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Fun and Helpful Parenting Websites

Episode 123: July 25, 2009
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Hey there! You’re listening to the Mighty Mommy with some Quick and Dirty Tips for Practical Parenting.

If you are listening to this podcast, then you must be someone who spends some time on the Internet. This week I’m going to recommend and share others’ recommendations for great parenting websites!

What are the Best Parenting Websites?

If there’s one thing I receive a LOT of e-mails about, it’s parenting websites. Whether someone wants me to promote their website, or they are recommending one that they love, I hear about them all the time. Some are great-- and I can get myself lost looking through all of the resources they have-- and some don’t seem to connect with me at all. I believe that everyone is different and therefore, different websites will appeal to different people. So, I asked for some suggestions from my listeners to add to my own favorite websites. Keep in mind that these are in no particular order of preference.

Mamapedia

The first site I’d like to tell you about is Mamapedia. Mamapedia advertises itself as “an innovative website that lets moms tap into advice and answers from millions of other moms on an array of parenting topics -- from potty training to party planning!” When you go to the website it has a really cool dropdown menu that lets you choose different topics to browse through. I was a little confused at first by the little “login” box in the upper right. It’s part of the Mamasource community. If you sign up and log in you can actually connect with moms in your local area and see what types of issues they are dealing with. Mamapedia has several articles written by other moms who are writers, bloggers, and experienced parents. I found it very easy to surf around and find questions that I’d often wondered about myself. And because it’s a community of moms, there were all types of responses and suggestions from different moms. That can be a very useful resource if you’ve had an on-going issue or problem and need some new ideas for dealing with it. Mamapedia can be found at Mamapedia.com and MamaSource can be found at MamaSource.com.

Parenting Magazine Websites

If you enjoy parenting magazines, but don’t have time to sit down and actually read them, you can always visit their websites. My favorite parenting magazine is actually Family Fun Magazine and I absolutely adore the Family Fun website. Your favorite parenting magazine might be Parents, Parenting, Wonder Time or something else. Whatever it is, there’s probably a website for it, and if you enjoy the magazine, the website will usually have the same type of information as the print version, but in an easier-to-access format.

Parenting Website Suggestions From You

Thank you again for all of the suggestions I received over Twitter. Here are a few of the recommendations my Twitter followers sent to me:

@TabbySmiles recommended the AskDrSears website for quick access to medicine dosages, illness information, and other parenting information. This website has some great information and I agree that it’s a wonderful resource. Please remember that no information on the Internet can replace your pediatrician.

@vickibalant suggested RaisingArizonaKids.com. She referred to it as the “best ever parenting site in Phoenix!” Since I also live in the Phoenix area, I do love this website and the local magazine that goes along with it. Even if you aren’t in Arizona, you can find some great information on the website especially, I’ve found, in the magazine section.

@pigtailpals is a fan of TrueChild.org. She says it’s “all about non-gender stereotype parenting and just letting kids be kids.” I hadn’t heard of this website before so I checked it out. There are definitely some interesting viewpoints expressed there and I agree it’s worthy of a look. It may not be for everyone, but I definitely found it to be interesting and educational.

Great suggestions ladies!

More Great Parenting Website Suggestions

Here are just a few more:

If you are looking to connect with other parents, you might try ParentsConnect.com. There is quite a bit of advertising on the site, but if you can get past that, you’ll find some wonderful questions and answers in there.

If your little ones love to play games on the computer, but you want them to play something free and educational, check out Starfall.com. I have recommended this site before and my kids still love it. It’s free, kid-friendly, and your kids will actually learn something by playing games there. I remember my daughter playing alphabet games on Starfall and she was always excited when she would learn a new letter and sound to go with it.

Finally, for a grown-up kind of experience, check out CafeMom.com. CafeMom advertises itself as “a place for moms and moms-to-be to connect with one another.” The moms there are talking about everything from kids and husbands to what’s going on in their favorite TV shows. Sometimes when moms don’t work outside of the home, contact with the “adult world” can seem scarce. It’s nice to have a place to go where other grown-ups exist!

That’s it for now.

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This is your friend the Mighty Mommy wishing you happy and fun parenting!

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Kaylen
7/31/2009 5:11:29 AM

Parenting can be a difficult job, however the valuable parenting tips we provide can make the job easier. Here, you will find many valuable resources, articles and stories offering parenting help in today’s world. We share the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully raise your child from birth through their senior year in high school. A lot of people have asked me which of my “jobs” is most difficult: Being an actress, a politician, or a mother? My answer has always been the same: Nothing beats being a good mother. For one, it is very time-consuming. And more importantly, it is such a daunting responsibility to take care of children who depend on you for their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Now, we all know it is not enough that we feed, clothe and provide education to our children. As mothers, we know that there are more important considerations: Are we giving them the right food? Are we providing them with an environment that is conducive to learning? Support them in their studies. Most of us are working moms. With our schedules packed with office deadlines and home-related activities, we sometimes fail to check on our kids’ schoolwork. Take time to ask about their school activities or projects. Find out if they are having problems with any of their subjects. This way, we help ease their burdens in school and make them realize that school can actually be fun.

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