RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
With hundreds of “expert sources” offering free advice on child psychology and children’s health, it can be difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff. Here are some of the more reliable resources for parents seeking facts and hacks.
I would like to share with you our resource, When Does Discipline Become Abuse?, in hopes of it being a valuable addition to your site and shed some light on the grey areas of disciplinary actions on children.
We are very passionate about helping families who are struggling with substance abuse by providing proper information on the potential risks of abusing drugs and/or alcohol and the many ways it can affect family members.
The AAP is a membership organization founded in 1930 to promote “optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.” It has sixty-six North American chapters of healthcare professionals, and has published over 800 books for physicians and laypeople. The website prominently features a selection of health-news and health-tips posts.
The “Nation’s Voice for Children” focuses primarily on stopping child abuse and neglect, but also offers resources for “ordinary” families. Check the website and books for advice on disciplining, teaching healthy assertiveness, dealing with bullying, and spotting signs of trouble in your child’s relationship with a caretaker or other adult. It also has resources for parents considering fostering or adoption.
Despite the controversies generated by FotF’s conservative stand on social issues, the Parenting section of their website is worth checking out, especially for ideas on building family ties and teaching responsibility. Parents of difficult children will also find tips on firm-but-kind discipline.
Pregnant mothers (and their husbands/partners) and parents of disabled children can get advice and insights from MoD, the premier advocate organization for the prevention of birth defects.
MoneyGeek, one of the fastest-growing personal finance sites, has published two great resources to help kids (and adults!) learn about compound interest, one of the cornerstones of personal finance.
Use the search engine of this vast article library to find topics and subtopics (from ADHD to discipline to violence in schools) related to children’s mental–emotional well-being. Example article: “How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children,” which presents tips for preventing codependency and helping children grow into self-confident adults. You can also find quizzes to evaluate everything from your natural parenting style to your child’s back-to-school readiness (there’s a whole menu page of quizzes related to specific mental illnesses).
With most schools going virtual for the foreseeable future, families are looking for ways to keep their children educationally engaged.
Our experts provide ideas for educational games and lessons to help children of all ages begin exploring the benchmarks of financial literacy such as earning, saving, and investing to help them develop valuable problem-solving skills.
A Department of Health and Human Services website dedicated to dealing with the bullying problem and what parents (and other adults) as well as children can do to stop it. Includes a Resources page and a page dedicated to the cyberbullying trend.
This government website features a podcast series on “advice for enhancing services to protect children and families.” Other resources found here: a directory of state resources on all aspects of child welfare; a directory of parent advocacy groups that emphasize healthy family life; and an electronic resource library of child-welfare research.
Maryville University Online wants to help educators and social workers continue to understand what child abuse is, how it's defined federally and state by state, and how to recognize signs of an abused child. The guide goes through each of those points, as well as defining specific types of abuse and maltreatment, and lists some steps to help protect children.
The “Y” is America’s classic go-to organization for summer sports programs, but many people don’t fully appreciate what it offers in educational opportunities, health and safety information, and emphasis on positive values. Area chapters have their own websites with news and calendars of events.
With 14 pages for kids to fill in and color on, the guide also includes:
- A calculator that illustrates the magic of compound interest for a child’s understanding
- Budgeting worksheets to calculate how much to save and set savings goals
- A quiz to test their learning with a certificate of completion at the end
Cerebral Palsy Guide is a national support organization dedicated to educating individuals and families about cerebral palsy. We strive to provide answers and guidance to ensure that families receive the assistance that they need to help improve their overall quality of life.
Our guide was created to help teens become comfortable with financial topics, such as investing in stocks and low-cost funds as they prepare for financial independence.
