the purposes of the review. 

Available languages

The 1-2-3 Magic leader guide and manual are available in English and Spanish. 

Other supporting materials

What is 1-2-3 Magic? 

Booth, E. C., & Phelan, T. W. (2004). 1-2-3 Magic: Managing difficult behavior in children 2-12 [DVD]. Glen Ellyn, IL: ParentMagic, Inc.  

Booth, E. C., & Phelan, T. W. (2004). More 1-2-3 Magic: Encouraging good behavior, independence, and self-esteem [DVD]. Glen Ellyn, IL: ParentMagic, Inc.  

Phelan, T. W., & Lee, T. M. (2017). 1-2-3 Magic for kids: Helping your kids understand the new rules. Sourcebooks.  

For More Information

Website: http://www.123magic.com/  

Phone: (630) 790-9600 

Email: pmi@pmi.digitalspacemail11.net  


Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Results of Search and Review Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for 1-2-3 Magic
Identified in Search 8
Eligible for Review 5
Rated High 0
Rated Moderate 0
Rated Low 5
Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm 0

Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from multiple studies. Studies are identified below by their Prevention Services Clearinghouse study identification numbers. To receive a rating of supported or well-supported, the favorable evidence for a program or service must have been obtained from research conducted in a usual care or practice setting.


Studies Rated Low

Study 15155

Flaherty, R., & Cooper, R. (2010). Piloting a parenting skills program in an Australian rural child protection setting. Children Australia, 35(3), 18-24. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1035077200001139

This study received a low rating because it did not meet design confound standards.
Study 15154

Chesterfield, J. A., Porzig-Drummond, R., Stevenson, R. J., & Stevenson, C. S. (2021). Evaluating a brief behavioral parenting program for parents of school-aged children with ADHD. Parenting: Science and Practice, 21(3), 216-240. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15295192.2020.1777783

This study received a low rating because it did not meet design confound standards.
Study 15590

Bailey, E. L., van der Zwan, R., Phelan, T. W., & Brooks, A. (2012). The 1-2-3 Magic program: Implementation outcomes of an Australian pilot evaluation with school-aged children. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 34(1), 53-69. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317107.2012.654455

This study received a low rating because it did not meet design confound standards.
Study 15153

Bailey, E. L., van der Zwan, R., Phelan, T. W., & Brooks, A. (2015). Keeping it going: Evidence of long-term improvements after implementation of the 1-2-3 Magic parenting program. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 37(4), 303-320. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317107.2015.1104776

This study received a low rating because it did not meet design confound standards.
Study 15157

Porzig-Drummond, R., Stevenson, R. J., & Stevenson, C. (2014). The 1-2-3 Magic parenting program and its effect on child problem behaviors and dysfunctional parenting: A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 58, 52-64. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2014.05.004

This study received a low rating because it did not meet design confound standards.


Studies Not Eligible for Review

Study 15152

Allen, S. M., Thompson, R. H., & Drapeaux, J. (1997). Successful methods for increasing and improving parent and child interactions. NHSA Research Quarterly, 58-80. https://doi.org/10.1207/s19309325nhsa0103_5

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 4.1.5)

Study 15156

Phelan, T. W. (2012). Using 1-2-3 Magic in child welfare. Programs and interventions for maltreated children and families at risk. In Rubin, A. (Ed.) Programs and interventions for maltreated children and families at risk: Clinician's guide to evidence-based practice (pp. 243-258). John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

This study is ineligible for review because it does not use an eligible study design (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 4.1.5)

Study 15159

Porzig-Drummond, R., Stevenson, R. J., & Stevenson, C. (2016). A preliminary evaluation of the 1-2-3-Magic parenting program in an Australian community services setting. Australian Social Work, 69(4), 388-402. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2015.1086010

This study is ineligible for review because it is not a study of the program or service under review (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 4.1.9)