Bounceback Parenting

Builds resilient, connected families by having a growth mindset in parenting and shows why connection, not perfection wins the day. Guided by the following credos:

• Everyone can learn and grow, starting right from where they are – Choosing to look at past mistakes and current challenges not as indications of failure, but as the foundation for growth and resilience.
• Seek out everyday connections – Finding joy in the ordinary, nurturing open communication, and looking for unexpected moments to connect.
• Practice compassionate self care – Getting to know and accept ourselves, learning to notice our own needs and taking steps to tend to those needs.
• Empower others – Building on strengths , allowing for growth, and expecting the best from the people around us.
• Give ourselves permission to pause – Reflecting on what we’ve learned, celebrating wins and honoring losses; creating space to be intentional.

Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood

Tips, advice, and ideas for low-screen, commercial-free options to keep kids engaged – and yourself sane – through quarantine or social distancing. CCFC is the leading nonprofit organization committed to helping children thrive in an increasingly commercialized, screen-obsessed culture, and the only organization dedicated to ending marketing to children.

Hand in Hand Parenting

Provides insights, skills, and support needed to listen to and connect with their children in a way that allows each child to thrive through easy-to-access support, classes, and literature. Tools and support to meet children's core needs for connection, guidance, and recovery from hard times. Offers vital information to help parents deal with issues from children biting and temper tantrums to learning issues and bullying.

Joyful Toddlers!

Provides insights, skills, and support needed to listen to and connect with their children in a way that allows each child to thrive through easy-to-access support, classes, and literature. Tools and support to meet children's core needs for connection, guidance, and recovery from hard times. Offers vital information to help parents deal with issues from children biting and temper tantrums to learning issues and bullying.

Leader in Me: Resources for Families

You are your child’s first and most influential teacher. No matter what is going on in your school, you can help your son or daughter discover the leader within and prepare for a great life of contribution and service. Throughout this website you will find practical resources that will help you teach the 7 Habits and other powerful leadership skills, establishing a framework to nurture and develop your child’s life-ready leadership skills at home. Resources will be available free for families through the end of this academic year (2019-20) and include: 

• Leader in Me Weekly bite-sized leadership lessons for the home such as 7 Habits Reflections for parents, Habit videos featuring kids for kids.
• The 7 Habits of Happy Kids Coloring Pages.
• The 7 Habits of Happy Kids Cartoons featuring Happy Kids characters and their adventures in learning the 7 Habits.
• Activity Blog for the home including a downloadable activity worksheet for you and your family.
• Student Leadership videos from the winners and finalists. Thought-provoking speeches highlight, from a student perspective, how to use leadership skills at home, at school, and in their communities.

LifeWays North America

LifeWays offers an innovative relationship-based vision for childcare for young children from Birth to age 6 with home as the model and life as the curriculum. Practices are inspired by the insights of Rudolf Steiner and the experience of Waldorf education and are supported by contemporary early childhood research as well as common sense and the wisdom of many generations of parents. LifeWays adheres to the following principles: 

1. Young children thrive in the presence of parents and other devoted caregivers who enjoy life and caring for children.
   
2. Having consistent caregivers, especially from birth to three years old and, preferably, up to primary school age, is essential for establishing a sense of trust and well-being.
   
3. Children need relationship with people of all ages.
   
4. Each person is uniquely valuable, gifted with purpose and worthy of respect throughout all phases of his or her life’s journey.
5. Human relationship and activity are the essential tools for teaching the young child all foundational skills for life.
   
6. In infancy and early childhood, daily life experience is the “curriculum.”
   
7. Young children thrive in a home or home-like environment that offers beauty, comfort and security, and connection to the living world of nature.
   
8. Childhood is a valid and authentic time unto itself and not just a preparation for schooling.
   
9. Parents of young children need and deserve support in their path of parenting—from professionals, family, and one another. They thrive in a setting where they are loved, respected and helped to feel love and understanding for their children.
   
10. Caregivers also have an intrinsic purpose and need to be recognized and appropriately compensated for the value of their work.
    

National Public Radio (NPR)
Comic: How To Turn Your Home Into A School Without Losing Your Sanity

This comic strip illustrates helpful tips for homeschooling, including how to design a space and time for learning, how to set realistic expectations, pursue passion projects and get to know you kid. This comic strip is adapted from an episode of Life Kit, an NPR podcast that talks to experts for advice on ways to be a better human, with topics ranging from financial advice to parenting.

Parenting Playbook 

Ideas, strategies and fun from the Chicago Children's Museum.  The Parenting Playbook has parents and caregivers covered. Follow along for tips, tricks, and secrets from our experts and friends. 

PBS for Parents

Young children are always developing and exploring their world. Whether it’s learning empathy, honesty and self-confidence, or reading, music and problem solving, there are opportunities and challenges at every age. Help them thrive at every stage with tips and activities for ages 2 to 8. Age-by-age tips and activities to help a child learn and grow including emotions and self-awareness, social skills, character, literacy, math, science, and arts. Choose a number from the top-right of the homepage to go directly to a full list for that particular age.

Simplicity Parenting

For those who want to balance their children’s lives. Offers both inspiration and a blueprint for change, a simple, orderly, and effective pathway to simplify four realms at home, which reduces stress on children and their parents, and allows room for connection, creativity, and relaxation. The four realms for simplifying are:

• Environment: De-cluttering too much stuff at home.
• Rhythm: Increasing predictability by introducing rhythmic moments for connection and calm.
• Scheduling: Soothing violent schedules brings moments for Being into all the Doing.
• Unplugging: Reducing the influence of adult concerns, media and consumerism on children and families to increase resilience, social and emotional intelligence.