Parents & Parenting

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Thrall Services

Children's News & Events at Thrall: Children's story time, crafts, games, movies, and more!
Youth Services (our Children's Department): About our Department, services, collections, and more.
Children's Catalog: Find books, videos, and more at Thrall / RCLS libraries. Includes awarded book lists.
Young Adult Catalog: Includes awarded book listsfor teens.
Developmental Disability Materials: ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, and other special needs materials.

Websites for Parents & Guardians...

Cyberbullying & Online Safety Resources
Education
Health, Wellness, & Safety
News & Reviews
Parenting Resources - General
Relative / Kinship Caregivers

Cyberbullying & Online Safety Resources

Awareness Publications from Thrall

Family interest topics, such as the Internet, social networking, and critical thinking.

Be Internet Awesome

Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence." Includes a game (Interland), an app (Family Link), poster, as well as information of interest to parents, guardians, and educators. From Google, Family Online Safety Institute, and ConnectSafely.

Bullying Prevention: Resources for Families and Educators

From National Association of School Psychologists.

Computer Security & Privacy Resources

Multiple resources.

Cyberbullying

From the National Crime Prevention Council.

Cyberbullying FAQ for Teens
What is Cyberbullying: Definitions and effects of cyberbullying.
What Parents Can Do About Cyberbullying: Includes what kids need to know and what parents can do.

FCC Parents Place

A website to "help parents deal with, decipher, and monitor the communications that their children can access." Topics include: Children's TV Rules, TV Programming, TV Ratings, TV Channel Blocking, Limiting TV Commercials, Obscenity/Indecency, Telephone - 900 Numbers, Internet - Children's Access, Emergency - Amber Plan, and Media and Childhood Obesity. Provided by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Get Involved At Home

Topics from StaySafeOnline.org include: Raising Digital Citizens; Cyberbullying; Gaming; and Privacy Tips. From National Cyber Security Alliance.

GirlsHealth.gov: Bullying

This section of GirlsHealth.gov gives the low-down on bullying among girls, which is more common than you might think.

Internet Safety Library

Articles for parents, children, and teens. From Common Sense Media.

Just for You: Parents

From the Federal Trade Commission.

National Bullying Prevention Center

Founded in 2006, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center unites, engages and educates communities nationwide to address bullying through creative, relevant and interactive resources. PACER's bullying prevention resources are designed to benefit all students, including students with disabilities.

NetSmartz

Parenting wired kids can be difficult, especially if you didn't grow up with the same technologies. These resources can help." Topics include: blogging, cell phones, chat rooms, cyberbullying, e-mail, file sharing, gaming (video games), identity theft, inappropriate content, Internet safety, social networking, webcams, and more. From the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety

This guide was prepared from actual investigations involving child victims, as well as investigations where law enforcement officers posed as children." From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Protecting Kids Online

Kids have lots of opportunities for socializing online, but they come with certain risks. Parents can help reduce these risks by talking to kids about making safe, responsible decisions." Topics include: Cyberbullying, Kids and Mobile Phones, Privacy, Texting, Virtual Worlds, and more. From the U.S. Government.

StopBullying.gov

Information for on cyberbullying and children. From the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in partnership with the Department of Education and Department of Justice.

See also:

Education

Colleges & Universities: Planning for college, survival guides, and more.
Every Student Present: Tips to help your student succeed. From the New York State Department of Education.
Federal Student Aid: Resources for Parents: Are you a parent who's looking ahead to your child's college years? Or just about to face the first tuition bill? Here are some resources to help parents save for college, learn about financial aid, and understand the application process." Topics include: Checklists for Academic and Financial Preparation, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), Loans, Understanding College Costs, Tax Benefits, and more.
Keeping Kids Curious: Articles on topics such as Applying Lessons to Your Child's Favorite Sport; STEM Lessons in the Kitchen; Help Your Child Excel in Middle School; Using Books to Raise an Active Reader and many more. From the National Education Association.
Literacy Central: Parent Resources: Topics include: Helping Children to Read; Reading Activities; RIF Literacy Activities; Activity Calendars and more. Also click on the "Resources" tab at the top of the page. From Reading Is Fundamental.
Local Schools: School districts, colleges, and more.
New York State Education Department: Parents and Students Resources: Public and Non-Public Schools in New York, Special Education, Home Instruction (homeschooling), and more. From NYSED.
New York State PTA: Parent Resources: You will find resources on numerous topics for parents pertaining to parent involvement, engaging educators, and helping students." Including each level of education, diversity and inclusion, LGBTQ families, military familes and more. From New York State PTA.
Parents' Guide to Student Success: The Parents' Guide to Student Success (in English and Spanish) was developed in response to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics that more than 40 states have adopted. Created by teachers, parents, education experts, and others from across the country, the standards provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career." From the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).
Scholastic for Parents: Use their drop-down menus to browse topics including: Books and Reading, Child Development, School Help, Activities, and News and Blogs.
U.S. Department of Education: Resources for Parents: Sections / topics include: College for My Child, Federal Student Aid, Find Schools & After-Care, Help My Child Read, My Child's Academic Success, My Child's Special Needs, Parent Power, Prepare My Child for School, Tool Kit for Hispanic Families.

Health & Wellness

American Psychological Association: Parenting

Topics include: What You Can Do (exercise, nutrition, communication), News (featured articles from various news sources), and select parenting articles from APA's Monitor on Psychology publication.

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Child Welfare Information Gateway connects child welfare and related professionals to comprehensive information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. We feature the latest on topics from prevention to permanency, including child abuse and neglect, foster care, and adoption.

Cybersafety Resources

Internet, World Wide Web, social networking, and other topics. Tips for parents, guardians, and families.

Healthy Families New York

Healthy Families New York (HFNY), a Healthy Families America (HFA) accredited home visiting program, seeks to improve the health and well-being of infants and children through home-based services delivered by non-profit organizations in local communities.

MedlinePlus: Parenting

Articles, news, and other information for parents and guardians. From the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

The Office of Child Care (OCC)

The Office of Child Care (OCC) supports low-income working families by providing access to affordable, high-quality early care and afterschool programs. OCC administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and works with state, territory and tribal governments to provide support for children and their families juggling work schedules and struggling to find child care programs that will fit their needs and that will prepare children to succeed in school." From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families.

Orange County Department of Mental Health: Division of Children and Family Services

Includes information on Orange County System of Care.

Preventing Childhood Obesity: Tips for Parents

From the New York State Department of Health.

Psychology Today: Parenting

News and articles on "how today's research relates to your family.

SaferCar.gov: Keeping Kids Safe

Advice to parents/guardians "from car seats to car keys." From the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Toys - Considerations & Advisories for Parents:

Choosing Safe Toys: From Kids Health.
Parents' Choice Award Winners: Toys
Safety Standards: Links to domestic and international safety standards. From the Toy Industry Association Inc.

Young Men's Health

Youngmenshealthsite.org (YMH) is a website developed by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital. The purpose of the website is to provide carefully researched health information to teenage boys and young men." Covers General Health; Sexual Health; Medical Conditions; Nutrition & Fitness; and Emotional Health. From Boston Children's Hospital.

Please also check out our Health and Wellness Guide for more topics.

News & Reviews

Admongo: Parents: Every day, your child is exposed to advertising - not just on TV and online, but on buses, buildings, and even inside their classrooms. Many ads target kids ages 8 to 12. Given what kids see and hear around them, it's important for them to know how to decode and understand ads." From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Advisories & News for Parents & Guardians: Parental advisory updates, product and toy recalls, entertainment (music, movie, television, video game) reviews, and more.
Children's Book Reviews: From various sources listed in Thrall's Booklovers guide.
Common Sense Media: Movies, video games, television, books, websites and other reviews and advisories for parents and guardians.
The New York Times: Parenting News: Scroll down their page for the latest stories. See also the NYT's Motherlode: Adventures in Parenting blog.

Please also visit our Current Interests Center for more news topics.

Parenting Resources - General

Cybersafety Resources

Internet, World Wide Web, social networking, and other topics. Tips for parents, guardians, and families.

The Entertainment and Software Board

An explanation of the ratings and symbols on computer and video games is given. You will find a "ESRB Rating Search Widget" that can be downloaded to your computer.

Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB)

FYSB supports the organizations and communities that work every day to put an end to youth homelessness, adolescent pregnancy and domestic violence." From the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Family Guide to Prime Time Television

Reviews of television shows and series. Browse TV programs by date. Click on a title for the review. From Parents Television Council. Also check out their Parent Toolkit.

Intercountry Adoption

The Office of Children's Issues (CI), part of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. In our work, we are dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad." From U.S. Department of State.

International Parental Child Abduction

From the U.S. Department of State.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse is an Office of Family Assistance (OFA) funded national resource for fathers, practitioners, programs/Federal grantees, states, and the public at-large who are serving or interested in supporting strong fathers and families." Includes DadTalk (a blog), tips for fathers, Dad Stats (fatherhood statistics), stories, and a Pledge for fathers to take. Also available in Spanish/espanol.

New York State Kinship Navigator

Includes information on financial assistance, legal rights and kinship law, respite, and support. Toll free number 877-454-6463.

Parent Education and Awareness Program

The New York State Parent Education and Awareness Program is designed to educate divorcing or separating parents about the impact of their breakup on their children.

Parent to Parent of New York State

Parent to Parent of New York State builds a supportive network of families to reduce isolation and empower those who care for people with developmental disabilities or special healthcare needs to navigate and influence service systems and make informed decisions.

Parenting: Healthy Communication and Relationships

Topics include: Talk to Your Kids about Sex; Talk to Your Kids about Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs; Talk with Your Teen about Healthy Relationships; Prevent Bullying: Quick Tips for Parents; and Get Your Teen Screened for Depression. From the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. From Heathfinder.gov.

Parents' Guide to Gangs

PDF format. Also available in Spanish/español. From the U.S. Department of Justice / National Gang Center.

Parents' Guide to Video Game Ratings

From PBS.

PBS Parents

Includes information about your child's development from birth through the early school years. Including activities, programming information and parents guides on topics such as the media, creativity, math , school, raising boys and more.

Printables

Print coloring pages, games, holiday activities, skill-building worksheets, and more!" Search by age and category. Topics include Skill-Builders; Holidays; Art and Music; Coloring Pages; Forms and Charts; Puzzles and Games; and more. From FamilyEducation.com.

Tax Information for Parents

From IRS.

Youth Topics

Through the Youth Topics series, the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs provides information, strategies, tools, and resources for youth, families, schools and community organizations related to a variety of cross-cutting topics that affect youth. Read what experts are saying about these topics. Learn how the federal government is promoting collaboration at all levels to promote positive outcomes for youth. Get ideas for your neighborhood, community, or state." From the U.S. Government (a collaboration of various agencies).

Expectant and Parenting Young Families: Resources: Topics include : Health Care and Health Education; Education and Employment; Healthy Relationships and Co-Parenting; Special Populations; and Federal Efforts. From Youth.gov.