During the month of May we asked our viewers to share with us some websites other than Erie Sprout that they find helpful for themselves and their families. Because of all the responses submitted we decided to write an article recognizing those websites. If your favorite family friendly website is not included, please email it to us at info@eriesprout.com so we can continue to update this list.
1. Starfall (http://www.starfall.com)
Founded in 2002 by the Polis-Schutz family, Starfall is a free public service designed to motivate children to read with phonics. The systematic phonics approach, in conjunction with phonemic awareness practice is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, home school, and English language development.
2. Fun Brain (http://www.funbrain.com)
Fun Brain is an education website designed for K-8 kids and teachers. Featuring interactive educational games that focus on math, grammar, and science, Fun Brain promotes enthusiastic learning. The website also features resources for teachers, including a game finder, curriculum guide, standards guide, and printable flashcards.
3. PBS KIDS (http://www.pbskids.org)
PBS Kids aims to make a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based entertainment, created specifically for kids in their early elementary school years. The websites 360-degree approach towards learning and reaching children leverages the full spectrum of media and technology to build knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity.
4. PBS KIDS GO! (http://www.pbskidsgo.org)
PBS Kids GO empowers kids to discover themselves, define the diverse world around them, explore new relationships and embrace a love of learning. The website features video clips, games, activities and resources, as well as web-only sites including EekoWorld, History Detectives for Kids, PBS KIDS Jazz and American Experience’s “Wayback.”
5. PBS KIDS PLAY! (http://www.pbskidsplay.org)
PBS KIDS PLAY is a personalized learning service for kid’s ages 3 to 6 that is designed to enhance school readiness. The website offers educational games that adjust in difficulty based on each child’s skill level. It also features easy-to-use parental tools that enable parents to track their child’s learning progress.
6. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) (http://www.samhsa.gov)
SAMSHA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. The Agency’s programs are carried out through The Center for Mental Health Services, The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and The Office of Applied Studies.
7. Kaboose (http://www.kaboose.com)
Kaboose is the premier family and parenting destination with kids’ crafts, holiday fun and activities, healthy food recipes, free online games, expert health and parenting information, community message boards, parenting blogs, photos, videos, shopping, interactive quizzes tools, and much more.
8. Fathers.com (http://www.fathers.com)
Father.com believes that every child needs a dad they can count on, and the National Center for Fathering inspires and equips men to be the involved fathers, grandfathers and father figures their children need. The website focuses work in four areas: research, training, programs and resources.
9. Snag a Job (http://www.snagajob.com)
Since 2000, SnagAJob has been hooking up America’s hourly workforce with great hourly jobs. The website is not only a job board, but also offers advice and resources for job seekers.
10. All Pro Dad (http://www.allprodad.com)
All Pro Dad is a program that helps men to become better fathers. Pro Dad’s 50 NFL spokesmen, multiple NFL seminars, 850 All Pro Dad’s Days, and Play of the Day daily emails inspire fathers to be actively involved in their children’s lives. All Pro Dad is an initiative of Family First, whose mission is to strengthen the family by establishing family as a top priority in people’s lives and by promoting principles for building marriages and raising children.
11. iMOM (http://www.imom.com)
iMOM is an initiative of Family First, the complement to the organization’s popular All Pro Dad fatherhood program. The websites focus is to equip mothers with information, ideas and encouragement to positively impact their children in the following areas: wisdom, health, purpose and relationships.
12. The Family Minute (http://www.familyminute.com)
The Family Minute is a media production of Family First, a national non-profit organization based in Tampa, Florida. The Family Minute reaches millions of listeners each week, offering them practical, everyday advice on marriage, parenting and family relationships.
13. Nick Jr. (http://www.nickjr.com)
Nick Jr. features activities and games for your preschooler and children, featuring Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, and much more. The website also features great family activities and crafts.
14. Parent Magic (http://www.parentmagic.com)
Parent Magic is a resource for parenting solutions that are easy to learn and proven to work. The website was developed by Dr. Thomas Phelan, a registered clinical psychologist and an internationally renowned expert on child discipline and Attention Deficit Disorder. Parent Magic is dedicated to helping parents build strong, positive relationships with their children and overcome the stress that can take the fun out of parenting.
15. DLTK’s Crafts for Kids (http://www.dltk-kids.com)
DLTK’s Crafts for Kids features a variety of fun, printable children’s crafts, coloring pages and more, including projects for holidays, educational themes, and some of your children’s favorite cartoon characters.
16. The Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center (http://www.pealcenter.org)
The PEAL center was established in 2005 as an organization of parents of children with disabilities reaching out to assist other parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. The PEAL Center offers training on education issues in the 43 counties covered by the parent training and information center, and training on health care issues and home and community supports statewide.
17. Mission Empower (http://www.missionempower.org)
Mission Empower envisions a community where all youth with disabilities use their gifts and talents as they are groomed for success to follow their dreams while changing their community for the better. Formerly EAIY, Mission Empower was formed to address the dire need to integrate all youth with disabilities into their communities and society as a whole.
