............Parenting Resources

Parenting Library
A library of books, audiocassettes, and videos (VHS/DVD) on a wide variety of parenting topics is housed at the Grundy-Kendall Regional Office of Education, Grundy County Administration Center, 1320 Union Street, Morris, Illinois. Materials are available for free two-week loan to residents of Grundy, Kendall, or Will counties.

Click on one of the categories below to download a list of parenting materials available in the Prevention Library:

• Videos
• Books (Available soon)
• Audiocassettes (Available soon)
• Curriculum (Available soon)

Parenting Newsletters
Parent University disseminates the early childhood newsletter Growing Together. The latest issues are described below:

Growing Together, September 2008
This issue explores the roles of grandparents in the lives of young children, building on the August issue theme centering on the importance of special people in the lives of your child.  You’ll also learn about some basic principles of effective parenting and the different types of play.

Growing Together, August 2008
Does your child have a grandparent, a special aunt or uncle, or someone else who makes your child feel like the most important child in the world?  This issue of Growing Together encourages parents to nurture these people in your child’s life.  It also explores how to deal with “toddler meltdown,” those moments when your child goes into an emotional tailspin.

Growing Together, July 2008
This issue explores the art of raising a child who is kind to others.  The home is a key place to develop this quality in children.  Nurturing, quality playtime is also explored in the July issue.  Learn how to spend quiet activities with your child.  The fun of pretending is another important form of play that can help a child explore and release feelings and develop a healthy sense of self.

Growing Together, June 2008
Discipline is a huge concern for parents, and many excellent books have been written on the topic.  This issue features the work of author Dr. Grace Mitchell, who helps parents tackle discipline using four tactics: anticipate, hesitate, investigate, and communicate.  There’s much more in the issue, including tips on helping your child respect the environment and countering parent burnout.

Growing Together, May 2008
The act of reading stories to a preschooler can be wonderful fun for both adult and child, especially if the adult can adjust his or her reading style to encourage the child's active participation in the story.  Look to this issue's main feature for useful tips on reading to preschoolers.  Preparing your child for success in school is a big theme in this issue, which also includes advice on building a foundation for math skills and helping children learn the process of solving problems.

Growing Together, April 2008
You are going to make mistakes as a parent, but the key is to learn from your experiences and have confidence in yourself.  This issue provides lots of advice for helping you raise children to be happy, healthy, and responsible.  You'll also find inexpensive ideas for craft projects and fun activities.

Growing Together, March 2008
You'll find lots of good advice in this issue that is themed around playtime.  Why is free play so important?  How can you have fun with music with ordinary things around the house? How should you store your child's toys?  These are a few of the topics explored.

Growing Together, February 2008
Have you ever wondered why your young child seems to act up at the most inconvenient times?  And what about the child who resists going to bed when she should?  You'll find some insights and some helpful ideas in this issue.