Introduction

• Sometimes a nagging worry sends a parent on an internet search to learn if a child has the symptoms of a particular problem in hopes of allaying fears or at least getting some ideas about what to do. Othertimes, parents want more information to develop strategies for a child's identified challenges.  Due to the expanding volume of information on the Web, parents often have difficulty finding the information they want. Equally problematic is that they have difficulty determining the credibility of the information they do find. This WEBLIST briefly describes and links you to web sites that contain articles, newsletters, information and advice about the emotional, cognitive and mental health development of children and adolescents. There are also parental support sites.  These sites have been selected primarily for the quality of the information provided.  As some of the designated categories and the sites themselves have overlapping information and are not selected as the sole perspective on a topic, searching through several sites for information on any single issue is recommended.  The goal of the hotlist is to give easy access to the best child development information on the Web.  These links below will get you started.

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The Internet Resources

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General Information

    These general sites are health and mental health sites with information about children
    and adolescence in all aspects of health care.
 

• Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information (And More) - Children's health, medical dictionary, drug information and conditions and diseases. It is an excellent general health site. For mental health click on 'conditions and diseases',  then mental health and click on children and teens.  It's a large health site - it takes some maneuvering to get what you want, but information is dependable.
• Columbia University's Health Education Program - Questions and answers on many health topics. Click on emotional health. Good site.
• Tufts University Child and Family Web Guide - Selected sites about child development including health, education, parenting and more.  Excellent, well constructed site with ratings for their links.
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Media Matters - Dedicated to the health safety and well being of children and adolescents. Articles and brochures about the media's impact on children and teens. One of the best overall sites.
• Mayo Clinic: On parenting - General and reliable information on adolescent health and parenting suggestions. Click on Teen Health or Mental Health.

     These general sites are exclusively mental health related.                                 

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• Massachusetts General Hospital School Psychiatry Program - This site will help you assess and address the needs of your child with depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder and includes information about helping your child to succeed in school.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health (NIMH) - The National Institute of Mental Health provides multiple articles on topics as varied as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Depression, children and violence and learning disorders. It is an excellent site for parents teachers and professionals in Mental Health.
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Assisting parents and families in understanding developmental, behavioral, emotional and mental conditions affecting children and adolescents. 46 fact sheets re: symptoms and teen problems. Click on 'Facts For Families'. Excellent site.
• Anxiety, and Other Disorders (NIMH) - A general reference with quick facts and treatment considerations.

     Additional relevant sites covering a number of mental health issues.               

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• Connect For Kids - Guidance For Grownups - 'Guidance For Adults' - Information, tools, newsletter and resources to help communities work for children.  Click on 'Topics A-Z'.  An award winning site.
• School Psychology Resources Online - Psychology resources and information for parents and educators concerning topics such as learning disabilities, mental health, anxiety, ADHD, adolescence, parenting and more.  Very easy access to topics.
• Current Parent and Teacher Resources re:Adolescent Health - Some of the best articles and websites on kids use of the internet, peer pressure, self esteem, anorexia, violence and others are assembled here. Easy to access.
• Mental Health Reference on the Internet - One of the more complete list of links to mental health disorders in childhood. Easy to use.
• Adolescence Directory Online - Electronic resources for parents, educators, health practitioners and teens from Adolescent Studies at Indiana University.  Topics include violence prevention, health risks and mental health.
• Books Dealing With Children's Mental Health Topics - A selected list of books reviewed by a child psychiatrist and in some cases by a middle school student on relevant topics such as depression, family problems and decision making. Recently updated.
• Middleweb: Links for Teachers and Parents of Middle Schoolers - Brimming with mostly educational resources for educators and parents. Middle School reform.

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Specific Information

    There is information about depression, anxiety, eating disorders, ADHD, special
    education and other topics in the general sites above and in a more focussed way in the
    following sites.

• The Anxiety and Panic Internet Resource (TAPIR) - A self-help nonprofessional organization with helpful resources and supportive forums, personal stories and professional links. It has a bulletin board for family and teen chats.
• Children and Anxiety - A helpful brief guide to anxiety in kids and related topics.
• Children and Depression - A helpful brief article answering the following questions: how prevalent is depression, what should parents look for, how serious is it and what are some treatment considerations?
• Something Fishy - Website on Eating Disorders - Access to articles, information about symptoms, links to online resources. Excellent site.
• Eating Disorders: Symptoms, Treatment and Resources - Online resources, information, treatment options and support organizations.  See Basic Information menu on the right side to click.
• The Renfrew Center For Eating Disorders - While this is a treatment facility, the country's first residential eating disorder facility, the site has lots of useful, practical suggestions and facts for individuals and parents seeking to learn about eating disorders.                                                                                        
• Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) - A national organization with 22,000 members offering support, advocacy and information.
• Attention Deficit Warehouse - Assessment and treatment information about kids designed for parents, teachers and mental health professionals.  Medication Chart and Guidelines For Parenting among available articles.  Useful access to available resources and books.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse - Information for parents, students and teachers. Excellent.
• Fact Sheets On Alcohol And Drugs - Available links and descriptions from alcohol and hallucinogens, to steroids, inhalants and heroin.
• For The Care of Children With Learning Differences _ Mel Levine - Strategies for parents and teachers to affect children's learning and performance in the classroom.  Handouts to download with practical suggestions - Highest recommendation - Excellent!
• The Interactive Guide to Learning Disabilities For Parents, Teachers and Children- Learn about the ABC's of Learning Disorders and/or in-depth perspectives, tools and research.                                                                 
• A Parent's Guide To Helping Children With Learning Differences - Identifying and managing learning differences, connecting with others. Click on tabs at the top or look for site map at the bottom.
• National Association for African American Children with Learning Disabilities - Seeks to improve the quality of education for African American children and raise awareness of the culturally sensitive issues facing minority children with learning disabilities as defined by Federal law.
• Dyslexia The Gift - Helpful links and information; a positive viewpoint.
• Nonverbal Learning Disorder - School Age Child - Introductory or advanced articles on nonverbal learning disorder - includes information from Byron Rourke and articles by Sue Thompson and others.
• Nonverbal learning disability on line - Easy access with plenty of information and links.
• Special Education Law and Advocacy - A site for parents, educators, advocates and lawyers.
• Tourette Syndrome Plus - Information for parents, educators and individuals with Tourette Syndrome. See the school-related page link.
• Physician's Desk Reference For Consumers - The latest drug information available to doctors and patients. Easy access to all medications.
• Down Syndrome - Health Issues by Len Leshin, M.D., Medical essays on Down Syndrome and issues common to children with Down Syndrome.  It also has an extensive listing of other Down Syndrome Websites and some recommended books.
• Griefnet - An Internet Community Coping With Grief - GriefNet.org is an internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss. They have 47 e-mail support groups and two web sites, one includes 'Kidsaid' , a grief community for kids. Sounds impersonal but can be a source of support.
• Cerebral Palsy Group - Cerebral Palsy Group is an organization that provides free educational information and support to those who have been affected by cerebral palsy. Advocacy Director is Alison Sanchez.

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Parent Information

• Parent Information - National Network For Childcare with articles on stress, balancing work and family, parenting teens, deciding on early dating, teens use of the internet, discipline and more. Well worth exploring.
• Kids Health - This excellent Nemours Foundation created site has a parent, kid and teen health component with many features. Look for emotion and behavior link for mental health information, but information is available for general health as well. Newsletter..
• Parenting Resources - Solid site developed by a psychologist with easy access and relevant issues for parenting. Very topical with helpful linkages.  Try this one.
• Talk With Your Kids - Ideas about how to discuss difficult topics with your kids, including issues such as drugs and alcohol, sex and terrorism.
• PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay and lesbian persons, their families and friends through support, education and advocacy to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Click on "Education", then see "Schools and Youth" and "Parents and Families".
• Family Education - Find valuable resources for parents on the Web. School resources, idea exchange, dating, puberty and discipline, message boards and advice for parents. There is more on education than mental health.
• National Information Center For Children and Youth With Disabilities. - Great IEP reference for parents!
• Site for Parents of Children And Teens With Bipolar Disorder - A community center, chat rooms, message board and online support groups to connect you with others going through similar circumstances. Fact sheets.
• FDA Center For Food And Drug Information: Kids' Homepage - Information about products the Food And Drug Administration regulates. There is a 'Teen Scene' and parenting section as well.
• The Brain and Learning - For parents and educators, accessible but professional-quality articles on the brain's relationship to motivation, stress, mood, reading, dyslexia, teenage decision making, alcohol's effect on the brain and more. Excellent.
• Brave Kids - A Resource For Kids With Chronic, Life Threatening Illness - Dedicated to help children and their families. Diseases and conditions directory, medical information, supportive kid club.
• Bullying.org Where You Are Not Alone The most comprehensive site on bullying. It strives to eliminate bullying in society by supporting individuals and organizations to take positive actions against bullying through sharing resources and developing solutions to the challenges and problems associated with bullying. Many articles and books for parents and kids, as well as submitted stories.
• What Can Be Done About Cyberbullying? Helpful advice for victims of cyberbullying and those trying to help them. It is a Canadian based website offering specific advice for parents and kids about what can be done and how to prevent bullying on Instant Messaging (IM), cell phones, email etc. It includes a list of cyber terms, emoticons and acronyms to help parents decipher messages. Click on "What Can be Done".
• Protecting Kids From Internet Pornography and Online Risks This site provides practical information and tips on types and sources of sexually explicit content, ways that inappropriate material can reach children and teens, the threat of cyberstalking, the pros and cons of filtering and monitoring tools, and other issues involving Internet safety.

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• 6th Grade Counselor: [email protected]
• 7th Grade Counselor: [email protected]
• 8th Grade Counselor: [email protected]

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