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Parenting InfoCenter
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Video Game Resources
Resources for families on making video games a positive and educational
experience for children and teens, provided by the Baltimore County
Public Library. |
indicates local interest
Children and Reading
Focus on the First Years
It's never too early to start smart! As a
child's first teachers, you as parents and/or caregivers are instrumental in
promoting reading readiness in children ages birth to four. BCPL's programs
and services for babies, toddlers and preschoolers can help you fulfill this
important role. Includes information on Baby Booster Kits and My First
Library Card and Storytimers.
Baltimore County Public Library Services
The library is a great place to visit. Your child will enjoy the regularly
scheduled Story Times at your neighborhood library. Children will also love
our Kid's Pages.
Does Reading
Aloud Really Make a Difference?
Provided
by Children's Literacy Initiative.
Tips are given on how to make reading aloud effective. Suggests books to
read
aloud to pre-kindergarten to third graders.
Helping
Your Child Become a Reader
Provided by
the United States Department of Education.
Learning to read needs to be in place long before
children enter school. Find learning activities and
typical language
accomplishments for children
from infancy through age 6. Most are based in the
everyday routines of you
and your children.
Launching Young
Readers Parent Tips
Provided
by Reading Rockets.
The important steps in learning to read are introduced with tips for parents
of children,
pre-kindergarten to grade 3.
Reading Tips Especially for Parents
Provided by the National Education Association.
Help children want to read and to keep on reading. Geared for infants
through sixth grade.
Partners in Literacy Support
A listing of services offered by Baltimore County Public Schools, The
Community College of Baltimore County and the Baltimore County Public
Library that support family literacy and success in reading. From this site,
you can search for Baltimore County Public Library materials to help
your child learn to read, to work on phonics, or to help adults master
English as a foreign language.
PBS Parents Guide to
Reading and Language
How do children from birth to grade 3 learn to read? Activities to encourage
reading and writing are offered. Provided by the Public Broadcasting System.
Reading Rockets
A project of WETA providing useful articles, expert advice and
tips on helping children learn to read
or helping the
struggling reader.
Ready*Set*Read
for Families
A project of the Corporation for National Service, the United States
Department of Education, and
the United States Department of Health and Human Services
Language activities for children birth to age five are offered.
Stories to Enjoy
from Baltimore County Public Library's Kid's Pages.
Looking for suggestions? We have booklists for specific age groups or
specific grades; some lists have award winning books. There are also stories
to read or listen to online. Try our
E-zines as well.
Summer Reading Tips for Parents
Provided by
LD OnLine.
School may be out but children who continue to read gain reading skills. You
can make reading fun!
Take 15
for the Family
A Maryland State Department of Education statewide family literacy program.
Families
are encouraged to take at least 15 minutes each day doing everyday
activities, like eating dinner together, and turning those moments into
learning opportunities. Site includes
activities, website links, and parent tips.
Tips for
Reading Aloud [PDF]
Why should you read to
your child? Tips on reading aloud provided.
Back to Top
Choosing Quality
Child Care
After-School Programs
The Maryland Committee for Children provides a search the database for after-school programs in your area.
Basic Child Care/ Babysitting
Ask NOAH provides advice on selecting and hiring a sitter, child care provider or
nanny.
Child Care Links: Child Care
Resource and Referral Center for Baltimore County
Counselors are available to discuss child care needs and to refer parents to
licensed/registered child
care providers/programs in Baltimore County through the free
Locate: Child Care
service.
Child Care Resources
Handbook
Provided
by the United States Office of Personnel Management.
Excellent guide for determining the quality of child care centers. Includes questions to ask during the initial telephone screening and a
checklist of things to observe when visiting child care centers or homes. Lists child care referral agencies and federally sponsored child
care centers around the nation.
Child Left Home Alone and
Babysitter Law in Maryland
Provided by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.
State law covers leaving children unattended and the minimum age for a
babysitter.
Childcare for Your Baby
Provided by
BabyCenter LLC.
All types of childcare options exist. Practical advice given about
each option.
Good parenting information is also available.
Choosing Child
Care: A Guide to Help You Make the Right Choice
Provided by Child Care Links Locate
counselors.
Useful for choosing appropriate child care arrangements for your family.
Choosing Your
Child's Care and Schooling
Provided by Baltimore's Child, Inc.
Tips for choosing child care or a preschool for your child.
Finding the Right
Child Care/Caregiver
Provided
by Maryland State Department of Education. Division of Early Childhood
Development. Office of Child Care.
The Division is responsible for all child care
licensing and regulation in Maryland. Find out why
regulated child care is important. What about a friend or relative providing care? What
is a licensed child care center or registered family child care home?
Is Your Child
Ready to Stay Home Alone?
Questions to ask yourself when making your decision
provided by the National Network for Child Care (NNCC).
Locate:
Child Care across Maryland
Provided
by the Maryland Committee for Children.
Access a resource and referral database of
all regulated child care centers in Maryland. Parents can obtain referrals in their neighborhoods or near their
workplaces.
Maryland
Committee for Children
Advice on many topics including finding child care for
children with special needs or disabilities, addressing concerns with
a current child care situation, or learning about the Purchase of Care (POC)
child care subsidy program.
Maryland's
Regulations for Child Care Facilities
Provided by
the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care.
Documents from the Code of Maryland
Regulations (COMAR) that concern health and safety requirements in Maryland
child care facilities are linked to from this site.
Nanny for Your Family
Provided by International Nanny Association.
Answers to questions about in-home child care and about the hiring process.
The work may be full-time or part-time, and the nanny may or may not live
with the family.
Purchase of Care
Subsidy Program (POC)
Provided by Maryland Department of Human Resources.
Find out about financial assistance
for eligible working families with child care costs. Information given on the
Purchase of Care Program in Baltimore County
that assists eligible families living in Baltimore
County with childcare costs while parents work, attend school, or training.
Back to Top
Great Parenting Sites!
Abilities Network, Inc
A local provider of family-centered services to children, adults and
families of all ages, with a variety of disabilities and challenges.
Baltimore's Child
Both a print and online newspaper for families. Has a calendar of
events, a parent to parent message board, feature articles and directories
of preschools, party performers, summer camps, child care, resources for
families of children with special needs, etc.
Boot Camp
for New Dads (BCND)
Experienced fathers provide advice to first time dads.
Brand
New Dad
An online community and resource center for new and expectant fathers
featuring news articles, advice, forums and product reviews.
Connections: Children, Youth
and Family Resources
A project of Baltimore County Children and Youth Council and Baltimore County
Public Library.
Do you need to make a decision about child care, counseling, or legal
rights? Are you going through a difficult time? Find local
community organizations that can help you get to the information or
assistance you need.
CYFERNet -
Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network
Quality articles on assessing the quality of child care and on parenting from
early childhood through the teen years, with activities for learning
Just For Kids.
Daily Parent
Provided
by Child Care Aware.
Find the latest information on child development issues, tips for finding
child care and numerous resources for busy parents and child care
professionals.
FamilyEducation
Provided by
Family Education Network.
Valuable information for parents of pre-kindergarten through high school
children. Topics
include health and safety, homework help, learning disabilities and activities for
children.
Healthy Families - Baltimore County
Provided by Abilities Network, Inc.
Program providing hands-on, one-to-one parenting skills training to families
of new babies, continuing until the newborn is up to five years old. The
program strives to insure that each child has a healthy start and arrives at
their first day of school ready to learn, while simultaneously preventing
child abuse and neglect by instilling strong parenting skills in its
participants.
Maryland Public Television Parent
Time
Find out about current programs being broadcast and find other useful links for
parents.
Parenting A-Z
Provided by Zero to Three.
A Washington District of Columbia
child-advocacy group gives a wealth of information on topics that impact the
physical, cognitive and social development of infants and toddlers.
Parenting, Children and Adolescent Resources in Baltimore County
by Baltimore County Department of Social Services
Links are available to the services found in the County.
Parents' Place of Maryland: A Center for Families of Children with
Disabilities
This is an excellent resource for parents. It includes an explanation of the jargon related
to special education, resources on assistive technology and disabilities.
Back to Top
Health and Safety Watch
American Academy of
Pediatric Dentistry
Find a pediatric dentist near you, answers parents' frequently asked
questions and gives information on quieting an anxious child, dental care
for a special child.
American
Academy of Pediatrics
A parenting corner covers many health topics such as finding a pediatrician,
immunization information and more.
Attendance
at Child Care: Should My Child Be in Care with This Illness?
Provided by Maryland Committee for Children.
Guidelines offered for parents in determining whether to send a sick child
to day care or not. These are useful until you can contact your doctor for advice.
AutismConnect
Information about autism research, educational resources, and advocacy
organizations available to families in Maryland.
Baltimore County Department of Health
Services and screening programs are available to children, adolescents and
adults through several bureaus.
Baltimore County's Car Seat Program
Information on choosing the right car seat, how to
install child passenger safety seats and the laws and
best practices governing child passenger safety.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Health and safety topics covered that include birth
defects, child development, diseases and conditions. The CDC provides this
great website on health topics, designed just for kids at BAM! Body and
Mind.
Child and
Adolescent Mental Health
Covers mental disorders, treatment, children and violence, depression,
eating disorders and more from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Child Nutrition and
Health
General information,
associations/organizations, food and nutrition fun and resource lists
available from the Food and Nutrition Information Center.
Children's
Health
Provided by MedlinePlus.
Information on most childhood health topics, specific diseases and
conditions, from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted medical
sources. Useful directories for finding pediatricians and low-cost or
no-cost health insurance programs for children by state.
Children's Health
Provided by NOAH, New York Online Access to Health.
Find information on childhood illnesses, growth and development charts,
exercise and more.
Facts for
Families
Provided by American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Practical advice is available for parents on coping with a child's or teen's feelings, behaviors,
and emotions.
Family Tree
A 24/7 family crisis hotline, called Family Stressline, at
800-243-7337 is provided to parents who need help on
discipline and handling an angry child. The Family Tree's purpose is to prevent child abuse and neglect
in families. Parental tips are available on handling stress and discipline.
GetNetWise
Practical
information for parents on Internet safety and online risks for different
age-level is given. This site tells you how to identify and report
online trouble. Tools for Families has information on filters and other
technology for protecting your child.
Health InfoCenter
Provided by Baltimore County Public Library.
Links to local hospitals and other health services. Locate a local doctor
and find out information on many health topics.
Injury
Prevention
Provided by Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Designed for kids and parents on how to be safe while playing and in the
home. Information on treating common injuries is given.
KidsHealth
Expert information on parent, kid and teen health as well as specialized
material for each age
group from the Nemours Foundation.
Maryland Center for Maternal and
Child Health
Provided by Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Family Health
Administration.
Where to Find Services for mothers and children in Maryland.
Parenting Health Center
Provided by
Yahoo Health.
Covers all ages of children and all aspects of parenting, including dealing
with emotions and behavior, drug use and discipline.
Parent's Corner
by Baltimore County Public Library.
Internet safety tips are highlighted.
Pregnancy
Provided byNOAH, New York Online Access to
Health.
For mothers to be! An all inclusive site that covers pre-natal and
post-natal care.
Simple Steps to Better Dental Health
Provided by
Aetna Inc.
Parent's guide to infant and children's dental health, preparing for the
first dental visit and repairing children's teeth.
WiredSafety
Provides information and education for all ages on how to safely surf the
Internet. Includes mobile device safety and tips for parents on
how to keep their children safe online.
You Care So Be Aware: Child Safety Resources
Prepared by experts within various Baltimore County agencies dealing with
children and child welfare.
This resource covers many
topics such as bullying, stranger danger and child abuse. Designed
to answer your questions and tell you about the services Baltimore County
offers.
Back to Top
Resources for
Child Care Providers
Afterschool.gov
One-stop resource for federal information on running a program, current news and
legislation, etc.
Baltimore County Family Child Care
Association
A membership organization that
is a source of current information on issues involving child care and education for family child care providers.
Child
Care Bureau
Information on funding available to serve low-income children, to serve
nutritious meals in your center, or to start a program and more. Provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families.
Child Care Links: Child Care
Resource and Referral Center for Baltimore County
Support services and training opportunities provided to potential and
current child care providers. Check out or visit the
Resource Room to create your own learning
tools and visual aids or browse their collection of resources.
Child Care Nutrition
Resource System
Recipes, resources and information on food safety in the child care setting.
Provided by the National Agricultural Library's Food and Nutrition
Information Center
CYFERNet -
Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network
Quality information is included for the child care professional on business
management, educational materials, child care program development, dealing
with challenging behaviors and discipline, and much more. Parenting
materials and learning activities
Just For Kids from
early childhood through the teen years available.
Daycare Provider's
Curriculum Pages
Curriculum ideas, craft and activity suggestions.
Daycare Provider's
Information
Everything you need to know about starting a Daycare form the US Department
of Health & Human Services, National Child Care Information Center.
Including
Children with Disabilities in Child Care
Provided by the National Child Care Information Center. Organizations,
publications, and web sites that offer strategies for including children
with disabilities in child care settings.
Maryland Child
Care Resource Network (MCCRN)
Information on starting and operating a child care center or
a family child care home. Includes a searchable database of
training available for providers.
Maryland Committee for
Children (MCC)
Links to regulations, information
on Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP) and Maryland Model for School
Readiness (MMSR). Search for licensed child care and out-of-school
activities. The Committee is a major advocate for quality child care, early
education, and family support in Maryland.
Maryland State Department
Education. Division of Early Childhood Development. Office of Child Care
This Department is responsible
for all child care licensing, including the licensing or re-licensing of new
or existing child care facilities. Oversees child care regulations,
investigates complaints of improper or illegal child care, enforces
regulations, and helps caregivers comply with regulations.
National Child
Care Information Center
From the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau.
Source for research on the young child, federal initiatives, conferences,
organizations, and state demographics relating to child care.
National Network for Child Care
Resources related to child care and child development.
National Resource Center for
Health and Safety in Child Care
Good site to find federal performance
standards for child care and state licensing regulations. Also includes health and safety
hot links.
Read Rover
Offers library services to
licensed day care centers and home providers in Baltimore County. Children
enjoy a story time with both stories and an activity; teachers or providers
may select material to keep in their centers until the next visit. A
service of Baltimore County Public Library's Mobile Library Services.
Teacher Loan Card
A special library card from the Baltimore County Public Library is available
to media specialists and teachers at Baltimore County public and private
schools, day care centers, child care providers, home school teachers
working with Baltimore County schools, and employees and volunteers of
Baltimore County agencies or non-profit groups.
Teaching Our Youngest: A Guide for Preschool Teachers and Child Care and
Family Providers
What you can do to help children develop their language abilities, recognize
numbers and learn to count, learn letters and sounds and encourage learning.
Provided by the United States Department of Education.
Transition to Kindergarten
Information and tips about how parents can help children transition to
kindergarten. Provided by Child Care Aware.
Back to Top
Your Child's Education
Back to School
Tips
Checklist for first day at school, tips on starting at a new school,
handling school avoidance, setting study habits from the American Academy of
Pediatricians.
Baltimore County Public Schools
Information for Parents
This source includes information of interest to
parents. The Student Handbook, homework
guidelines, and other policies are available
online. Information on school boundaries, the magnet
program, alternative education programs, school
registration and parent-teacher communication
are covered.
OnLINE Librarians' Network for the Essential Curriculum
created
by Baltimore County Public Schools Office of
Library Information Services.
Access given to resources for students,
parents and teachers. The
Essential
Curriculum K-12
gives links that will support courses at each grade level
listed under the Elementary, Middle and
High School Level Links. The Parent Summaries
link give parents an outline of what students are
expected to learn and be able to do in all subject
areas for each grade.
Parent Support Services
A site that informs parents of available parenting
programs, provides tips for helping children with
homework and
lists homework resources available to students and offers suggestions
for finding
tutors.
Tips for
preparing your child for school and for supporting them as they learn,
as well as
listing what a child is taught for each grade,
pre-kindergarten through high school and much more.
Special Education
in Baltimore County
General information, evaluation process, Individualized Education Program
(IEP) process explained,
addresses many frequently asked questions.
Creating an Atmosphere for Learning at Home
Provided by the Vermont-National Education Association.
Getting Involved in Your
Child's Education
Provided
by National Education Association.
Guides on understanding testing done in schools, preparing a preschooler for
the move to kindergarten, helping with reading, math and sciences and more.
Guide
to the Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Provided by the United States Department of Education, Office
of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
Assists parents in understanding the requirements
of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for children with
disabilities, including preschool-aged children.
Homeschool
Resources
by Baltimore County Public Library Education and Homework InfoCenter.
Information and
resources for parents and caregivers of home-schooled children.
Education and Homework InfoCenter
by Baltimore County Public Library.
Links to local public schools information and school
boundaries as well as local
private schools, tutors, after school programs, and learning disabilities. Homework resources
as well.
Individualized Education Plans (IEP)
Provided
by KidsHealth.org
Basic information about what it is, who needs it, the process and developing
the plan.
Learning
Disabilities
Provided by
the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Fact sheets and introductions to all types of Learning disabilities.
Maryland Business Roundtable
for Education - Parents Count
Created
to
provide support and information to parents on how they can help their
children succeed in school.
Maryland Committee for Children: Countdown to Kindergarten
Links for parents to help get children ready for school.
Maryland State
Department of Education
Information
on Maryland’s preK-12 public education, public libraries, and rehabilitation
services. Oversees
Maryland legal requirements that apply to nonpublic schools enrolling
students in Nursery School (ages 3 and 4) through Grades 12 and
nonpublic schools providing special education.
NAEYC,
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Promoting Excellence in Early Childhood Education, NAEYC is the nation's
largest organization of early childhood professionals.
Questions Parents Ask About Schools
Provided by the United States Department of Education.
How to get children ready for school, helping with homework, working with
teachers.
Ready at Five
Partnership
Parent tips to help children learn through building of skills.
Special Education Resources
Provided by the
Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early
Intervention Services.
Collaborates with families, local early intervention systems, and local
school systems to ensure that all children and youth with disabilities have
access to appropriate services and educational opportunities to which they
are entitled under federal and state laws.
Tips for Parents
Provided by ReadyWeb.
Information and tips on helping your child get ready for school.
Tools for Student Success
Provided by the United States Department of Education.
Excellent tips for parents on helping your child become a reader, helping
your child with homework, helping your preschool child develop skills for
success in school, helping your child through early adolescence, helping
your child learn math or science and more.
Tutors and Tutorial Services
Provided by the Baltimore County Public Library's Community Information Directory.
Need a tutor? The Community Information Directory lists some local people
and organizations that provide the service.
Your Child Goes to Kindergarten [PDF]
by the Maryland State Department of Education, Early Learning Office.
What are the skills needed and what you as a parent can do to help your
child get the skills.
Your Child Goes to Pre-kindergarten [PDF]
Provided by the Maryland State Department of Education, Early Learning Office.
Back to Top
General
Resources
Child Care Aware
Great parenting and child care information including how to decide if you should
stay home or go back to work and how to budget for child care expenses.
Sponsored by the National Association of Child Care Resources and Referral
Agencies (NACCRRA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Child and Family WebGuide
An online directory of websites with
website evaluation for parents with children of all ages, child-care
professionals and students.
Sites are evaluated by graduate students at
Tufts University who are closely supervised by faculty members.
KidsClick
A project of Ramapo Catskill Library System.
Web searching for kids and
those who work with them.
Parenting
Directory and specific resources on parenting issues from the Librarians' Internet Index.
Resources for Families
Provided by American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Provides information and links to a variety of resources including a
glossary of terms on children's mental health, list of symptoms of mental
illness, the impact of pop culture
on children and the latest information on psychiatric medication and it's
effects on children and young adults.
Back to Top
indicates local interest.
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