Rx parenting: an effective prescription...

Getting Involved and Staying Involved
• Bond with your baby, talk, sing, play games
• Play with your toddler, cuddle, read aloud to your children (all ages), it is a great way to spend quality time with your family
• Enjoy your child, encourage imaginative play
• Spend time with your child, know and appreciate the things he or she like to do
• Get to know your child's friends
• Keep lines of communication open
• Encourage teens to take responsibility
• Engage in a vision for the future

Practicing Clear Communication
• Learn to express emotions in healthy ways
• Value feelings, don't discount them
• Be a good listener
• Be clear and specific when you expect certain behavior or a specific result
• Maintain an open and honest dialogue with your child
• Try not to be judgmental, especially about things your child values highly
• Teach problem solving and responsible decision making skills

Practicing Positive Dicipline
• Discipline with methods that teach rather than punish
• Set clear limits
• Be consistent, say no and mean it
• Don't "threaten" with actions you can't follow through on
• Make the connection between the rule and consequences clear
• Give immediate rewards

Parents Need Support
• Call the PCPC Parent InfoLine at 624-9290 for information on parent education classes
• Join a local parent support group. Many members of PCPC sponsor parent groups
• Your neighborhood library has resources on all aspects of parenting as well as storytimes and programs for children. Call Infoline at 791-4-10 to find out which Tucson-Pima Public Library is close to you
• Ask your librarian for help in finding information and selecting books
• Check with your church or school for ongoing parenting programs

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Check out these websites:
Parenting and Kids

Connect for Kids; guidance for grownups
www.connectforkids.org
Sponsored by the Benton Foundation. Features news, articles, and advice on parenting, as well as children's issues.

National Parent Information Network (NPN)
www.Npin.org
This U.S. Department of Education site features a virtual library of parenting information, a question answering service, and Parent-L, an electronic discussion list.

Parent Soup
www.parentsoup.com
Consult the experts on parenting, chat with other parents on-line and post questions on the message board.

Kid Source On Line
www.kidsource.com
In-depth and timely education and healthcare information that will make a difference in the lives of children.

Parenting and Substance Abuse

The Anti-Drug
www.theantidrug.com
Highlights tips for parents on topics such as tobacco use and drug use. Also, news, information and answers to questions.

The Parenting IS Prevention Project
www.parentingisprevention.org
Funded in part by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), includes practical parenting tips, parents' chat forum, links and information on what¹s new.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America
www.drugfreeamerica.org
(click on 'Parents/Caregivers') The more you know, the more your child will believe what you have to say. Tips for talking to your kids, and ways to help you cope if drugs have come into your family.

American Council for Drug Education
www.acde.org
Click on Parents. Facts for Parents is designed to provide you with practical advice and up-to-date information as you broach this difficult subject.

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Parenting and Fun

Child Fun
www.childfun.com
Parenting advice, free crafts for kids, product and book reviews, family articles, community message boards, and more.

Family.com
www.family.com
Disney's Family.com offers comprehensive, high quality, customizable information, including thousands of family ideas and activities.

Enchanted Learning
www.enchantedlearning.com
Crafts for pre-school through elementary aged children that families can do together.

Parenting and Communication

Talk With Your Kids
www.talkingwithkids.org
Tips on how to talk with your kids about tough issues, including violence, HIV/AIDS, current news events, and more.

Parenting Toolbox
www.parentingtoolbox.com
Non-traditional tools for non-traditional parents, children and families.

Child Development Institute
www.childdevelopmentinfo.com
Information for parents on child development, parenting, child psychology, teenagers, health, safety, and more.

COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET ACCESS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL BRANCHES OF THE TUCSON-PIMA PUBLIC LIBRARY.

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