Parents > Web resources for parents

Web Resources for Parents

Moneywise parenting
School & education
Local resources
Health & safety
Media & entertainment

Babies & toddlers
School-aged children
Adolescents
Parent power

Moneywise parenting

Around the Sun: http://aroundthesunblog.com/

Blog "about saving money in Portland, Oregon … and beyond." Includes free events listings.
Frugal Dad: http://frugaldad.com/

Blog addressing financial resources for families.
The Imagination Factory: http://www.kid-at-art.com/

Click on the "Trash Matcher" to find out how to turn your trash into art!
Indoor Swimming Pools: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?ShowResults=yes&AmenityTypeID=43

A map of all of the Portland Parks & Recreation indoor pools.
Locate Food Resources Near You: http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/ofb_services/statewide_services/

Find emergency food resources in any county in Oregon.
Oregon Helps!: http://oregonhelps.org/

Find out if your family can get assistance from 28 different organizations. In English, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese.
Portland Parks & Recreation: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=38277

Many Portland area parks offer free or low-cost activities and classes for children and families.
Rainy Day Ideas: http://www.essortment.com/all/rainydayidea_rhtw.htm

Fun, easy activities you can do with supplies you already have in the house.
Stretching Your Food Dollars: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fcd/nutrition/ewfl/module_03/

Tips for eating well while spending less money.
UrbanMamas Calendar: http://urbanmamas.typepad.com/calendar/

Calendar of family-friendly (and often free-of-charge) events in and around Portland.

School & education

Families and Schools: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/familyworks/school-00.html

Communicate effectively with your child's teacher.
Homeschooling: http://multcolib.org/homesch/

Multnomah County Library's homeschooling resources page.
Individualized Education Programs: http://www.kidstogether.org/IEP.htm

Information to help you advocate for your child in IEP meetings.
LD OnLine: http://www.ldonline.org/

"LD OnLine seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD."
Parents Guide to Going to School: http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/

"Help your child start school right. Get the scoop on saying goodbye, what kids really learn, and how to talk about their day."
Portland Public Schools Information and Resources for Families: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/families/index.htm

Look up everything from kindergarten enrollment to graduation requirements, and access your child's student information.
Stop Bullying Now!: http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/

Prevent bullying in your child's life.
Using the Internet for School Reports: http://www.bpl.org/kids/Evaluate.htm

A guide to help you and your child accurately and critically use the Internet to do research for homework assignments.
Waste-Free Lunches: http://www.wastefreelunches.org/parents.html

Tips for putting together yummy school lunches with little waste (and little work!).

Local resources

Child Care Resource and Referral of Multnomah County: http://www.ccrr-mc.org/

Local non-profit that provides a link between families seeking quality child care and child care providers.
Metro Parent: http://www.metro-parent.com/index.php

Local parenting magazine. Includes a directory of activities for families.
Outdoor Dads: http://www.outdoordads.org/index.htm

Go on child-friendly hikes with other Portland families.
Portland Metro Area Preschool & Childcare Directory: http://www.readysetmom.com/childcare/

Search by location or service for preschools and childcare providers.
Traveling on TriMet With Kids: http://trimet.org/howtoride/kids.htm

Tips for families riding mass transit.
urbanMamas: http://urbanmamas.typepad.com/urbanmamas/

Portland parents share ideas, advice and camaraderie.

Health and safety

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Facts for Families: http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Facts+for+Families&name=Facts+for+Families+-+Keyword+%28Alphabetical%29

Information on issues that affect the mental health of children, teenagers and their families, from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Children's Disabilities Information: http://www.childrensdisabilities.info/

Information and resources for parents of children with disabilities and special needs.
The Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys: http://www.healthytoys.org/

Chemical test results for over 1,000 toys and children's products.
EnviroMom: http://www.enviromom.com/

Forum for environmentally-conscious Portland parents.
KidsHealth: http://kidshealth.org/

Health information and support separated into three sites: one for parents, one for kids and one for teenagers.
National Dissemination Center for Children With Disabilities: http://www.nichcy.org/Pages/Home.aspx

A wealth of information to help children with disabilities.
Protecting Oregonians from Pollution: http://www.oeconline.org/our-work/kidshealth

"The Oregon Environmental Council works to protect kids' health from toxic pollution by helping parents and caregivers secure and act on the information they need to reduce children's exposure to toxic chemicals."
Safe Kids Worldwide: http://www.usa.safekids.org/

Dedicated to the prevention of accidental childhood injury. Includes safety tips, product recalls updates, and state and federal safety regulations.

Media & entertainment

Family guide to the Internet: http://www.multcolib.org/kids/familyguide.html

Multnomah County Library's guide to Internet safety, kid-friendly chat rooms and e-mail pals, and helpful search engines.
MediaWise: http://www.mediafamily.org/

Designed to help parents and families make informed decisions about mass media. Included are tips, fun activities, reviews and current research about the positive and harmful effects of television, movies, video games, etc.
Parent Previews: http://www.parentpreviews.com/

Movie reviews for parents. Each review gives a grade for instances of violence, sexual content, language and drugs/alcohol; discussion starters are also suggested.

Babies & toddlers

Birth to six: http://www.multcolib.org/birthtosix/

Brain development and early literacy advice from Multnomah County Library.
Born Learning: http://www.bornlearning.org/default.aspx?id=33

Turn everyday moments with your child into fun learning opportunities.
Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2009: http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

Car seat recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Zero To Three: http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=par_parents

Straightforward articles about encouraging the development of babies and toddlers.

School-aged children

Dealing With Conflict and Tragedy: http://www.multcolib.org/kids/tragedy.html

Multnomah County Library's list of resources to help parents, caregivers and children cope with tragedy and violence.
Ready for Kindergarten?: http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=701

Kindergarten teachers help you evaluate whether your child is ready for school.
Talking to 'Tweens: http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,1-588,00.html

An article about communicating with your middle-schooler, by Harvard Medical School psychologist and child development expert Dr. Lawrence Kutner.

Adolescents

College Goal Oregon: http://www.collegegoaloregon.org/

Find a site near you where you can get free help applying for money for college.
Teen Workers: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/parents.html

Support and protect your working teenager.

Parent power

Dad Stays Home: http://www.dadstayshome.com/

Forum for stay-at-home fathers to share stories and advice.
Girl-Mom Forums: http://www.girl-mom.com/forum

Online community for young mothers.
Guide to College for Mothers: http://katherinearnoldi.com/collegeguide1.html

Information on applying for schools; finding financial aid, child care and housing; and knowing your legal rights.
Literary Mama: http://www.literarymama.com/

Literary magazine showcasing writing about motherhood.
Mamaphonic: http://www.mamaphonic.com/

Designed by and for artists who are also mothers. Includes original writing, advice, and discussion forums.
National Stepfamily Resource Center: http://www.stepfamilies.info/

Information and resources for blended families.
Proud Parenting: http://www.proudparenting.com/

Information and networking for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents and their families worldwide.
SingleFather.org: http://www.singlefather.org/

A forum for custodial and non-custodial single fathers.
Young Mommies Help Site: http://www.youngmommies.com/

Information and support for young mothers.