Internet Resources for Parents and Child Care Providers

The following selected Federal agencies and federally funded projects, national organizations, and State agencies and organizations have Internet resources designed specifically for parents. Many of these are also appropriate for child care providers. The Internet Resources are divided into four broad categories:

Child care/child development/early learning;
Health and safety;
Nutrition; and
Special needs.

Child Care/Child Development/Early Learning

Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Projects

Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior
World Wide Web: http://challengingbehavior.fmhi.usf.edu
The Center promotes the use of evidence-based practice to meet the needs of young children who have, or are at risk for, challenging behavior. It is also building a data base to support those practices. It is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
World Wide Web: www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel
CSEFEL is a national center focused on strengthening the capacity of child care and Head Start programs to improve the social and emotional outcomes of young children. CSEFEL develops and disseminates evidence-based, user-friendly information to help early childhood educators. It is jointly funded by the Office of Head Start and the Child Care Bureau, under the auspices of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Child Care Aware
World Wide Web: www.childcareaware.org
In Spanish [En Español]: www.childcareaware.org/sp/
Child Care Aware is a nonprofit initiative committed to helping parents find the best information about locating quality child care and child care resources in their community. It is funded by the Child Care Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Child Care Aware has developed a series of publications containing important information for parents. These publications are available in English and Spanish on the Web at www.childcareaware.org/en/resources/pubs.php.
ChildCare.gov
World Wide Web: http://childcare.gov
ChildCare.gov is a comprehensive online resource designed to link parents, child care providers, researchers, policy-makers, and the general public with Federal government sponsored child care and early learning information and resources from the Federal Government.
Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network (CYFERNet)
World Wide Web: www.cyfernet.org
CYFERNet is a service of the Cooperative Extension System, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Program areas include child care, family resiliency, science and technology, health, and collaborations. Practical, research-based information is available about children, youth, parents and families, and communities. Resources on topics such as ages and stages of development, emotional development, thinking and learning, creativity, play and development, individual differences, and Spanish language resources are available at http://cyfernet.ces.ncsu.edu/cyfres/search_1.php?es=1.
¡Colorín colorado!
World Wide Web: www.colorincolorado.org/educators
In Spanish [En Español]: www.colorincolorado.org/educadores
Colorín colorado is a Web-based, bilingual service that provides information, activities, and advice for educators of English language learners. It is an educational initiative of WETA, a public television and radio station in the Washington, DC. Major funding comes from the American Federation of Teachers, with additional support from the National Institute for Literacy and the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC)
World Wide Web: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov
NCCIC, a service of the Child Care Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a national clearinghouse and technical assistance center that links parents, providers, policy-makers, researchers, and the public to information about early care and education. The section For Parents, at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/user/parents.html, has information for parents about finding child care, looking for financial assistance to help with the cost of care, and looking for information about quality child care. Recursos en Español [Selected Resources in Spanish], which includes subjects related to early childhood education and information about child care programs, is available on the Web at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/spanish/index.html.
National Network for Child Care (NNCC)
World Wide Web: www.nncc.org
NNCC is a service of the Cooperative Extension System, U.S. Department of Agriculture. It unites the expertise of many of the Nation’s leading universities through the outreach system of the Cooperative Extension. It provides practical information about children, parenting, and child care programming for parents, professionals, practitioners, and the general public. Child development information in English and Spanish is available on the Web at NNCC's Child Care Development web site.
Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers
Email: readingrockets@weta.org
World Wide Web: www.readingrockets.org
In Spanish [En Español]: www.readingrockets.org/spanish
Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project that offers information and resources about how young kids learn to read and how adults can help children learn to read. The Reading Rockets project is television programs, online services, and professional development opportunities. Reading Rockets is an educational initiative of the public television and radio station, WETA in Washington, DC, and is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education.
U.S. Department of Education (DOE)
World Wide Web: www.ed.gov
The U.S. DOE publishes information for teachers, administrators, policy-makers, researchers, parents, students, and others with a stake in education. The section for parents has electronic versions of popular pamphlets and brochures designed to address parents’ concerns about their children’s education. The parents’ section is available on the Web at www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml?src=fp. Resources About Early Childhood Education from the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition is available on the Web at www.ncela.gwu.edu/resabout/ecell/

National Organizations

The Child and Family WebGuide
World Wide Web: www.cfw.tufts.edu
The Child and Family WebGuide, sponsored by Tufts University, supported by the William T. Grant Foundation, provides links to Web sites on such topics as family/parenting, education/learning, typical child development, health/mental health, and resources/recreation.
Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting (CEEP)
World Wide Web: http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/index.html
CEEP provides publications and information to the worldwide early childhood and parenting communities. Information is organized by popular topics. The entire list of popular topics in English and Spanish is available on the Web at http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/poptopics.html.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
World Wide Web:www.naeyc.org
NAEYC produces many materials that help parents, including brochures, booklets, videotapes about parenting and teaching children from birth through school-age years, and Young Children, a professional journal for early childhood educators. Information for families is available on the Web at www.naeyc.org/families/.
Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
Leading to Reading
World Wide Web: www.rif.org/leadingtoreading
Leading to Reading is designed to help parents and child care providers foster infant, toddler, and preschool-age children’s language skills. It includes links to stories, rhymes, fingerplays, lullabies, songs, and activities for young children, as well as articles and a video clip for adults.
Talaris Research Institute
World Wide Web: www.talaris.org
Talaris Research Institute is dedicated to discovering how children think, feel, and learn. Talaris’ “crib notes” of early brain development are research spotlights with easy-to-read summaries that bring to life research efforts that have deepened the understanding of children’s development. Three 1-minute video versions of spotlights offer a short introduction to topics such as imitative behavior, hypothesis testing, and speaking parentese. Talaris also produces a research-based timeline that can serve as a general guide to a child’s social and emotional, cognitive, language t, sensory, and motor skills development.
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
World Wide Web: www.zerotothree.org
ZERO TO THREE is a national organization focused exclusively on issues affecting infants and toddlers. Information for parents is available on the Web at www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=par_parents.

State and Local Resources

A Place of Our Own (and Los Niños en Su Casa in Spanish)
KCET, Los Angeles, California
World Wide Web: www.aplaceofourown.org
In Spanish [En Español]: www.losninosensucasa.org/index.php
Place of Our Own (and Los Niños en Su Casa in Spanish) is a daily television series, a Web site, and an outreach program devoted to the needs of parents, grandparents, child care providers, friends, and neighbors who care for young children. It shares ways to help nurture children’s cognitive, language and literacy, social and emotional, and physical development. It highlights local and resources in California, and is accompanied by educational outreach and workforce development plans.
California Cooperative Extension
World Wide Web: http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/index.ihtml
Information produced by the University of California’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is available in both English and Spanish on the topics of nutrition, food safety, consumer sciences, child development, and parenting.
Early Childhood Iowa: Parents
World Wide Web: www.state.ia.us/earlychildhood/Parents/index.html
This Web site provides free, objective, medically accurate early care, health, and education information for families in Iowa. Its Early Childhood A to Z section links to topics such as child care, health and safety, child development, learning to read and write, parenting, pregnancy, and many others. The information provided is primarily for families with children from birth to 5 years old.
Florida Center for Parent Involvement (FCPI)
World Wide Web: www.fmhi.usf.edu/cfs/dares/fcpi/statement.html
FCPI has created a series of resources organized by theme, including fact sheets for parents and professionals and resource identification lists. Many resources have been translated into Spanish.
Georgia Better Brains for Babies (BBB) Initiative
World Wide Web:www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/bbb/
BBB is a collaboration of State, local, public, and private organizations that promote awareness and education about the importance of early brain development in the healthy growth and development of infants and young children. BBB shares research on brain development through its Web site, a speaker’s bureau, a lending library, and train-the-trainer workshops.
Illinois Early Learning Project
World Wide Web: www.illinoisearlylearning.org
The Illinois Early Learning Project Web site is a source of evidence-based information about early care and education for parents, caregivers, and teachers of young children. Resources on Early Learning: Tip Sheets are available on the Web in English, Polish, and Spanish at http://ecap.crc.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/iel/searchiel.cgi?action=searchieltips.
North Carolina Smart Start
World Wide Web: www.ncsmartstart.org/index.htm
North Carolina Smart Start is an early childhood initiative that focuses on ensuring young children enter school healthy and ready to learn. It provides parents and professionals with information bout topics such as child development, advocacy, children with special needs, safety, health, school readiness, education and training opportunities, and publications and products.
Ohio Ready to Learn
World Wide Web: www.pbs4549.org/rtl.htm
Ohio Ready to Learn is sponsored by Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio. It provides information for parents and child care professionals about activities to do with children and books to read with children that complement children’s programs on television. It also offers free training to family child care providers on a variety of topics, including the Ohio Department of Education’s early learning content standards.
Pennsylvania Better Kid Care
World Wide Web: http://betterkidcare.psu.edu
Penn State University’s Cooperative Extension’s Better Kid Care Program provides educational materials and resources, satellite broadcasts, videos, and educational activities for child care providers, parents, and employers. Activity ideas are available at http://betterkidcare.psu.edu/page09.html.
ReadyWeb (Illinois)
World Wide Web: http://readyweb.crc.uiuc.edu
ReadyWeb, a resource for parents and educators, provides a Virtual Library that has resources about various topics related to school readiness. ReadyWeb is a project of the Early Childhood and Parenting Collaborative, College of Education, at the University of Illinois.
Washington Research Institute (WRI)
World Wide Web: http://wri-edu.org/pub.htm
WRI is a private, nonprofit agency that does research in the fields of education, psychology, social work, vocational education, and other related fields. The Language is the Key training package provides information about language development strategies help children with disabilities, typically developing children, and children who are learning English. Information about the training package, which is available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese, is available on the Web at http://wri-edu.org/products.htm. Supporting Early Literacy in Natural Environments is available in English and Spanish on the Web at www.walearning.com/Parent.html.
Your Child: Development and Behavior Resources (Michigan)
World Wide Web: www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/index.htm
This resource provides parents with information about children’s development and behavior. It provides general checklists on overall child development from birth through age 12 on the Web at www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/devmile.htm.

Health and Safety

Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Projects

Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign
World Wide Web: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/child/
The Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign is a national public education campaign by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of the campaign is to increase awareness about the emotional problems of America’s children and adolescents and to gain support for needed services. Publications are available in English on the Web at www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/ChildrensCampaign/parents.asp and in Spanish at http://store.mentalhealth.org/espanol/.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Wide Web: www.cdc.gov/

The CDC leads public health efforts to prevent and control infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, workplace hazards, disabilities, and environmental health threats. Health information about infants and children is available on the Web at www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec802270e4 Information in multiple languages is available on the Web at www.cdc.gov/spanish/. Information is available in printer-friendly versions and can be downloaded for free.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
World Wide Web: www.cpsc.gov
The CPSC has many free materials, including brochures about home safety,numerous “Safety Alerts” about furniture, equipment, and toys for young children, and other information. Publications are available in English and Spanish.
Federal Consumer Information Center
U.S. General Services Administration
World Wide Web: www.pueblo.gsa.gov
In Spanish [En Español]: www.pueblo.gsa.gov/spanish/
The Federal Consumer Information Center publishes a quarterly Consumer Information Catalog, whichlists more than 200 free and low-cost Federal booklets about a wide variety of consumer topics, including learning activities, parenting, and helping children succeed in school.
Fit Source
World Wide Web http://fitsource.nccic.acf.hhs.gov/fitsource
Fit Source links child care and after-school providers to activities, lesson plans, healthy recipes, information for parents, and many other tools that can be used to incorporate physical activity and nutrition into child care and after-school programs.
MedlinePlus
World Wide Web: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childandteenhealth.html
MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, provides information about child nutrition and health related topics.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
World Wide Web: www.nhtsa.dot.gov
NHTSA provides child passenger safety tips. Some tips include checking seats for safety, determining where children should ride, protecting infants in the car, and transporting children safely. Some of the information is available in printer-friendly versions and can be downloaded for free.
SIDS: “Back to Sleep” Campaign
World Wide Web: www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death of infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. Materials on how to prevent SIDS are available from the SIDS “Back to Sleep” Campaign. Resources in English and Spanish are available on the Web at www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm?from=sids.

National Organizations

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
World Wide Web: www.aacap.org
AACAP developed 88 Facts for Families fact sheets to provide concise and up-to-date information about issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. This information is available in English on the Web at www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Facts+for+Families&name=Facts+for+Families and in Spanish at www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Informacion+para+la+Familia. These materials are also available in French, German, Icelandic, and Polish.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
World Wide Web: www.aap.org
AAP produces many informational materials, including brochures, books, and videotapes about childhood illness, nutrition, infant and toddler care, and issues affecting teens and families. The Parenting Corner is available on the Web. Bright Futures: Families and Communities is also available on the Web.
American Psychological Association (APA)
World Wide Web: www.apa.org
The APA is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. APA provides information about children and families that is available on the Web at www.apa.org/topics/topicchildren.html.
Bright Futures at Georgetown University
World Wide Web: www.brightfutures.org
Bright Futures is a national health promotion initiative dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to be healthy and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child, the family, and the community as partners in health practice. The series, What to Expect & When to Seek Help: A Bright Futures Tool to Promote Social and Emotional Development is available on the Web at www.brightfutures.org/tools/index.html.
The Compassionate Friends (TCF)
World Wide Web: www.compassionatefriends.org
TCF assists families in the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child and provides information to help others be supportive.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Care
World Wide Web: www.healthykids.us
In Spanish [En Español: www.healthykids.us/spanish/index.htm
Healthy Kids, Healthy Care is designed to address health and safety issues of parents who have children who attend child care in family child care homes and center-based programs, such as preschool and before- and after-school programs. The Web site was developed by the National Resource Center for Health and Child Care and Early Education,
KidsHealth
World Wide Web: www.kidshealth.org
In Spanish [En Español]: www.kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/esp_land_pg/spanish_landing_page.html
The KidsHealth Web site provides doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. KidHealth is supported by The Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media.
Medem Medical Library
World Wide Web: www.medem.com/medlb/medlib_entry.cfm
The Medem Medical Library provides information for parents and the general public about a wide variety of children’s health issues. Medem was founded by leading medical societies.
National SAFE KIDS Campaign
SAFE KIDS Injury Prevention
World Wide Web: www.safekids.org
SAFE KIDS Injury Prevention is a national childhood injury prevention campaign composed of State and local SAFE KIDS coalitions. They produce materials on burn prevention and fire safety, child occupant protection (i.e., car seats and safety restraints), injury prevention, and bicycle helmets and bike safety.
SAFE KIDS Worldwide
SAFE KIDS Injury Prevention
World Wide Web: www.safekids.org
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations that works to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 years and younger. More than 450 coalitions in 16 countries bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments, and volunteers to educate and protect families. It produces materials on burn prevention and fire safety, child occupant protection (i.e., car seats and safety restraints), injury prevention, and bicycle helmets and bike safety.

Nutrition

Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Projects

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
World Wide Web: www.cfsan.fda.gov/list.html
The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition provides information to the general public about food safety and other related topics.
Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC)/National Agricultural Library (NAL)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
World Wide Web: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
FNIC’s Web site provides a directory of resources for consumers, nutrition and health professionals, and educators and government personnel. Visitors can find printable format educational materials, government reports, research papers, and more. The Child Care Nutrition Resource System provides recipes, resources, and information about preparing nutritious meals and food safety, and is available on the Web at www.nal.usda.gov/childcare/.Information is available in printer-friendly versions and can be downloaded for free. In addition, the database has information about the availability of resources from other Federal agencies and national organizations.

National Organization

American Dietetic Association (ADA)
World Wide Web: www.eatright.org
The ADA has developed many materials focusing on nutrition, health, and well-being. The ADA has food and nutrition materials available on the Web at www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/nutrition.html. Some of the information is available in printer-friendly versions and can be downloaded for free.

Special Needs

Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Projects

Learn the Signs. Act Early.
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Wide Web in English: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/default.htm
In Spanish [En Español]: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/spanish/default.htm
Learn the Signs. Act Early. has information about childhood milestones, and developmental screening and disabilities, including autism. An interactive tool allows parents to view how a developmental milestone category (e.g., social and emotional, cognitive, or language) changes as a child grows.

National Organizations

First Signs, Inc.
World Wide Web: www.firstsigns.org
First Signs is an organization dedicated to the early identification of and intervention for childhood learning delays and disorders. First Signs offers information about healthy development milestones for children ages 4 months through 36 months. Descriptions of these milestones are available on the Web at www.firstsigns.org/healthydev/milestones.htm.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities [formerly the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)]
World Wide Web: www.nichcy.org
In Spanish [En Español]: www.nichcy.org/spanish.htm
The National Dissemination Center specializes in providing information and support to parents of children with special needs and to those who work with their families. It also provides agency and organizational resources for each State.

Updated July 2007

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