things to do ages + stages parent resources make connections mom basics

Everything Else!

For all the stuff that defies categorization!

American Humane Society: info on adopting a pet.

BabysitterExchange.org: swap babysitting hours in your community.

Crayola: directions on how to get Crayola crayons or glitter glue out of your carpet or wherever else your artistic child decorated.

Divide the Ride: create a carpool calendar with families you know.

Family TLC: Tools to enhance the parent/child relationship. Parenting tips, child development articles, and activities by age (games, sports, crafts, music, cooking, nature, etc.).

Good Manners Club: A Parent's Guide to Fun and Practical Manners-Based Activities.

How Many of Me?: Find out how many people share your first, last, or both names in the U.S.A.

How to Dress for Any Occasion: a great guide by Real Simple magazine

Organized Home: Turn chaos into calm with Cynthia's home organization tips, free printables, and more.

Parenting Magazine Pullouts: quick guides for emergencies, babysitters, fire safety, good foods, growth charts, etc.

Playful Parenting, a highly recommended book by Dr Lawrence Cohen; web site links to his articles and books; email group; seminars.

U.S. PIRG: the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), stands up to powerful special interests on behalf of the American public, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being. Find your state's PIRG.

Replacement Toy Parts: check out these sites to find the missing piece

Check first with the manufacturer. The two big ones are Mattel (click Customer Service, then Shop for Parts); Hasbro (Customer Service, then Replacement Parts). (At Hasbro, you can even print new Monopoly money at home!)
Try a web search (toy name + "parts").
Check eBay.
Toy Brick Brigade for new and used Lego parts.
Kids Wheels for rideable toy parts.

Legal & Financial Matters

For your child's sake, write a will. Sure, we don't like to think of these "what if" scenarios, but wouldn't you rather choose your child's legal guardian than have the state pick one? We chose one person to be our daughter's guardian and another person to handle her inheritance, a good system for checks and balances.

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy: Life stages and money management.

Charity Navigator: independent site that evaluates nonprofits based on how efficiently they operate and how they spend donated money.

Estate Planning: CNN Money's top things to know about wills and estate planning.

Find Law: Legal information of all types, from making a will to selling real estate.

Money 101: Financial advice & lessons made easy by CNN Money.

Social Investment Forum: promoting the concept, practice and growth of socially responsible investing.

"Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others." - Plato

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