Parent Resources
The information contained in this page includes resources, suggestions, ideas, tips and answers to common parent and parenting issues, ideas and concerns as well as some fun, useful information across a broad range of topics. Note: PLEASE do your own due diligence. We are not responsible for outdated or incorrect information contained on this page. If you would like to suggest a link to add or offer a correction, please send your submissions via the Send comments link located on the menu bar to the left. Thank you.
Resources for Dads (playgroups,etc)
Education
GreatSchools.net - School information such as class size, average test scores, demographic information, etc.
Portland Public Schools - Portland public school district website
Beaverton Pubilc Schools - Beaverton public school district website
Tigard/Tualatin Public Schools - Tigard/Tualatin public school district website
Parent-Child Cooperative - Cooperative Preschools of Oregon
Portland Preschool Directory - Comprehensive directory of preschools in the greater Portland area
www.signmykidup.com - A free directory of children's service providers such as private tutors, music instructors, childcare providers, schools, etc.
Resources for Dads
Y's Connections. For information contact Mike Mercer at the YMCA of the Columbia-Willamette at 503-223-9622 (www.ymca-portland.org)
Hospital Support Groups. At least two of the area hospitals have parent support groups for both moms and dads: Tuality in Hillsboro, 503-681-1700; www.tuality.com, and Legacy Meridian Park in Tualatin, 503-413-4840; www.legacy-healthy.org.
Outdoor Dads. Meets once a month for hikes and outings. Occasional overnights are open to whole families. www.outdoordads.org; info@outdoordads.org.
Playgroupsusa.com 503-550-3714; formerly portlandplaygroups.com) An online resource for parents seeking other parents to form playgroups with. A fee is charged for the service. Founded by Portland residents Jodi and Jeff Van Lom, the site currently serves Oregonians only, but the Van Loms hope to make it a national directory in the coming months.
At Home Dad - online resource for stay at home dads (http://www.athomedad.org/)
Craigslist.org. This free resource - on-line classified ads is a great place to find existing playgroups or put out a notice that you're interested in starting one. Go to portland.craigslist.org for local listings.
Washington county new parent network. Hosts playgroups open to both mothers and fathers at the Hillsboro library. Call 503-846-4402 or visit www.co.washington.or.us for more information.
The Mens Center - online resources for fathers and fathers-to-be.
Charitable Organizations
PMM neither endorses nor supports any particular charitable organization. This list was compiled from member input and can be used as a resource for those interested in donating in kind gifts, money or time or for those who may be in need of assistance. Please check with the organization to see what their particular policies and procedures are as they relate to your specific need or offer.
Raphael House - A shelter for moms/kids - www.raphaelhouse.com/donate.html
Insight Teen Parent program on Powell st - http://www.insightstpp.org/
YWCA is a great resource. They have shelters where women and moms w.
children live, and would be in need of such items.www.ywca.org
Neighborhood House - http://www.nhweb.org/
Community Warehouse - http://www.communitywarehouse.org/howyoucanhelp/otherresources.html
Children's Relief Nursery - http://www.crn4kids.org/
And of course the various women and children's shelters in the greater Metropolitan Portland area.
Clothes for kids
In addition to the many great retail stores available in the greater Portland area and the outlet malls located throughout Oregon there are many great consignment shops where you can get great deals on gently used clothes. Below are some top picks submitted by moms in our area.
Sweetpeas: 8235 SE 13th Ave in Sellwood - 503-233-1153
hours: Tues-Sat 11 - 5
Snappy: 3441 NE Broadway - 503-595-5095
hours: Tues-Sat 11 - 6
Baby & Me: 12595 NW Cornell Rd - 503-646-2021 and
3207 NW Glencoe Road 503-846-1402
Frocks-N-Britches 12955 SW Pacific Hwy - 503-624-7782
hours: Mon 10-8 Tues - Sat 10 - 6
Second to None 6308 SW Capitol Hwy - 503-244-0071
hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10 - 5
Baby To Baby
9215 SW Beaverton-Hills Highway -
503-296-6055
http://www.babytobabyresale.com
Katelyn's Closet
7429 Southwest Capitol Highway -
503-293-4333
All About Kids
11905 NE Glisan - 503-253-6826
http://www.allaboutkidspdx.com
hours:
Mon - Fri: 10:00 - 5:30,
Sat: 10:00 - 5:00,
Closed Sunday
Q: What things should I bring when traveling with my toddler on an airplane?
A: A change of clothes, including a sleeper (on a recent trip from Hawaii our flight was delayed 5.5 hours), a few small, age appropriate travel games, sippy cup, at least 3 additional diapers than what you expect to use, books, dry snack food. However, be careful not to overpack as your bag must be small enough to fit under the airplane seat and items need to be accessible, which can be difficult when there are too many items stuffed in to a bag.
Another item that has proven to be a successful distraction for kids is a portable DVD player with videos. If your child has never worn headphones before it is a good idea to practice putting the headphones on your child at home first so s/he can get used to wearing them.
Traveling with Kids
Useful Travel related websites:
http://www.familytravelforum.com/articles/article/11043
Useful Travel related books:
Gutsy Mamas: Travel Tips and Wisdom for Mothers on the Road (Travelers'
Tales Guides)
by Marybeth Bond
Lonely Planet Travel With Children (Lonely Planet Travel With Children) by Cathy Lanigan
Fodor's Family Adventures, 4th Edition: More Than 700 Great Trips For You and Your Kids of All Ages (Fodor's Family Adventures) by CHRISTINE LOOMIS
Tips from moms - how to keep kids entertained and well nourished:
Prior to your trip, buy inexpensive stickers and small toys for the kids
to have while on the trip. Give the kids different "treats" at different
parts of the trip. Suggestions: pad of paper for coloring on, small package
of crayons, stickers, beads to bead necklaces.
Whether you're traveling by car, plane, train, or canoe, you'll still want to keep your children busy. Minimize whining by providing each child with a his/her own "toy box". A plastic storage box or shoe box filled with snacks, juice packs, paper, cards crayons etc. Make sure snacks are healthy snacks, and not sugar coated types (unless you want your kids bouncing off the walls). Snack ideas that "travel" well: raisins, graham crackers, Pirates Booty, fruit leather, trail mixes, mini carrots, apple slices, healthy cookies that are grain sweetened or honey sweetened, granola bars etc. etc.
Travel Games
Noah's Ark
Work your way through the alphabet naming animals from A-Z.
You can alternate letters or everyone takes a turn with each letter.
Fooler, Fooler
State three facts about
yourself. The trick is that one
of the facts, are not fact at all.
The challenge is who can discriminate fact from fiction. Take turns being
the "fooler".
The players who stump
everyone are the winners
Would You Rather
First select a category...Food for instance. Then each other questions
phrased like this: "Would you rather eat
bugs or French fries?
French Fries or ice cream?
Ice Cream with whipped cream or nuts...and so on.
Topics can be serious or silly.
Build a Story
"Once upon a time there lived . . .
Finish the sentence...
Then the rest of the family continues the story one or two sentences at a
time.
I'm Going on a Trip
The first player says, "I'm going on a trip and I'm going to pack. . . ,"
finishing the sentence with the name of something that begins with the
letter A. The second player repeats what the first player has said and adds
the name of another item starting with B. The third player repeats
everything that has been said so far and adds something that begins with C.
And so on throughout the alphabet. Anyone who skips or misremembers an item
is out.
Did you know...that you can use duct tape to cover electrical plugs if you are traveling or visiting a non "child-proof" house. Put tape over the electrical plugs to help prevent children from access the outlets
Sunflower house: inspiration from the garden: a book for children and their grown ups by Sharon Lovejoy c. 2001
Roots; shoots, buckets & boots: gardening together with children. By Sharon Lovejoy c. 1999
Down to earth: garden secrets! Garden stores! Garden project you can do! By Micheal J. Rosen and 41 children's book authors and illustrators. C 1998
Forty one authors and illustrators of books for children share their gardening experiences. It includes various activities and recipes related to gardening.
Betty Crocker Kids Cook! by Betty Crocker
Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual by Jim M'Guinness
Cooking Healthy with the Kids in Mind by JoAnna M. Lund
Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone by Emeril Lagasse
Everything Kids' Cookbook: From Mac ' N Cheese to Double Chocolate Chip Cookies-All You Need to Have Some Finger Lickin' Fun (Everything Kids Series) by Sandra, M.S., R.D. Nissenberg
Kids Around the World Cook!: The Best Foods and Recipes from Many Lands by Arlette N. Braman
Burning Down the House, Cooking with Kids by Beth A. Nilsen
Cooking With Kids! (Everyday Chef) by Mayflower Culinary
The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen : 70 Ways to Have Fun with Your Kids and Make Your Family's Celebrations Special by Joan Nathan
Allergy-Free Cooking for Kids: A Guide to Childhood Food Intolerance With 80 Recipes by Antoinette Savill
Cooking up Fun for Kids with Diabetes by Patti B. Geil, Tami A. Ross
Virginia-Shirin Sharifzadeh - Children of many songs
Shades of black: a celebration of our children by Pinkney, Sandra L.
People a musical celebration of diversity.
Lightyear: distributed in the U.S. by WarnerVision Entertainment, 1995.
ABC : a family alphabet book by Combs, Bobbie.
VIDEO
America the beautiful
Weston Woods Studios Scholastic [distributor], c2002.
For the parents:
Human and anti-human values in children's books : a content rating instrument for educators and concerned parents : guidelines for the future / by Council on Interracial Books for Children. Racism and Sexism Resource Center for Educators.
Everyone's kids' books : a guide to multicultural, socially conscious books for children by Braus, Nancy.
The New Press guide to multicultural resources for young readers / New Press : Distributed by W.W. Norton, c1997.
Talking pictures : a parents' guide to using movies to discuss ethics, values, and everyday problems with children by Madison, Ronald J. Children's television;
The economics of exploitation by Melody, William H. Yale University Press, 1973.
The children are watching : how the media teach about diversity by Cortes, Carlos E.
Nature Cures Clinic - Naturopathic, Chiropractic and Chinese medicine health care facility: http://www.naturecuresclinic.com/