marchofdimes.com

The March of Dimes is a well-known and established organization devoted to education and advocacy for healthy newborns.  The March of Dimes is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing premature birth, birth defects, and infant mortality.

Their website contains a great deal of information from which parents can benefit.  Users can review all the information or jump straight to a local chapter by entering their ZIP code in the search bar on the homepage.

The site’s homepage is packed with information for parents, including a Calling All Moms blog where parents can share and learn parenting tips, a Prematurity Campaign section that details what the March of Dimes is doing to assure healthy, full-term pregnancies, a place to Share a Story of your newborn, and a Shop to Help section where users can shop for clothing and other items to show support for the March of Dimes’ programs.

Special Features includes answers to questions about folic acid intake during pregnancy, daily pregnancy tips, what to expect during newborn development, ovulation and pregnancy calendars, and more.

There is a section on Pregnancy and Newborn loss with information about the grieving process and how it affects parents and families, a section that contains articles related to birth defects and genetic disorders, and newborn screening tests.

Fathers will appreciate the Just for Dad section that includes information on how fathers can help with breastfeeding, what to expect when baby comes home, and Dad’s first year.

The Professionals and Researchers section has medical reference fact sheets, a perinatal data resource section, and a product catalogue of March of Dimes resources.

The Ask us Now! Section provides answers to questions about pregnancy diet restrictions, preterm labor, and other common questions about a healthy pregnancy.  Readers can also sign up for a newsletter with news, stories, articles for parents, and more.

The How You Can Help section of the website makes it easy to donate to the March of Dimes and support their advocacy campaigns, or volunteer to help make a difference in the lives of newborns.

Finally, the News Desk section provides up-to-date articles and items in the news that are related to causes the March of Dimes champions.

scoliosisrehab.com

Scoliosis is a condition that doesn’t get a lot of press, but if you are affected by it, you likely want to find out as much as you can about possible treatments.  Scoliosis Rehab, Inc. is an excellent resource.

Scoliosis Rehab, Inc., was founded by two mothers of adolescents with scoliosis:  Beth Janssen, with 20 years of experience as a practicing Physical Therapist, and Rhonda Campo, who has 20 years of experience in the healthcare and biotech arenas.  Beth was a Certified Schroth Therapist, who found the Schroth method a way to improve a child’s ability to accept and manage scoliosis.  Because the Schroth method worked so well to help their children improve their vital capacity, the wanted to make the method available in the US.

The Schroth Method is multidisciplinary and involves a physician referral, an evaluation, and an exercise regime directed by a physical therapist trained in the method.

Scoliosis Rehab’s website is designed to inform patients about the method and about treatment available for adults and adolescents.  Learn about training, evaluation, treatment, and goals under the Our Program tab.  The History section provides background about Janssen and Campo and the Schroth method, as well as links to other source material.

There is a FAQ section that answers general questions about scoliosis and about treatments, as well as a references section that allows to reader to find more in-depth information about these topics.

Check out the Services section for information about Scoliosis Rehab, their on-site Pilates studio, and the Klasinski Clinic, located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Readers will find an extensive list of related literature in the Resource section and a simple form to fill out under the Contact Us tab that will allow Scoliosis Rehab to contact them by phone or email.

The Testimonials page is extensive and contains first-hand accounts from adults and adolescents who have benefitted from Scoliosis Rehab’s services.  The site also provides a useful Travel Links section with maps and lodging information for out-of-state clients.

sagepub.com

SAGE Publications is, as their website states, “the academic and professional publisher of choice.”  An independent, international publisher, SAGE publishes books, journals, and electronic media.  A world leader in scholarly, professional, and educational markets, SAGE makes available a wide variety of materials in an easy-to-access format.

SAGE Publications’ products include journals in print and varied electronic formats, reference and academic books, teaching texts for college courses, and professional books that reflect practical approaches to new challenges.

SAGE’s website allows users to browse by type of publication (text books, journals, online journals, reference books, and data bases), subject, or course.  Users will find quick reference to a variety of subjects, including women’s studies, counseling, criminology and criminal justice, psychology, business, African-American studies, dyslexia, family studies, and gerontology.  For nearly any field of study, SAGE has reference material that is easy to search and easy to order.

Users can order a copy of a print catalogue as well, or request complimentary review titles for the upcoming academic year in a wide range of subjects.

Authors of primary research articles for biomedical journals can make their work freely available on a large number of biomedical journals through SAGE journals online on a fee per article basis.

The site’s librarian site section offers a wealth of information for maximizing use of SAGE’s services, and SAGE collaborates with a number of society and associations, large and small, to bring to users a vast variety of published material across the curriculum.

SAGE offers an easy-to-use site search feature as well as secure online ordering, so users can feel safe about purchasing materials from the site.  Faculty can request a complimentary review copy of materials, and SAGE offers a 60 day examination period for many texts as well.

Users can also sign up for journal alerts, product alerts, and a librarians’ newsletter, all available by email.

safekids.org

usa.safekids.org

Accidental childhood injury is a leading killer of children aged 14 and younger.  Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations who have come together to prevent accidental childhood injury.

Over 450 coalitions in 16 countries participate in Safe Kids, bringing together health and safety experts, foundations, corporations, educators, governments, and volunteers whose mission is to educate and protect families.  Founded in 1987 by Children's National Medical Center with support from Johnson & Johnson, Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization that is located in Washington, D.C.

Safe Kids Worldwide members work to empower local communities by building grassroots coalitions designed to prevent accidental injuries, to increase national awareness of accidental injuries, to encourage sound research on risks and solutions, pass and improve child safety regulations and laws, and to provide devices such as child safety seats, helmets, and smoke detectors to families in need of these items.

Safe Kids website is a terrific resource for parents.  Perhaps the most useful feature for quick reference on a number of common safety issues is the “Safety Tips” section of the website.  There, users will find safety tips regarding Airway Obstructions, Bikes, Cars, Falls  Fire and Burns, Pedestrians, Poison , and Water and Drowning

The sites “News and Facts” section contains current and past information about child safety reports, providing links to important safety tips such as the “Spot the Tot” campaign designed to avoid driveway and parking lot accidents.   Car seat safety and accidental drowning are other topics covered in this section, and each news and facts entry contains a link to a site that will provide users a more in-depth look at the topic.

Individual and corporate sponsors can find out more about supporting Safe Kids on the “Support Us” page, and users can sign up for the Safety Works newsletter, a monthly publication available by mail or email.

Parenting.com

is a wonderful resource for parents, containing information on nearly any aspect of parenting you can think of. Sections on fertility, pregnancy, babies, toddlers, moms – as well as recipes, activities, and gear – make this site a comprehensive collection of resources for all your parenting needs.

Each of the tabbed sections on the site’s homepage is broken down into sub-categories that are easy to browse for just the right article, or allow users to link from topic to topic and read the copious amount of information available.

Parening.com knows that parents want to browse quickly for information they want and need, so the homepage is designed with brief descriptions of the links that are clear and easy to understand. Readers can link to full articles or sections after reading a concise summary of the information contained therein, or keep browsing to find just what they’re looking for.

The site’s homepage features a Parenting Post link where you can read about adventures of other parents, a clever baby photo gallery of user-submitted photographs, and a Cool Tools link where readers can find a child symptom checker, pregnancy planner, an ages and stages guide, and other links.

The Community section features forums where users can discuss topics like sibling rivalry and share “bad mommy moments.” The Top Ten list is a compendium of top ten articles on hot topics such as breastfeeding, and the site also features contests and giveaways.

Featured Stories is a quick link to the latest articles available, with a quick description of the feature and a link to the full article.

The Today section allows frequent users to link right to the latest articles and features, providing time-sensitive links and top stories.

Users can subscribe to BabyTalk and Parenting magazines online through secure ordering as well.

Money saving tips, food portion and serving size guides, travel secrets, and summer styles and trends are a few of the topics mothers may be particularly interested in, but there is plenty of information here geared to fathers, as well.

The sprit of the site is that of community; parents share their best practices here to help other parents – whether they be seasoned pros or first-timers – to plan trips and birthday parties, find activities to keep little ones busy, make a nutritious meal, foster positive adult relationships, or just figure out ways to sneak in a little “me time” while parenting.

Realistic and user-friendly information that is presented in a straightforward way makes Parenting.com a great read for all parents.

smartstart-nc.org

Smart Start: The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. is North Carolina’s award-winning, nationally recognized early childhood initiative whose goal is to ensure that young children are ready to succeed when they enter school.

A public-private initiative, Smart Start provides funding to all 100 counties of North Carolina. Seventy-eight nonprofit, local organizations called Local Partnerships administer funds at the local level. Currently working with $203.6 million in state funds, Smart Start has had great results in improving the quality of child care, making child care more affordable and accessible and providing access to health services and offering family support. Smart Start continues to strive to reach the needs of all children in North Carolina.

The site offers a wealth of information both about the results Smart Start has achieved in the areas of school readiness as well as resources for families. Browse the Smart Start’s Results section for information about how Smart Start has assisted children with school readiness and health care needs, or read about Smart Start Legislation and Funding, as well as how to get involved as an advocate or make a donation in the History and Get Involved sections.

Learn about Smart Start’s technical assistance grants program and National Smart Start Conferences in the site’s National Technical Assistance Center section. This section also includes a list of publications such as “Child Care & Parent Productivity: Making the Business Case” and “Smart Start in Action: Stories of Success from Three Communities Smart Start in Action.”

The Family Resources section offers a vast number of tips, articles, questions and answers, and links for many aspects of child development, including raising an intellectually healthy child, brain development, health and safety, the importance of reading, a checklist for quality child care, and a section on school readiness.

Check out the Smart Start Media Center for press releases, speeches, speaker information, and the organizations’ copyright and privacy policies.

For NC residents, you can easily find a link to the Smart Start in your area by browsing the county-by-county listing of local partnerships.

QualityToysAndHobbies.com

Quality Toys and Hobbies, a division of Child Development Media, Inc., is a wonderful online resource for fun, safe toys selected by experts in child development. Here, you can search by toy category, age group, or brand to find wonderful toys for you child, classroom, or gift-giving needs.

Toy categories include Art and Music; Building and Construction; Nature and Science; Playsets; Plush Toys; Puzzles and Games; Vehicles and Wheel Toys; Videos; and Wooden Toys. Within each section you’ll find a photograph and description of toys that help build a child’s skill through play, and easy ordering through an "add to cart" feature.

The toys offered here are not just about play, though. Building sets and Lego sets help develop children’s logic and motor skills, puppet sets encourage imaginative play, science and nature toys encourage your budding scientist to make predictions and to test them through observation. Puzzles and games build number and letter recognition skills for your emergent reader, and art and music toys develop a sense of the creative arts, vital to all other areas of learning. There are even playground playsets to encourage development of large motor skills and to promote outdoor exercise.

Secure ordering is provided by USA e-pay, and shipping is available by US Postal Service or UPS.

Check out the Articles link on the site, too, for practical articles about parenting issues such as baby pillows, benefits of play, potty training, and reading to your baby. The Toys, Games, and Hobbies section of articles includes tips on arts and crafts projects, toys to enhance math skills, and toy hazards and how to avoid them, among others.

Satisfaction with products and services is guaranteed, so you can shop with confidence, knowing the products here have been selected with care and that they will be durable, safe, and educational.

positiveparenting.com

Parenting is hard work, and with busy schedules and other stressors in our lives, it is hard to always put parenting first and to think of way to be a peaceful parent.  Wouldn’t it be great if there were a comprehensive site we could refer to for suggestions on more effective, enjoyable parenting?  Positive Parenting is the answer.  Full of resources that support the site’s motto, “Peace begins at home,” this site is a wonderful resource for parents of children of all ages.

Online since 1995 and based in Ventura, California, the site focuses on redirecting behavior while allowing children to be children, and is full of common-sense, easy-to-apply strategies for parents that are founded in child development theory.

Deborah Fox, founder of Positive Parenting, has been teaching parenting classes for more than 14 years.  Her vision of making a difference in the lives of children is evident on the site:  “My vision is that all children are raised lovingly and non-violently and with discipline that motivates them through love, not through fear.”

The Newsletter contains feature stories, success stories, and special features all pertaining to common parenting challenges, such as how to get your child to do what you have asked without resorting to yelling.

Parenting classes offered in the Ventura County, California area are listed in the Calendar section, and include such familiar-to-parents topics as “No I Won’t and You Can’t Make Me! – Effectively Dealing with Power Struggles.”

The site’s Resources section includes great articles on subjects such as “10 Keys to Successful Parenting,” “What is Normal Development,” and “Teens Headed for Trouble: Turning it Around.”

Check out the link to Dial-A-Discipline, which helps parents identify new ways to redirect child behavior, found under the Multimedia section, and web links for parents and teachers for further resources related to positive parenting.

The site’s Bookstore section offers many titles in such categories as Parents of Children Under 5, Parents of Teenagers, and Parents of All Children.  Look for CDs and DVDs as well as sale items and workshop and class registration information here.  The site uses Miva Merchant to ensure secure ordering online and accepts orders by telephone as well.

ChildDevelopmentMedia.com

Child Development Media, Inc. (CDM) is, as their website states, “the world’s largest single source of commercially available videos, books, and curricula on child development and related topics.” There are over 1500 titles in CDM’s catalogue: a wealth of information for parents, educators, and other professionals in the child development field.

Margie Wagner, the company’s founder, has worked with children with special needs for over 30 years. With vast experience working with emotionally-disturbed children, young children with disabling conditions, socially-disadvantaged children, and children with acute, chronic and life-threatening illness, Ms. Wagner is committed to training and supervision, and that commitment shows in CDM’s website.

The site itself is easy to navigate, and is broken down both by topics and by type of information available. Choose the videos, books, curricula, or conferences tabs to find the current week's top sellers and highly recommended child development videos, books, or curricula, or a detailed description of child development conferences and workshops.

You can also visit the Parent’s Corner for media on such topics as emotions and behavior; health, nutrition and safety; play and activities; teaching and learning; special needs and disabilities; and the all-important time for parents.

The Infant and Toddler Development Videos and Books section includes titles related to caring for infants, toddlers, helping them to learn, bonding with baby, and how babies and toddlers become individuals.

The Middle Childhood Development Resources for Teaching and Training section includes titles related to stages and characteristics of middle childhood development, including such diverse topics as play, television, and discipline.

All of these sections include detailed descriptions of available titles and an easy “add to cart” feature for quick selection of titles. Ordering is secure and can be done online, by mail, by telephone, or by fax.

The site is further broken down by topic, such as Assessment & Planning; Children in Groups; Curricula; Development; Diversity and Culture; Family Perspectives; Health and Disability; Intervention and Prevention; Staff Development and Training; and other categories pertinent to parents and professionals seeking a comprehensive selection of titles related to nearly every aspect of child development.

Special Sections include CEU Credits; Closed Caption Titles; Discounted Videos; and Spanish Titles.
Finally, visit the Child Development Blog for news from Child Development Media that includes reviews of child development information in cyberspace: reviews of new products; special offers; and interviews and biographies of producers and authors.

Don’t forget to sign up for the CDM News and Notes Newsletter as well, for up to date, pertinent information regarding child development, and to link to CDM’s new division, Quality Toys and Hobbies, for safe, fun toys selected by experts in child development.

Connectforkids.org

is a site designed for a broad audience, from parents to professional child advocates. The organization’s purpose is to connect concerned adults and young people and to give them tools to take action regarding issues that concern youth.

The site itself contains articles about issues pertinent to child well-being such as increased child care funding, child poverty in America, walkable neighborhoods, dropout prevention, and many more. The lengthy archive of articles is searchable by topic and subtopic.

There is also an Action Central: Tools for Advocacy section that offer tips for effective legislative advocacy, advice for getting funded, and suggestions for successfully advocating for children.

The Youth Today column and the CFK Update are updated regularly, providing current information on child advocacy issues. Check out the option to subscribe to biweekly updates on a number of different youth-related topics.