Helpful resources we found while compiling research for the SINGLE PARENT WISDOM series of 16 books. This is a continuing process. Resources will be updated so check back frequently. Click on the specific topic or subject of interest. We only list the resources we have checked out and feel worthy to recommend. We've added a Link to websites or if the item is available for purchase or download at Amazon.com.
A resources for information about
abuse;
affirmations;
alcohol abuse; become
assertive;
audio programs; autism
B resources for information about parenting
babies;
behavior;
blending families/step parenting;
blogs for parents; setting up a
budget
C resources for information about
character development;
child development;
co-dependency;
co-parenting;
communicating;
coping;
crisis/tragedy
D resources for information for
dads;
dating; raising a
daughter; making
decisions;
discipline;
divorce;
drug abuse
E to G resources for ebooks; education;
etiquette;
exercise tips; to locate parenting
experts; parenting a
family;
family fun ideas;
finances;
games;
gender differences;
grandparents raising grandchildren;
grief
H to L resources for
health questions;
hotlines when you need help now;
humorous stuff;
incentives for good behavior
M to N resources for
magazines for children;
magazines for parents;
manners;
meditation; military family;
money management;
music;
negotiation tips;
nurture yourself
O to Q resources for
optimism and positive thinking;
organizing your home/life;
parenting experts;
poems;
preschoolers;
preteens/tweens;
procrastination; inspirational
quotations
R to S resources for
recommended reading for children;
role models;
school-age child;
self esteem;
sibling rivalry;
simplify your life;
single parenting; raising a
son;
step parenting/blending families;
stress management
T to Z resources for helpful information for and about
teens;
television;
time management tips;
time out discipline method;
tragedy/crisis;
tweens/preteens; teaching your child
values;
video games;
volunteering
For books listed as out of print or with an old copyright date, try searching libraries, used book stores or the Internet, such as Amazon.com for used books.
Back to top
ABUSE
hotline
-
24-hour National (U.S.) Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TDD) will connect you directly to your local domestic violence program.
organization
-
National Clearinghouse of Family Violence -- Public Health Agency of Canada, URL: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf. Resource centre for information on violence within relationships of kinship, intimacy, dependency or trust. Does not provide social services, legal advice or counseling support.
websites
-
National Clearinghouse of Family Violence -- Public Health Agency of Canada URL: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/
-
Shelter Net: Making the Links for Abused Women (Canada), URL: www.shelternet.ca Available in English and 9 other languages. Canada's first and only national online resource and support network for abused women and their children. Just for Kids page has helpful information for children. The Teens page relates well to a teen with questions or facing danger. Friends and Family page gives good advice when you know or suspect abuse.
ALCOHOL ABUSE
organizations
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), URL: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/. There are many local meeting areas — check your phone book or the AA website under "How to Find A.A. meetings". Covers United States and Canada.
- Alanon for spouse or former spouse of alcoholic, URL: www.al-anon.org/ for a chapter near you. Phone: 1-888-4AL-ANON (1-888-425-2666)
- Alateen for children of alcoholics, URL: www.al-anon.org/
-
Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization, Inc., URL: www.adultchildren.org/
book
- The Enabler: When helping harms the ones you love by Angelyn Miller. New York: Ballantine Books, 1988.Available at Amazon.com Also available in Kindle.
ASSERTIVE -- learn to stand up for yourself and teach your child to also
books
- Confidence: How Winning Streaks and Losing Streaks Begin and End by Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Three Rivers Press, 2006. Available at Amazon.com
- Don’t Say YES When You Want To Say NO by Herbert Fensterheim and Jean Baer. New York: Dell, 1975. Check your library, used bookstore or Amazon.com
- Finesse 'em: How to get what you want without a sledgehammer by Peter Davidson. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: CeShore, 2008. [I love this title. Easy to read.]
AUDIO
AUTISM
website
- Easter Seals Autism Services, URL: Autism Online Resource Guide. Lots of information: articles, books, e-newsletter, hope. Patricia Wright, Ph.D., MPH, National Director
- Parents magazine has an accessible online resource guide, URL: www.parents.com/.
Back to top
Back to beginning of A
B resources for Babies; Behavior; Blending Families/Step Parenting; Blogs for parents
BABIES
article
- Especially enjoyed "Forty-two things that change when you have a baby," from BabyCenter, including readers' comments.
books
- Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (5th Edition) Available at Amazon.com.
- Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care (9th Edition) by the late Benjamin Spock (1903-1998) and Robert Neddlman. Available at Amazon.com.
- Practical Parenting Tips Over 1500 Helpful Hints for the First Five Years by Vicki Lansky. Diamond Pocket Books, 2008. Available at Amazon.com. Great book full of helpful ideas. Easy to read.
- What to Expect When You're Expecting (4th Edition) by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. Available at Amazon.com.
- What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway. Workman Publishing. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
- The Wonder Years: Helping your baby and young child successfully negotiate the major developmental milestones from American Academy of Pediatrics, edited by Tanya Remer Altmann. 2007. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
- Your Baby and Child: From birth to age five by Penelope Leach. Borzoi Book, 2000. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
Book to read to older child soon to be a big brother or sister:
The Berenstain Bears' New Baby by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
Available at Amazon.com.
magazines
organization
- American Academy of Pediatrics, URL: www.aap.org/. "Committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults."
websites
- American Academy of Pediatrics, URL: www.aap.org/.
- BabyCenter, URL: www.babycenter.com/--offers bulletin boards for you to post questions or concerns and to read questions posted by others. Plus journals about life before the baby arrives and after the baby is born. Besides info for getting pregnant, during your pregnancy, and caring for babies, there are sections for Toddlers, Preschoolers, Big Kids, For You, Community and links for Shopping and Toys. Current copyright. Brought to you by BabyCenter LLC.
- DrSpock.com is a website from the Dr. Spock Company. Information only. There are articles of interest divided by age group. [The site doesn't appear to be currently funded. Site's copyright date is 2005.]
- Ivillage’s parenting and pregnancy section, URL: parenting.ivillage.com/
- KidsHealth.com, from the health experts of Nemours Foundation; select Parents, Kids or Teens sites; doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence.
-
Website for Parenting Magazine and Babytalk URL: www.parenting.com/. Bonnier Corporation
BEHAVIOR
audio
- How To Use Time-Out Effectively audio program by Dr. Lynn Clark from SOS Programs and Parents Press. Listen to interviews at URL: www.sosprograms.com
books
- 25 Ways to Encourage Good Behavior (Single Parent Wisdom) by Julie Prescott. Corning, Iowa: Wynot Publications, 2009. Available at your library, your favorite bookstore, this website singleparentwisdom.com, Amazon.com, and other book sites. Paperback: 59 pages plus appendices, bibliography and index.
- Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available at Amazon.com. Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index.
- Get in Control! Feel emotions, choose behavior by Julie Prescott. Corning, Iowa: Wynot Publications, 2011. Available at your library, your favorite bookstore, this website singleparentwisdom.com, Amazon.com, and other book sites. Paperback: 59 pages plus appendices, bibliography and index.
- How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too! by Sal Severe. New York: Viking Penguin, 2000. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
- I'm Not Your Friend, I'm Your Parent: Helping your children set the boundaries they need...and really want by E.D. Hill. Thomas Nelson, 2008. Mother of 8 and TV news anchor. Available at Amazon.com.
- Kids Are Worth It!: Giving your child the gift of inner discipline by Barbara Coloroso. New York: Quill, 2002. Available at Amazon.com.
- No: Why Kids--of All Ages--Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It by David Walsh. New York: Free Press/Simon and Schuster, 2007. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
- 104 Activities That Build: Self-Esteem, Teamwork, Communication, Anger Management, Self-Discovery, Coping Skills by Alanna Jones. Rec Room Publishing, 1998. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
- Parent Effectiveness Training: The Proven Program for Raising Responsible Children by Thomas Gordon. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2000. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
- Practical Parenting for the 21st Century: The Manual You Wish Had Come With Your Child by Julie A. Ross. New York: Excalibur Publishing, 1993. Available at Amazon.com.
- Practical Parenting Tips Over 1500 Helpful Hints for the First Five Years (Revised and updated) by Vicki Lansky. Diamond Pocket Books, 2008. Available at Amazon.com. Easy to read. 221 pages.
- Redirecting Children's Behavior by Kathy Kvols and Bill Riedler. Seattle, WA: Parenting Press, 1997. Available at Amazon.com.
- SOS Help for Parents: A practical guide for handling common everyday behavior problems (3rd edition) by Lynn Clark. Bowling Green, Kentucky: Parents Press, 2005. Several chapters devoted to Time-Out. Available at Amazon.com.
hotline
- Boys Town, U.S. hotline 1-800-448-3000. You can also e-mail their hotline with your questions. It may take up to 48 hours for a response. Connect to the e-mail page through their website at URL: www.boystown.org/ "Saving children, healing families."
websites
Back to top
BLENDING FAMILIES, see STEP PARENTING
BLOGS parents might enjoy
Back to top
Back to beginning of B
C resources for Character; Child Development; Co-Dependency; Co-Parenting; Communication
CHARACTER
organization
- Institute for Character Development. "Parenting for Good Character." 2008. URL: charactercounts.org from the Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Is my child growing like other children her age? Although children progress at different stages, it is helpful to have a basis to make sure your child is progressing.
books
- The Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence. Gale Research, 1998. Available at Amazon.com. [Heavy duty reading.]
-
The Parenting Survival Kit: How to make it through the parenting years with your family, sanity, and wallet intact by Aleta Koman with Edward Myers. New York: Perigee, 2000. Includes a detailed chapter on child development. Available at Amazon.com.
-
The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate The Major Developmental Milestones by American Academy of Pediatrics. Tanya Remer Altmann, Editor, 2007. Available at Amazon.com.
websites
CO-DEPENDENCY
books
- The Enabler: When helping harms the ones you love by Angelyn Miller. New York: Ballantine Books, 1988. Available at Amazon.com Also available in Kindle.
- Silent Sons: A Book for and About Men by Robert J. Ackerman. New York: Fireside, 1993. Available at Amazon.com
organization
- Co-Dependents Anonymous "The CoDA World Fellowship." Locate a meeting in your area through their website: http://www.coda.org/.
CO-PARENTING
book
- Parenting Together: Men and Women Sharing the Care of Their Children by Diane Ehrensaft. New York: Free Press/Macmillan, 1987. Paperback 1990. Available at Amazon.com
fact sheets to read or print out
Is there a Cooperative Extension office in your county? They provide helpful information on a variety of topics.
COMMUNICATE -- talk -- listen
books
- Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler. McGraw-Hill, 2002. Available at Amazon.com. [Note: I wish I had found this book years ago to help me communicate better. Buy it. Read it. Apply it. Re-read it.] Also on Kindle.
- Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available at Amazon.com. Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index. Chapter on communication.
-
Listen More, Talk Less (Single Parent Wisdom. Available at your library, your favorite bookstore, this website singleparentwisdom.com, Amazon.com, and other book sites.
-
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex by John Gray. Quill, 2004. Helps you to understand the opposite sex better. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
-
104 Activities That Build: Self-Esteem, Teamwork, Communication, Anger Management, Self-Discovery, Coping Skills by Alanna Jones. Rec Room Publishing, 1998. Many group activities. Available at Amazon.com.
website
- Bacal Associates Workplace Supersite. Articles by Robert Bacal. URL: www.work911.com/articles.htm. This is a business site with helpful information to relate to anyone, including your children.
Back to top
Return to beginning of C
D resources for Dads; Dating; raising a Daughter; Decision-Making; Discipline; Divorce; Drug Abuse
DADS
Find release from parenting stress by joining a team: bowling, slow pitch, pick up basketball, lacrosse, soccer, or chess. Exercise.
books
- Dads and Daughters: How to Inspire, Understand, and Support Your Daughter When She's Growing Up So Fast by Joe Kelly. Broadway Books, 2003. Available at Amazon.com.
-
Fathering: Strengthening Connection With Your Children No Matter Where You Are by Will Glennon. Berkeley, CA: Conari Press, 1995. Available at Amazon.com.
- The 40-Year-Old Version: Humoirs of a Divorced Dad by Joel Schwartzberg. Deadwood, Oregon: Wyatt-MacKenzie, 2009. Available at Amazon.com. Collection of personal essays describing his life as a divorced dad. Funny. For reviews see the website www.divorceddadbook.com/.
-
The Single Father: A Dad's Guide to Parenting Without a Partner by Armin A. Brott. New York: Abbeville Press, 1999. Available at Amazon.com.
websites
- All Pro Dad: Giving dads the edge, URL: www.allprodad.com/. Head Coach is Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts.
- GreatDad.com "Because Dads don't always think like Moms." Articles, resources, blog and forum. Founded by Paul Banas.
- MrDad.com created by Armin Brott, "America’s most trusted dad" and author of The Single Father, plus other books. FAQ's on a variety of topics.
- National Center for Fathering, www.fathers.com/ or write P.O. Box 413888, Kansas City, MO 64141, phone 800-593-DADS (3237). Founded by Dr. Ken Canfield. Carey Casey is the CEO and author of Championship Fathering.
-
National Fatherhood Initiative, URL: www.fatherhood.org/. Roland Warren, President.
- Parental Guidance from New Jersey Online LLC. URL: www.nj.com/parenting
- SingleDad.com created by Richard RJ Jaramillo in 2007. Website claims it is the first comprehensive online resource developed for single dads. It provides an extensive array of valuable services, advice and referrals, plus an interactive social network that connects single dads nationwide. "Dedicated to helping single dads navigate through the daily challenges of single parenting by providing the highest quality resources and timely information to support the family’s continued health, wealth and general well-being."
Return to Top
DATING
blog
raising a DAUGHTER
books
- Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Piphier and Ruth Ross. New York: Berkley, 1994. Available at Amazon.com. Also in Kindle.
making DECISIONS wisely
books
- How to Make Decisions That Stay Made by Jon Saphier, Geoff Pierson and Tom Bigda-Peyton. 1989. 41 page booklet. Available at Amazon.com
DISCIPLINE
books
- How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too! by Sal Severe. New York: Viking Penguin, 2000. Available at Amazon.com
- I'm Not Your Friend, I'm Your Parent: Helping Your Children Set the Boundaries They Need...and Really Want by E.D. Hill. Thomas Nelson, 2008. Mother of 8 and TV news anchor. Available at Amazon.com
- Kids Are Worth It!: Giving your child the gift of inner discipline by Barbara Coloroso. New York: Quill, 2002. Available at Amazon.com.
- SOS Help for Parents: A practical guide for handling common everyday behavior problems (3rd edition) by Lynn Clark. Bowling Green, Kentucky: Parents Press, 2005. Available at Amazon.com. Several chapters devoted to Time-Out.
- 25 Ways to Encourage Good Behavior (Single Parent Wisdom. Available at your library, your favorite bookstore, this website singleparentwisdom.com, Amazon.com, and other book sites. Paperback: 59 pages plus appendices, bibliography and index.
websites
Return to Top
DIVORCE
book
- Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available at Amazon.com. Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index. Chapter about divorce and blended families.
website
- divorce360.com. Helpful articles to answer the many questions you ask yourself, before, during and after a divorce. Plus blogs and groups to chat about specifics.
DRUG ABUSE HELP
organizations
Return to Top of Page
Return to beginning of D
E-F-G resources for E-Books; Education; Etiquette; Exercise; Parenting Experts; Parenting a Family; Family Fun; Finances; Friends; Games; Gender Differences; Grandparents raising Grandchildren; Grief
E-BOOKS
website
- Smashwords.com. Find a large variety of e-books, including books by Julie Prescott at reasonable prices. Formats available: PDF, text, Kindle,Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, RTF, LRF, Palm Doc and others.
EDUCATION
website
- Single Moms: Find money to attend college at Grants for Single Mothers. In today's economy, getting a college degree, or at least a 2-year vocational education, can increase your income for many years to come. Provide a better life for your family. [Be careful about providing too much personal information to a website.]
EXERCISE
book
- Yoga For Dummies (Second edition) by Georg Feuerstein and Larry Payne. Pub: For Dummies, 2010. Available at Amazon.com. 408 pages. Available on Kindle.
organizations
Join your local YMCA, YWCA, health club, recreation league. Just do something that gets you moving.
PARENTING EXPERTS
- Armin A. Brott, author of The Single Father: A Dad’s guide to parenting without a partner and several other books
- Dr. Lynn Clark, author of SOS Help for Parents: A practical guide for handling common everyday behavior problems
- Barbara Coloroso, author of Kids are Worth It! Giving your child the gift of inner discipline and other books
- Beth DeFrancis, author of The Parents’ Resource Almanac
- Don Dinkmeyer, Sr., co-author of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
- Don Dinkmeyer, Jr., co-author of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
-
Andrea Engber, co-author of The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring answers to your most challenging concerns
-
Leah Klungness, Ph.D., co-author of The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring answers to your most challenging concerns
-
Aleta Koman, M.Ed., author of The Parenting Survival Kit: How to make it through the parenting years with your family, sanity, and wallet intact
-
Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Parenthood without Hassles* (*well almost)
-
Gary D. McKay, co-author of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
-
Joyce L. McKay, co-author of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting
-
Dr. Thomas Gordon, author of Parent Effectiveness Training
- Julie Prescott, author of 25 Ways to Encourage Good Behavior and 15 others books in the Single Parent Wisdom: If only I knew then what I know now book series. Contact info: Wynot Publications, PO Box 477, Corning, IA 50841; phone 712-898-0433. E-mail: info@singleparentwisdom.com
- Sal Severe, author of How To Behave So Your Children Will, Too! and others
website
- ParentsAsk.com Slogan: "Because raising kids raises questions. Daily articles written by experts of interest to parents. In search box, type in your concern and select GO to find helpful articles."
Parenting a FAMILY
books
- Active Parenting: Teaching Cooperation, Courage, and Responsibility by Michael H. Popkin. San Francisco: Harper, 1987. Available at Amazon.com.
-
Active Parenting Now Parent's Guide by Michael H. Popkin. 2002. Available at Amazon.com. Also in audio.
-
Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available at Amazon.com. Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index.
-
The Parenting Survival Kit: How to make it through the parenting years with your family, sanity, and wallet intact by Aleta Koman with Edward Myers. New York: Perigee, 2000. Available at Amazon.com.
-
The Parents’ Resource Almanac by Beth DeFrancis. Holbrook, MA: Bob Adams, Inc., 1994.
- Practical Parenting for the 21st Century: The Manual You Wish Had Come With Your Child by Julie A. Ross. New York: Excalibur Publishing, 1993. Available at Amazon.com.
- Practical Parenting Tips Over 1500 Helpful Hints for the First Five Years by Vicki Lansky. Diamond Pocket Books, 2008. Available at Amazon.com.
-
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen R. Covey. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1997. Available at Amazon.com. Also in audio.
- Simplify Your Life With Kids : 100 Ways to make Family Life Easier and More Fun by Elaine St. James and Vera Cole. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2000. Available at Amazon.com
- Strong Family, Strong Child (Single Parent Wisdom. Available at your library, your favorite bookstore, this website singleparentwisdom.com, Amazon.com, and other book sites. Paperback: 59 pages plus bibliography and index.
- Traits of a Healthy Family by Dolores Curran. Ballantine Books, 1984.
magazines
websites
Back to top
FAMILY FUN
Also see GAMES below.
magazine
website
-
Family Fun, URL: familyfun.go.com/. Crafts, recipes, fun pages to print out, how-to videos, holiday fun, getaways
Also see GAMES below
FRIENDS for your child
-
Circle of Friends Penpal Club. Girls only pen-pal club for ages 7 to 17. Connect by special interests and age. Fee: $12/year. URL: members.agirlsworld.com/.
- Pen Pals through Epals at URL: epals.com/. Children ages 5 and up can connect to this free site linking them, teachers and parents in 200 countries and territories. "Correspond with a child in another country, connect with a class, or join an online forum. All exchanges are monitored by teachers." [Parents magazine, April 2010.]
GAMES
books
- 104 Activities That Build: Self-Esteem, Teamwork, Communication, Anger Management, Self-Discovery, Coping Skills by Alanna Jones. Available at Amazon.com
- The Everything Games Book: 600 Classic Games and Activities for the Whole Family by Lesley Bolton. F+W Publications, 2005. Available at Amazon.com. Card games, board games, travel games and more.
-
Hoyle's Rules of Games, Third Revised and Updated Edition by Albert H. Morehead and Geoffrey Mott-Smith. Available at Amazon.com. Directions to play hundreds of card games and parlor games. A classic.
GENDER DIFFERENCES
article
-
"What are the 78 differences between women and men?" BBC News. June 19, 2003. BBC News Online. URL: news.bbc.co.uk
book
- Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex by John Gray. Quill, 2004. Available at Amazon.com. Also on Kindle.
Return to top of page
GRANDPARENTS raising grandchildren
support groups
- Daily Strength support group for grandparents raising grandchildren, online discussion. URL: www.dailystrength.org/c/Grandparents-Raising-Children/support-group
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group is available in some cities. Ask the reference librarian at your local library.
- Parenting Again. "CD is a resource tool developed to assist support group facilitators who respond to the needs of grandparent caregivers. Each guide provides research-based background information on the topic along with discussion questions and activities to enhance the educational quality of the support group experience." For more information, see URL: urbanext.illinois.edu/grandparents
- Grandparenting Today URL: www.uwex.edu/relationships/, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service. Ages birth to 8. "The focus is on family relationships and child development rather than legal or financial issues. Topics include understanding children's behaviors, the importance of close relationships and open communication, and maintaining contact with parents."
websites
GRIEF
books
- Parenting Through Crisis: Helping Kids in Times of Loss, Grief, and Change by Barbara Coloroso. Quill, 2000. Available at Amazon.com.
- When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner. New York: Avon, 1983. A classic. Available at Amazon.com.
support groups
Staff at a local funeral parlor can help you locate a grief support group in your area.
- Compassionate Friends assists families towards positive resolution and provide information to help others be supportive after the death of a child.
- GriefShare. Grief recovery support groups focusing on Christianity meet throughout the U.S., Canada and in over 10 other countries. To locate a chapter near you, e-mail info@griefshare.com. Write to PO Box 1739, Wake Forest, NC 27588. Or call 800-395-5755; International 919-562-2112
Back to top
Return to beginning of EFG
H-I-J resources for Health; Hotlines; Humor; Incentives
HEALTH
organization
- Public Health Agency of Canada, 130 Colonnade Road, A.L. 6501H, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9; also 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2
website
- KidsHealth.com from the health experts of Nemours Foundation; divided into parents, kids and teens; doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence.
HOTLINES
- 24-hour National (U.S.) Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TDD) will connect you directly to your local domestic violence program.
- Boys Town U.S. hotline 1-800-448-3000. Parents can go to their website to e-mail the hotline with questions URL: www.boystown.org/. It may take up to 48 hours for a response. Teens can talk (chat) to the hotline staff at yourlifeyourvoice.org
HUMOR
Laugh as often as you can. Find the humor in the situation. It's good for your health and teaches your child how to relax.
books
-
Books by Dave Barry and Shel Silverstein are fun to read.
-
Books by the late Erma Bombeck. Erma had a fun light-hearted way of looking at life and parenting. A few of my favorite books are If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries -- What Am I Doing in the Pits? and Eat Less Cottage Cheese And More Ice Cream. If you can’t find new copies, you might be able to locate used books on the Internet.
- The 40-Year-Old Version: Humoirs of a Divorced Dad by Joel Schwartzberg. Deadwood, Oregon: Wyatt-MacKenzie, 2009. Available from Amazon.com. Collection of personal essays describing his life as a divorced dad. Funny. Reviews are on the website www.divorceddadbook.com/.
What books or websites make you laugh? Share with us at
info@singleparentwisdom.com.
INCENTIVES
book
- Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available from Amazon.com. Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index. Practical ideas on incentives to use to improve your child's behavior.
Back to top
Return to beginning of H-I-J
M-N resources for Magazines for Children; Magazines for Parents; Manners; Meditation; Mentoring programs; Money Management; Music; Negotiation; Nurture Yourself
MAGAZINES for children
MAGAZINES for parents
MANNERS / ETIQUETTE
books
- The Little Pink Book of Etiquette by Ruth Cullen, Patricia Tice and Melenie Broyles. Manners, Incorporated. White Plains, New York: Peter Pauper Press, 2006. Available from Amazon.com
- 365 Manners Kids Should Know: Games, Activities, and Other Fun Ways to Help Children Learn Etiquette by Sheryl Eberly, 2001. Available from Amazon.com
MEDITATION
books
MENTORING programs
Find a good person to spend one-on-one time with your child as a friend, mentor, and/or role model.
organizations
- Amachi program; Mentoring Children of Promise/Amachi – children with a parent in prison. Part of Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Check your local telephone book for a program near you or the website, URL: www.bbbs.org/.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters – check your local telephone book for a program near you or the website, URL: www.bbbs.org/. BBBS has community-based mentoring programs, school-based, African American, Hispanic, Native American, Military, and Amachi for children with a parent in prison.
MILITARY FAMILY
magazine/website
- Military Spouse printed magazine, e-newletter, and website. URL: http://www.milspouse.com/. You won't be alone when your spouse is serving his/her country.
MONEY MANAGEMENT
books
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money-That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter. Warner. Available from Amazon.com. Teaching one’s children how to get rich and stay rich.
- The Single Parent’s Money Guide by Emily Card and Christine Watts Kelly. Macmillan, 1996.
organizations
- Consumer Information Catalog by the U.S. Government. Especially "Personal Financial Choices: Setting a new course." Many pamphlets are free to print out or for a low cost to order. URL: www.pueblo.gsa.gov/
- Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) provides assistance and education in managing your financial bills. Check the phone book to see if there is one in your area or call 1-800-388-2227; URL: www.cccsintl.org/. Nonprofit organization.
websites
MUSIC
- Wee Sing Sing-Alongs book (reissue) Available from Amazon.com. Fun songs to sing with your children by Pam Beall and Susan Nipp. Books, audio, DVDs, coloring pages at their website, URL: www.weesing.com/. [Note: My favorite song is about chicken lips and lizard hips -- great visual and funny.]
Learn to NEGOTIATE with others, including your child
book
- Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available at Amazon.com. Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index.
website
- Bacal Associates Workplace Supersite. Articles by Robert Bacal. URL: www.work911.com/articles.htm. This is a business site with helpful information about relating to anyone, including your children. Search for negotiation
Return to top of page
NUTURE YOURSELF
article
books
- Chicken Soup for the Soul books on a variety of topics
- Parents! Take Care of Yourself (Single Parent Wisdom) by Julie Prescott. Iowa: Wynot Publications, 2009. singleparentwisdom.com/
websites
- National Women’s Health Week is in May. Information on how to live a healthier life. URL: www.womenshealth.gov/whw/. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
- National Men’s Health Week is often the second week in June. Check out the nonprofit Men’s Health Network, URL: http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/. Information to help men live healthier lives. Be there for your children and grandchildren.
-
Celebrate Single Parents Day, March 21st
Back to top
Return to beginning of M-N
O-P-Q resources for Optimismistic Thinking; Organizing your Home/Life; Parenting Experts; Poems; Positive Thinking; Preschoolers; Preteens/Tweens; Procrastination; Quotations
ORGANIZING your home and life
book
- Springing the Time Trap: Time Management for Today’s Busy Homemaker by Deniece Schofield. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Deniece Schofield, 1987. This title and others available at author’s website, URL: www.denieceschofield.com/ Easy to read.
website
- Single Parent Wisdom. Household Chores form to print or download makes assigning chores and checking up on their completion easier. URL: singleparentwisdom.com/freeforms
POEMS, QUOTATIONS, AFFIRMATIONS
Readings on our topics. Just type in the title of the poem and author on your Internet browser and
you will find the following:
websites
POSITIVE THINKING -- learn to be optimistic
book
- Optimism: Enjoy the life you have ...Create the success you want by Dana Lightman. Power Optimism, 2004.
PRESCHOOLERS
organization
- MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers), a Christian-based organization; most local meetings held in churches; newsletter, radio program, articles, books for sale; URL: www.mops.org/. Search the website to find a local group.
PRETEENS / TWEENS
book
- How to Hug a Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years by Julie A. Ross. McGraw Hill, 2008. Available at Amazon.com
Paperback: 201 pages plus bibliography and index. Julie loves the tween
age group. She talks enthusiastically about these years of tremendous
change for your preteen.
PROCRASTINATION
article
-
"Nine Ways to Beat Procrastination" by Jim Estill, CEO of SYNNEX Canada. URL: www.jimestill.com/. Search procrastination.
Back to top
Return to beginning of O-P-Q
R-S resources for Recommended Reading for children; Role Models; School-age Child; Self Esteem; Sibling Rivalry; Simplify your Life; Single Parenting; raising a Son; Step Parenting/Blending Families; Stress Management
RECOMMENDED READING for children
Your local librarian can direct you to books recommended for your child's age. These books should be available for check out at your local library or for purchase at your favorite bookstore.
books
- The Complete Little House Nine-Book Set by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Classic. Available at Amazon.com
- Harry Potter series by single parent J.K. Rowlings
- Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer – for older children
magazines
ROLE MODELS
books
- Be a Role Model, Share your Values by Julie Prescott. Corning, Iowa: Wynot Pub., 2010. Paperback: 59 pages, plus bibliography and index. Easy to read. URL: singleparentwisdom.com/
- Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available at Amazon.com. Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index. Chapter on living by example.
SCHOOL-AGE CHILD
magazine
SELF ESTEEM to improve your self esteem and your child's
books
- Traits of a Healthy Family by Dolores Curran. Ballantine Books, 1984.
- 104 Activities That Build: Self-Esteem, Teamwork, Communication, Anger Management, Self-Discovery, Coping Skills by Alanna Jones. Available at Amazon.com Many group activities.
SIBLING RIVALRY
book
- 101 Activities for Siblings Who Squabble by Linda Williams Aber. St. Matrin’s Griffin. ISBN 9780312131012
SIMPLIFY your life
books
- Keeping Life Simple: 7 guiding principles, 500 tips and ideas by Karen Levine. Pownal, VT: Storey Books, 1996.
- Keeping Life Simple: 380 Tips and Ideas Available at Amazon.com
- Simplify Your Life With Kids : 100 Ways to make Family Life Easier and More Fun by Elaine St. James and Vera Cole. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2000. Available at Amazon.com
Back to top
SINGLE PARENTING
books
- The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns by Andrea Engber and Leah Klungness. Holbrook, Massachusetts: Adams Media, 2000. Available at Amazon.com
- The Single Parent Resource: an A-to-Z manual for the challenges of single parenting (revised, expanded edition) by Brook Noel with Art Klein. Belgium, Wisconsin: Champion Press Ltd., 2005. Available at Amazon.com
- The Single Father: A Dad's Guide to Parenting Without a Partner by Armin A. Brott. New York: Abbeville Press, 1999. Available at Amazon.com.
- Single Parenting by Jean and Veryl Rosenbaum. Durango, Colorado: JVM Productions, 1995.
organizations
pamphlet
- "Single Parenting: Building Strong Families." University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. URL: ceinfo.unh.edu
websites
- Single Mothers Online, URL: www.singlemothers.org/ from the National Organization of Single Mothers (NOSM).
- MrDad.com created by Armin Brott, "America’s most trusted dad" and author of The Single Father, plus other books. FAQ's on a variety of topics.
raising a SON
books
- Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson. Pub: Ballantine, 2000.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345434854?ie=UTF8&tag=singparewisd-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345434854">Available at Amazon.com
STEP PARENTING / BLENDING FAMILIES
book
- Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. New York: Free Press, 2004. Available at Amazon.com Paperback: 276 pages, plus bibliography. No index. Chapter about divorce and blended families.
STRESS MANAGEMENT
books
- Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family: Simple Ways to Keep Daily Responsibilities and Household Chaos From Taking Over Your Life by Richard Carlson. New York: Hyperion, 1998. Available at Amazon.com.
- Keeping Life Simple: 7 guiding principles, 500 tips and ideas by Karen Levine. Pownal, VT: Storey Books, 1996.
- Keeping Life Simple: 380 Tips and Ideas Available at Amazon.com
- Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies by Charles H. Elliot and Laura L. Smith. New York: Wiley, 2003. Available at Amazon.com
- Parenting Through Crisis: Helping Kids in Times of Loss, Grief, and Change by Barbara Coloroso. Quill, 2000. Available at Amazon.com.
- Simplify Your Life With Kids : 100 Ways to make Family Life Easier and More Fun by Elaine St. James and Vera Cole. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2000. Available at Amazon.com
- Stress Management for Dummies by Allen Elkin. New York: Wiley, 1999. Available at
-
Amazon.com. Easy to read.
- Worry by Edward M. Hallowell. New York: Ballatine Books, 1998. Available at Amazon.com. Easy to read.
Back to top
Return to beginning of R-S
T-U-V resources for Teens; Television; Time Management; Time Out discipline method; Tragedy/Crisis; Tweens; teaching your child Values; Video Games; Volunteer
TEENS
articles
- Bacal Associates Workplace Supersite. Articles by Robert Bacal. URL: www.work911.com/articles.htm. This is a business site with helpful information to relate to anyone, including your teen.
books
- How to Really Love Your Teenager by Ross Campbell. Victor Books, 1989. Out of print.
- Parenting Teenagers: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Teens by Don Dinkmeyer, Sr., Gary D. McKay, Joyce L. McKay and Don Dinkmeyer, Jr. Circle Pines, Minnesota: American Guidance Service, 1998. Available at Amazon.com
- The O'Reilly Factor for Kids: A Survival Guide for America's Families by Bill O'Reilly, and Charles Flowers. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. Available at Amazon.com. Written for your older child to read to understand some facts about life.
hotlines
- 24-hour National (U.S.) Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TDD) will connect you directly to your local domestic violence program.
- Boys Town U.S. hotline 1-800-448-3000. Parents can go to their website to e-mail the hotline with questions URL: www.boystown.org/. It may take up to 48 hours for a response. Teens can talk (chat) to the hotline staff at yourlifeyourvoice.org
website
- KidsHealth.com, from the health experts of Nemours Foundation; select Teens site; doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence.
- Shelter Net: Making the Links for Abused Women (Canada), URL: www.shelternet.ca. Available in English and 9 other languages. Canada's first and only national online resource and support network for abused women and their children. Just for Kids page has helpful information for children. The Teens page relates well to a teen with questions or facing danger. Friends and Family page gives good advice when you know or suspect abuse.
TELEVISION and your family
website
-
Center for a New American Dream. "Thanks to Ads, Kids Won’t Take No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No for an Answer." 2002. URL: www.newdream.org/. Phone: 1-877-68-DREAM
TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
books
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Your Time (3rd Edition) by Jeff Davidson. Indianapolis, Indiana: alpha books, 1995. Available at Amazon.com
- Springing the Time Trap: Time management for today’s busy homemaker by Deniece Schofield. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Deniece Schofield, 1987. This title and others available at author’s website, URL: www.denieceschofield.com/
TIME OUT discipline method
audio
-
How to Use Time-Out Effectively audio program by Dr. Lynn Clark, SOS Programs and Parents Press. Listen to interviews at URL: www.sosprograms.com/
books
-
25 Ways to Encourage Good Behavior (Single Parent Wisdom series ) by Julie Prescott. Corning, Iowa: Wynot Pub, 2009. Plus appendix with Time Out information. Website has downloadable print out of Time-Out information and Consequences on the Free Forms page. URL: singleparentwisdom.com/
- SOS Help for Parents: A practical guide for handling common everyday behavior problems. Third Edition by Lynn Clark. Bowling Green, Kentucky: Parents Press, 2005. Available at Amazon.com. Several chapters devoted to Time-Out. Also URL: www.sosprograms.com/.
website
Return to top
TRAGEDY/CRISIS, understanding and coping with
books
-
Parenting Through Crisis: Helping Kids in Times of Loss, Grief, and Change by Barbara Coloroso. Quill, 2000. Available at Amazon.com
- When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner. New York: Avon, 1983. Available at Amazon.com
Also see
GRIEF,
STRESS
TWEENS see
PRETEENS
VALUES, teaching your child
books
VIDEO GAMES
- ESRB The Entertainment Software Rating Board rates the content in computer and video games so consumers, especially parents, know which games are designed for which age group. Enter the name of the game at this website to find out its rating, URL: www.esrb.org/ratings
VOLUNTEER
organizations
- PTA/PTO of your child's school, your church, your school, your community, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, American Red Cross, American Lung Cancer Association, Junior League, and many, many more possibilities.
Back to top of page
Return to beginning of T-U-V