Parents are often hungry for advice on how to raise their children, seeking guidance on how to prompt kids to follow through with such everyday responsibilities such as doing chores and completing their homework, as well as insights on the best ways to help them stave off unhealthy behaviors, such as too much screen time and substance use.
These scientifically supported sites and programs are among psychology's best for helping parents raise their kids.
1. InfoAboutKids.org
This website is a clearinghouse of behavioral science on children and adolescents, developed by the Consortium of Science-Based Information on Children, Youth, and Families. Geared towards parents, educators, and behavioral health specialists, the site covers common parenting concerns, such as difficulties, drug and alcohol use, puberty, and much more. Every resource has been vetted by psychologists to ensure its advice is based on solid research and is bias-free.
Perhaps most useful of all, the site can help parents determine for themselves which childhood behaviors are part of normal development and which might need a psychologist's attention.
2. EffectiveChildTherapy.org
This website offers information on the symptoms of and treatment for behavioral and mental health problems in children and adolescents. In addition, Effective Child Therapy showcases the strong science behind today's successful treatments.
3. Act Raising Safe Kids Program
Developed by APA's Violence Prevention Office, this eight-week class teaches positive parenting skills to parents of young children to foster safe, stable, and healthy environments and relationships that prevent children's exposure to abuse and adversities. Parents can also find tips on how to handle typical situations that they may encounter with their children such as bullying and tantrums.
4. Effective Parenting: The ABC's of Child Rearing
This free online parenting course was devloped by Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D, former APA President and Director of the Yale Parenting Center. This course provides 20 how-to videos explaining parenting techniques that address problem behaviors at both home and school. Kazdin instructs parents on the importance of speaking to their children in a calm or playful tone and allowing kids to make choices whenever possible. Scores of studies back these approaches.
5. Resilience Booster: Parent Tip Tool
Developed by APA's Children, Youth, and Families Office and its Office on Socioeconomic Status, this site provides parents and caregivers with tips on how to boost children's resilience in the face of adverse experiences. This site is organized around the various places where children spend their time and outlines how each environment can help build resilience among children living in poverty.
These scientifically supported sites and programs are among psychology's best for helping parents raise their kids.
1. InfoAboutKids.org
This website is a clearinghouse of behavioral science on children and adolescents, developed by the Consortium of Science-Based Information on Children, Youth, and Families. Geared towards parents, educators, and behavioral health specialists, the site covers common parenting concerns, such as difficulties, drug and alcohol use, puberty, and much more. Every resource has been vetted by psychologists to ensure its advice is based on solid research and is bias-free.
Perhaps most useful of all, the site can help parents determine for themselves which childhood behaviors are part of normal development and which might need a psychologist's attention.
2. EffectiveChildTherapy.org
This website offers information on the symptoms of and treatment for behavioral and mental health problems in children and adolescents. In addition, Effective Child Therapy showcases the strong science behind today's successful treatments.
3. Act Raising Safe Kids Program
Developed by APA's Violence Prevention Office, this eight-week class teaches positive parenting skills to parents of young children to foster safe, stable, and healthy environments and relationships that prevent children's exposure to abuse and adversities. Parents can also find tips on how to handle typical situations that they may encounter with their children such as bullying and tantrums.
4. Effective Parenting: The ABC's of Child Rearing
This free online parenting course was devloped by Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D, former APA President and Director of the Yale Parenting Center. This course provides 20 how-to videos explaining parenting techniques that address problem behaviors at both home and school. Kazdin instructs parents on the importance of speaking to their children in a calm or playful tone and allowing kids to make choices whenever possible. Scores of studies back these approaches.
5. Resilience Booster: Parent Tip Tool
Developed by APA's Children, Youth, and Families Office and its Office on Socioeconomic Status, this site provides parents and caregivers with tips on how to boost children's resilience in the face of adverse experiences. This site is organized around the various places where children spend their time and outlines how each environment can help build resilience among children living in poverty.