We often use the internet as our “go to” resource for a variety of topics. However, you may notice when searching for topics as a parent, you may end up on many unrelated sites or non-relevant sites with a flood of advertising. 

 

It can become very time consuming for busy parents to search for real information and separate the wheat from the chaff. How is a parent to know facts from opinion? When a parent finds information on a particular condition or “disorder”, one can start to check off the symptoms and believe it is true for their child.   The danger here is that the article can be written from another person’s perspective without any research or statistics to back it up. 

 

It is best that parents keep within professional sites where research and fact-finding is a priority. Below are the top ten sites geared to parents that offer research based practices, a wealth of information, and user friendly navigation: 

 

1. www.parenthelplive.com : This content-rich site offers help for parents in a live format. Parents can receive newsletters and occasional webinars for free to gain key information absent of advertising outside the site. The big differentiator here is parents have access to licensed psychologists and counselors for therapy or consultation regarding their parenting concerns. The site also offers parent classes via the internet where parents can actually ask questions and comment within the class. Members can download all previous classes.

 

2. www.aap.org: This site (American Academy of Pediatrics) has a number of quality articles on a variety of topics. Articles are provided alphabetically and by age for parents. There are also professional articles and research.

 

3. www.healthychildcare.org: Healthy Child Care America coordinates with the American Academy of Pediatrics to improve early education and childcare. Newsletters, resources abound for parents of very young children. Parents can also click on a topic or interest and type (i.e., article, website, training, power point, handouts, etc.).

 

4. www.greatschools.net: For parents of children with learning difficulties, this is a good site for information. Articles are written by grade and also include articles for parents to be excellent advocates in the school system. There is also a community page which includes discussion boards.

 

5. www.nichcy.org: Offers a range of materials to connect people with easy to understand educational research. Includes practical examples of integrating research to practice. A good research for parents searching to understand and communicate with professionals and educators working with their child.

 

6. www.cfw.tufts.edu: This site dedicates their research to a “Child & Family Web guide” which evaluates, describes and provides links to hundreds of credible sites. If a parent has a specific issue or concern, simply review topics on parenting, education, health or medical and a list of described sites will follow. Parents can also search based on age.

 

7. www.webmd.com: This site provides quality and reliable health information with medical news, features, reference materials and online community programs. This site is dedicated not only to parents, but the general public.

 

8. www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/MINDInstitute : For parents with concerns with Autistic-spectrum or Pervasive Developmental Disorders, this is the site for you. Most professionals consider this the “gold-standard” for quality information on Autism due to their ongoing research and support groups within the Sacramento, CA area. For most parents, on site support for their children may not be feasible due to distance. However, this site includes videos from well respected doctors in the field, a newsletters, articles and resources (websites) for parents of children with disabilities.

 

9. www.educationcreations.com: This site offers parents creative educational ideas for home schooling, supplemental education, building language and other ideas. Great for homeschoolers or parents looking for enrichment for children of elementary school age.

 

10. www.cyfernet.org: Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network offers practical research-based information from the nation’s leading universities. Resources include references and high quality articles on a variety of topics to help parents cope, adapt and build healthy relationships.