Smart Television Alliance
Sponsored by TIVO, the Smart Television Alliance is a great resource for making smart choices for family TV entertainment. See the program recommendations for different age groups and check the blog for ideas to make TV watching both educational and fun for kids.
50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story
New media expert, Alan Levine, guides you to use Web 2.0 tools to tell a story with images, video, sound, Powerpoint, and more. Create a story about your family vacation and other life events with the latest web-based tools for creative storytelling.
All Pro Dad
With NFL spokesmen and sponsors, All Pro Dad is a great resource for fathers and children. While the web site offers daily email tips for better fathering and a wide range of free articles and resources, the real power of All Pro Dad is going on in the monthly breakfast meetings in communities around the U.S. Check out Monthly Breakfasts to learn how to get the program going in your community.
Kodak Photo Tips and Projects Center
Find quick tips to improve your family photography at the Kodak Tips Center. You'll see ideas for taking great photos of babies, parties, vacations, holidays, plus how to take better pictures with your camera phone. Lots of fun and inspiration for gifts and projects with digital photos are in the Project Center.
Literary Mama
Subtitled 'a literary magazine for the maternally inclined', Literary Mama is the perfect stop for reading on a winter day. The online zine has excellent writing in the categories of creative non-fiction, fiction, literary reflections, poetry, profiles and reviews, opinion pieces, and a blog.
PBS Frontline: Growing Up Online
Parents of elementary school-age children need to understand the teen world online to prepare for the challenges our children will face in no time. We can start now to educate ourselves and teach our kids to be independent, confident, smart, and safe when they begin to experience the online worlds of Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube.
Freedom's Feast Thanksgiving Ceremony
A free resource for Thanksgiving ceremonies to celebrate freedom in the United States. Families can use the 10-minute version for a learning opportunity during the Thanksgiving meal. Longer versions are available for school and other group celebrations. The site includes PDF versions of the different Thanksgiving ceremonies and a video to see a ceremony in action.
HABA Toys
As you prepare for the toy-buying season, check out the high-quality, European-based HABA toys. If you don't have specialty toy stores in your area that carry HABA, you can find online retailers to make your purchase. Browse through the manufacturer's web site; and then, use their store finder to locate great toys for your child.
Peppers and Pollywogs
Children's party ideas are featured at Peppers and Pollywogs, a great-looking commercial blog with lots of creative and free content. Lisa Kothari also has a book about kids' party planning and a selection of cards to purchase for customized party invitations. You'll find lots of ideas for seasonal and birthday parties so browse around and be inspired!
Free Printable Behavior Charts
You'll find free printable chore charts of all kinds at this great resource site. Browse by age or find specific behavior target charts, along with charts for musical instrument practice, teeth brushing, and more. Family counselor and mom, Joanne McNulty, also gives great advice in her articles. In the Chore Lists for Kids article, she describes chores that are appropriate for children at different ages.
Visual Thesaurus
I've raved about this innovative web site from the first time I saw it, and it's still a regular stop for us at homework time and any time I need a better word while writing. The visual format of the thesaurus is so powerful and simple to use. Children will be fascinated by the way the word networks are presented; and, it's a great source of creativity and vocabulary development. To give it a try, simply type your starting word in the box; then, watch the words explode on your screen.
