If you're a parent, you get plenty of suggestions on how to raise your child. From experts to other parents, people are always ready to offer advice. Parenting tips, parents' survival guides, dos, don'ts, shoulds and shouldn'ts - new ones come out daily.
The truth is there is more than one "right" way to be a good parent. Good parenting includes
- Keeping your child safe
- Showing affection and listening to your child
- Providing order and consistency
- Setting and enforcing limits
- Spending time with your child
- Monitoring your child's friendships and activities
- Leading by example
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Adventures in Parenting
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/adv_in_parenting/index.cfm
- Nine Steps to More Effective Parenting(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/nine_steps.html
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Parenting Tips(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/behavior/368.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/behavior/368.printerview.html
- Parenting(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/parenting.cfm
- Parenting Influences(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZDTILI1AC&sub_cat=106
- Parents: ABCs of Raising Safe and Healthy Kids(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/family/parentabc/index.htm
- Positive Parenting(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/
- Quick Check-Up Helps Parents Handle Terrible Twos(09/26/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69750.html
- Parental Involvement in School Has Its Limits(09/19/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69496.html
- Parenting Plays Key Role in Infant's Response to Stress(09/18/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69460.html
- Babies & Toddlers: Learn Some Positive Parenting Tips(09/02/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/InfantsToddlers.html
- Adolescence: Learn Some Positive Parenting Tips(09/01/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/Adolescence.html
- Preschoolers: Learn Some Positive Parenting Tips(08/18/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Parenting/Preschoolers.html
- More News on Parenting http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_p.html#parenting
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Child Behavior: What Parents Can Do to Change Their Child's Behavior(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/behavior/201.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/behavior/201.printerview.html
- Children and Summer Camp: Tips for Parents(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/childrenandsummercamptips.cfm
- Healthy Parenting Initiative (Military Parents)(Dept. of Defense) - http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_1?section_id=20.40.500.420.0.0.0.0.0¤t_id=20.40.500.420.500.70.0.0.0
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Helping Children Cope with Crisis: Just for Parents(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/cope_with_crisis_book/sub11.cfm
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Helping Your Child through Early Adolescence -- Helping Your Child Series(Dept. of Education) - http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/adolescence/index.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.ed.gov/espanol/parents/academic/adolenscencia/index.html
- Influence of Music and Music Videos(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=The+Influence+Of+Music+And+Music+Videos§ion=Facts+for+Families
- Is Your Child Too Busy?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/child_too_busy.html
- JAMA Patient Page: Helping Children Cope with Violence(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/284/5/654.pdf
- Preparing Siblings for a New Baby(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Siblings_NewBaby.htm
- Preparing Youth for Peer Pressure(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0047/default.asp
- Sportsmanship(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/fitness/general/sportsmanship.html
- Talking to Children about Terrorism and War(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Talking+To+Children+About+Terrorism+And+War§ion=Facts+for+Families
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Talking to Your Child about Puberty(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/talk_about_puberty.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/crecimiento/talk_about_puberty_esp.html
- Teaching Your Child Self-Control(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/self_control.html
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Time Out(Children's Bureau) - http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/supporting/resources/timeout.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/supporting/resources/temporal.cfm
- What Does Gay Mean? How to Talk with Kids about Sexual Orientation and Prejudice(Mental Health America) - Large PDF file - http://www1.nmha.org/whatdoesgaymean/index.cfm
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Becoming Parents: What It Means for Couples(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/843.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/843.printerview.html
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Being a Single Parent(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/844.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/844.printerview.html
- Building Blocks: Family(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.bblocks.samhsa.gov/family/default.aspx
- Grandparents' Guide for Family Nurturing and Safety(Consumer Product Safety Commission) - http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs//grand/704.html
- Influence of Parents and Siblings(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZFFT1J1AC&sub_cat=106
- Myth of the Perfect Parent(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/patiented/PerfectParentMyth.htm
- Parenting in a Challenging World(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - http://www.nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_aud_prnt_chlg
- Parenting Influences — Your Childhood Experiences(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZW64VG1AC&sub_cat=106
- Parenting Influences — Your Relationship with Your Child's Other Parent(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZN0VQI1AC&sub_cat=106
- Parenting Skills: Nurturing and Guiding(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZBC8WCEEC&sub_cat=106
- Parenting Skills: Sharing and Caring(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZEU02DEEC&sub_cat=106
- Prejudice(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Prejudice.htm
- Working Parents(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_WorkingParents.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Parenting(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Parenting%22
- Even the Youngest Kids Watch TV Daily(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/research/tv_kids.html
- Study Shows Many Parents Doubt Their Discipline Tactics(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/research/discipline_parents.html
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Predictors of parenting stress in a diverse sample of parents... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18794718&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A good parent's dilemma: is it bad to spank? - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18702201&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Good parents, bad results. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18702200&tool=MedlinePlus
- Parenting -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(parenting[majr]+OR+child+rearing[majr:noexp])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline+[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- KidsHealth(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/index_noflash.html
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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
- Helping Your Children Navigate Their Teenage Years: A Guide for Parents(White House Council on Youth Violence) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SVP-0013/default.asp
- Helping Your Teen Decide What to Do After High School(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/after_hs.html
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Parent's Guide to Surviving the Teen Years(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/adolescence.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/padres/adolescence_esp.html
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Setting Rules and Consequences with Teens(Children's Bureau, Family and Youth Services Bureau) - http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/supporting/resources/settingrules.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/supporting/resources/reglas.cfm
- Sex Education: Talking to Your Teen about Sex(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/sex-education/CC00032/METHOD=print
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Understanding Your Teenager's Emotional Health(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html
- Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children: Tips for Dads(Children's Bureau) - http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/fatherhood/append_e.cfm
- Grandparenting Tips & Resources(AARP) - http://www.aarp.org/family/grandparenting/articles/grandparent_tip_sheet.html
- Adoption - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/adoption.html
- Child Development - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childdevelopment.html
- Family Issues - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/familyissues.html
- Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
- Social/Family Issues - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/socialfamilyissues.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Parenting is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/