Family Resources

The following may be of interest to families of school-age children.

• Youth Risk Behaviors

• Linking Health and Academic Achievement

Other Sites of Interest

Note: If you have difficulty accessing any of these websites, copy and paste the URL into your browser window. As with all resources, please review these websites before allowing your child to access them. This way, you will know what your child is learning, and you can make sure that it meets with your approval.

http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/greatwebsites/greatwebsiteskids.htm

700+ Great Sites selected by the American Library Association covers websites for parents, caregivers, teachers and others who care about kids. These have been compiled by the Children and Technology Committee of the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

You can also access the American Library Association/Association for Library Service to Children: Great Web Sites for Kids Selection Criteria at: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/greatwebsites/greatwebsitesforkids/greatwebsites.htm

www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/helpchild/hc_pf_family_learning_1.asp

Here on the National PTA website, you will find many low-cost or no-cost, fun activities and projects that families can do together.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention

http://family.samhsa.gov
Public education website developed to support the efforts of parents and other caring adults to promote mental health and prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs among 7- to 18-year-olds.

http://www.toosmarttostart.samhsa.gov/

An underage alcohol use prevention initiative for parents, caregivers and their 9-to-13 year-old children.

http://www.aap.org/family/mediaimpact.htm
American Academy of Pediatrics: Understanding the Power of the Media on Children and Teens.

http://www.talkingwithkids.org
Talking with kids about tough issues

http://www.thecoolspot.gov/

Designed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for middle school students ages 11-13 years old. Site, which incorporates animated characters based on a popular Japanese comic book style called “anime,” includes quizzes and activities, along with facts about alcohol and when drinking becomes a disease and information on resisting peer pressure.

http://www.TheAntiDrug.com
Created by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media campaign to equip parents and other adult caregivers with the tools they need to raise drug-free kids. Serves as a drug prevention information center and a supportive community for families to interact and learn from each other.

http://www.soyunica.gov/

An interactive Web site that engages young Latinas in positive activities and encourages dialogue that promotes healthy, drug-free lifestyles. This web site is designed to help young Latinas ages 9-14, their mothers and other caregivers build and enhance self-esteem, mental health, decision-making skills and assertiveness and to prevent the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs.
 

General Health

http://www.asthmabusters.org
Online club for kids with asthma.

http://www.scrubclub.org

A fun, interactive website that teaches children the proper way to wash their hands. Downloadable activity materials for kids, as well as educational materials for teachers and program information for parents and caregivers, are also available.  Designed for children 3 to 8 years of age.

www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/succeed/index.html

Helping Children Succeed in School is a program written by University of Illinois Extension educators that gives successful strategies for parents and caregivers to help their children succeed in school.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/index.html

Helping your child deal with life’s ups and downs.

http://www.kidshealth.com
HealthMPowers provides doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, this site provides families with accurate, up-to-date and jargon-free health information.

http://www.medem.com/am/am_pns_pat.cfm#sec_5
Medem and the nation's leading medical societies have developed the Smart Parents' Health Source Newsletter to provide families with information about the health and safety of their children.

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com

Parenting tips for your child's health and safety from newborn through adolescence..

Injury Prevention

www.sass.ca

Stay Alert Stay Safe. Designed for children 7 – 10 years of age.  Includes teachers’ guide, activity cards and pages, a booklet and an interactive computer game.

http://www.aboutourkids.org/aboutour/articles/bullies.html

Site offers information about various types of school violence, such as bullying at school. Additional information discusses the factors of school violence and provides advice to families about making their child feel safe when confronting violence and bullying at school.

http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp
Comprehensive website developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Research and resources for students, teachers and families..

http://www.lfcc.on.ca/bully.htm

Full length article titled "Bullying: Information for Parents and Teachers." Defines what is considered bullying, discusses current research and offers advice as to how to deal with bullying at school. Also includes school violence statistics and factors of school violence.

http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/publications/factsheets/safeschools/FS-SC07.html

Tips, programming/support information, and fact sheets for families and educators about school violence and bullying at school. Site discusses factors of school violence, and provides extensive information regarding bullying at school.

www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/conflict/guide/index.html

Out on a Limb: A Guide to Getting Along.  Designed to teach youth how to better manage conflicts and challenges they face on a daily basis.  Activities geared primarily for 3^rd graders, but can be used to entertain and educate 2^nd and 4^th graders as well.  (University of Illinois Extension website)

www.aap.org/family/mediaimpact.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics: Understanding the Power of the Media on Children and Teens/violence

http://www.kiddesafety.com/teachers.shtml

The lessons on this website were developed for teachers and families to help children understand the basic fundamentals of fire safety. Lessons have been developed for appropriate age levels (5, 6 & 7 – 8 & 9 – 10 & 11 – 12 & 13).

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/outreach/safesobr/15qp/web/sbprevent.html
Help your child to be a safe pedestrian.

http://www.safekids.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=304&folder_id=169
Bike helmet safety — protecting your family.

http://www.safekids.org/tier2_rl.cfm?folder_id=184
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign is dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury — the number one killer of children ages 14 and under.

www.talkingwithkids.org

Talking with kids about tough issues

Nutrition

http://www.5aday.org
Comprehensive website for educators, parents and students designed to make eating at least five fruits and vegetables daily fun.

http://www.dole5aday.com
Comprehensive website for educators, parents and students designed to make eating at least five fruits and vegetables daily fun.

http://www.brightfutures.org/nutritionfamfact/index.html
Nutrition fact sheets in both English and Spanish for families to share.

http://www.bcbsga.com/healthyLiving/healthyKids

Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids is a bilingual online tool designed to assist families in helping children achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/milk/kidsandteens
Features animated action games, puzzles and mazes that are designed to be fun while teaching children about the importance of calcium.

http://64.29.173.72/resources/nutrition_134.pdf

A dozen ways to get kids to drink more milk.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Parents/index.htm
Created by the Food and Nutrition Service of USDA, this website contains fun and informative activities that you and your child(ren) can do together.

http://www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones
This girl-friendly website helps girls understand how weight-bearing physical activity and calcium can be a fun — and important — part of everyday life. The site features include interactive games and quizzes, recipes for tasty foods with calcium and ideas to help girls get plenty of weight-bearing physical activity.

http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/links-main.asp 
Activities, contests and fun links to increase your child(ren)’s nutrition knowledge.

http://www.nutrition.gov

A web-based resource launched by the Department of Agriculture that includes databases, recipes, interactive tools and specialized information for infants and children, adult women and men and seniors.  It is designed to help people find answers to nutrition and food related questions.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/How%20Much%20Do%20You%20Eat.pdf

A guide on portion sizes from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/How%20Much%20Is%20Enough.pdf

A guide on amounts of foods to maintain good health in children from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Pyramid%20Servings%20How%20Much%20How%20Many.pdf

A guide for you on using the Food Guide Pyramid from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health.

http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/Pubs/Brochures/DGFavFoods.pdf

Where do your favorite foods fit?  Practical guidelines on making sense of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

http://64.29.173.72/resources/nutrition_191.pdf

Seven ways to size up your servings.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Enjoying%20the%20Family%20Meal.pdf

This practical guide from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health offers tips on eating together as a family in a stress-free way.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Teaching%20Good%20Food%20Habits.pdf

This practical guide from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health offers help nurturing good food habits in your children.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Together%20Let%27s%20Try%20New%20Foods.pdf

This guide from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health offers practical tips for getting kids (and adults!) to give new foods a try.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Why%20Snacks.pdf

This guide from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health explains the importance of snacks to a child’s growth and development.

http://www.deliciousdecisions.org/cb/index.html

Delicious Decisions: The American Heart Association’s online cookbook. Find delicious, healthy recipes for your family to try.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Easy%20Weekend%20Lunch%20Ideas.pdf

Easy weekend lunch ideas from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health.

http://www.kidsacookin.org

A fun site for families featuring healthy and quick entrees, side dishes and snacks.  Each recipe has a photograph, step by step directions, helpful tips, nutrition facts and kitchen tools need.

www.aap.org/family/mediaimpact.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics: Understanding the Power of the Media on Children and Teens/fatty foods and thin bodies

http://www.wellpoint.com/healthy_parenting/index.html

Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids, a nutrition and activity guide for parents, in both English and Spanish developed by the American Dietetic Association and WellPoint.

 http://www.jumpupandgo.com/about.htm

Jump Up and Go [helping parents raise healthy kids] is an initiative developed by Blue Cross – Blue Shield of Massachusetts designed to encourage young people to learn about the importance of proper nutrition and regular exercise

Parent Advocacy

Parents make great advocates for child nutrition in schools. Here are a few resources you can use to increase your knowledge and skills in advocating for a healthier school.

http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/AFHK/team_center/team_public_view.php?team=GA&Submit=Go

Action for Healthy Kids is a nationwide initiative made up of health professionals, educators, parents, business and industry and other interested individuals and organizations dedicated to changing the school nutrition and physical activity environment. Learn how you can join the efforts in Georgia.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/guide.pdf

USDA’s Changing the Scene:  A resource guide for parents and community members who desire to make changes in their school nutrition environment.

 http://www.healthinschools.org/parents/lunch.htm

Questions and checklists for parents to assess and impact school food from The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools.

Physical Activity

www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones

This girl-friendly Web site helps girls understand how weight-bearing physical activity and calcium can be a fun - and important - part of everyday life. The site features include interactive games and quizzes, recipes for tasty foods with calcium and ideas to help girls get plenty of weight-bearing physical activity.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/hate_sports.html

A parent’s guide to fitness for kids who hate sports.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Active%20Living%20For%20Families.pdf

This simple guide from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health offers suggestions for getting and keeping your family active.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Child%27s%20Play.pdf

This simple guide from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health offers tips for getting kids involved in active play.

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Pubs/Brochures/GetMoving_screen.pdf

This four-page document puts daily physical activity within reach for you and your children.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Let%27s%20Move...Cold%20Weather%20Fun.pdf

This article from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health contains great ideas for getting your kids to move on cold days.

http://www.nchealthyweight.com/nibbles/Le%27ts%20Move...%20Warm%20Weather%20Fun.pdf

This article from USDA Food and Nutrition Services’ Nibbles for Health offers great ideas for safe and fun days outside.

http://www.chaausa.org/vertical/Sites/%7B0635C236-197E-47C6-8FBB-A80A08D4715B%7D/uploads/%7B637CEEC9-0113-4BF2-952C-3178D01CC7CB%7D.PDF

Summer Activity List for Kids from the Coalition for a Healthy, Active America.

http://www.bcbsga.com/healthyLiving/healthyKids

Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids is a bilingual online tool designed to assist families in helping children achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

http://www.verbnow.com/index2.php

VERB – It’s What You Do: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s campaign to get Tweens moving! Check out this interactive site with fun things to do.

Reducing Screen Time

http://www.aap.org/family/smarttv.htm

The American Academy of Pediatrics guide to turning kids onto Smart TV.

http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/tips_tamevideogames.shtml

Taming the Video Game Tiger: Simple tips to help manage video gaming at home.

http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/tips_tametube.shtml

Twelve Tips to Tame the Tube: Tips to give YOU, the parents, control of the remote.

http://www.aap.org/family/tv1.htm

An article on the issues surrounding television and children’s health from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

http://www.tvturnoff.org/action.htm

Tips for controlling TV at home, lists of alternative activities and other resources for parents and other caregivers who want to take back control of the TV.

http://www.parentinginformation.org/tvadvantage.htm

A 12-chapter parents’ guide to thoughtful television viewing by Dr. Dorothy Singer, Dr. Jerome Singer and Dr. Diana Zuckerman.

Special Needs

www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/kidhome.htm

This CDC site is intended to get kids to think about people with disabilities and some of the issues related to daily activities, health and accessibility. The Kids' Quests are designed for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders. Parents and teachers can modify the materials to meet students' learning styles and levels. The Quests can be used in lessons about health, social studies and tolerance in society. Although students could do Quests entirely on their own, it is suggested that parents and teachers work with them to share ideas, talk about issues raised and encourage reflection about themselves and others.