Useful resources

Schoolzone
Claiming to be one of the biggest and most used web sites in the UK, this site has lots of useful resources for parents, children, carers and teachers in the UK. The content is reviewed by professionals. www.schoolzone.co.uk

Baby Place
These child-tested games teach numbers, maths, colors, hand-eye coordination and help children get used to computers as well. Lots of helpful advice on pregnancy and parenting.
www.baby-place.com/games.htm

Bob the Builder
Games and activities with Bob and friends www.hitentertainment.com/bobthebuilder

Childrens BBC
The national children's BBC websites - full of games as well as play and educational ideas for you and your children.
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc
www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies

National Wildlife Federation
Activities for 3-13 year olds to enjoy featuring the natural surrounding habitat and wildlife. www.nwf.org/kidzone

Pingu the Penguin
One of the world's most loved penguins Pingu will entertain and challenge children with fun games and colouring projects www.hitentertainment.com/pingu

Enchanted Learning
Full of play and educational ideas for you and your children. You can use these ideas to have fun learning together. www.enchantedlearning.com

National Literacy Trust
Aims to raise literacy standards for all ages throughout the UK. Telephone 020 7828 2435. www.literacytrust.org.uk

The Parenting Education & Support Forum is the national umbrella organisation for those who work in parenting education and support.
www.parenting-forum.org.uk/parents.asp

The Mouse Club
An interactive web site, teaching 3 to 7 year olds basic IT skills and mouse control.Has sections for children with activities, games, stories and puzzles. Also has sections for teachers and parents! www.themouseclub.co.uk

Pre School Learning Alliance
Dedicated to helping children to succeed, create the childcare which families need and building learning communities. www.pre-school.org.uk

The Under 5’s Pre-School website
Supports the theory that education should be fun, and actively encourages learning through play. Lots of activities and craft ideas for under 5’s. www.underfives.co.uk

The Story Place
Story telling website with a special
pre-school library section with story and activities for under 5’s. Lots of themed stories and activities for the under 5’s www.storyplace.org

Sesame Street
Parents and children can play, read, and sing together on the world's most famout street. Has separate Children’s and Parent’s sections. www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet

British Allergy Foundation
Leaflets, fact sheets and regular newsletters are available from this site, providing information and support to sufferers and their families. The foundation also run a helpline for allergy sufferers, offering advice and support. www.allergyfoundation.com

Foods Matter
On line magazine for anyone with a food allergy, food intolerance, food sensitivity - or on a restricted diet. www.foodsmatter.com

Institute of Childrens Health
Together with Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Institute of Child Health is a centre for the study and treatment of childhood disease., it has made a major contribution to the health and well-being of children and their families worldwide. www.ich.ucl.ac.uk

International Assoc of Infant Massage
Promotes nurturing touch and communication through training, education and research so that parents, caregivers and children are loved, valued and respected throughout the World community. www.iaim.org.uk

Birth Choice
Advice and information for pregnant women to help them choose where to give birth. Discusses choosing a hospital birth, giving birth in a birth centre or midwifery-led unit, or a home birth. Also gives advice on post natal care www.birthchoiceuk.com

Maternity Alliance
An organisation that looks at all aspects of pregnancy and new parenthood. Offers support to pregnant women and fathers to be. www.maternityalliance.org.uk

Patient UK
Information on health, self help and patient support groups. Also provides a guide to medicines and help on finding an NHS doctor or dentist. www.patient.co.uk

The National Asthma Campaign
Provides advice and guidance on living with asthma. They run a helpline staffed by asthma specialist nurses and can put you in touch with local support volunteers. www.asthma.org.uk

The National Eczema Society
Dedicated to helping people with eczema, dermatitis and sensitive skin conditions. Also provides a helpline for sufferers and their carers. www.eczema.org

Twin & Multiple Births Association
Offers support and advice to anyone expecting or caring for twins, triplets or more. They also run Twinline, a confidential helpline staffed by trained volunteers who are parents of multiples. www.tamba.org.uk

National Childbirth Trust
Offering support in childbirth, pregnancy & early parenthood. www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com

Family Information Service (Walsall)                                           Up to date information, advice and help on services for families in Walsall.  Can help with finding childcare, nursery places and childminders.  FIS also offer training for parents. www.mywalsall.org/fis/

Bestbear
The only comprehensive and quality controlled guide to childcare agencies across the UK, which helps parents make informed decisions when choosing childcare services. www.bestbear.co.uk

Charity For Children
Charity For Children (formally Kids Club Network) is a national organisation for out of school childcare, offering advice and support to out of school clubs, parents, children, childcare providers, 4Children is the national charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for children.     www.4children.org.uk

Parents at Work Childcare
Offer a range of factsheets designed to inform parents about the different types of childcare on offer and what to consider when choosing childcare.  Arranged by ‘zones’ for employers and families.  www.workingfamilies.org.uk

Daycare Trust
Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality, affordable childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers. They advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues.   www.daycaretrust.org.uk

National Childminding Association
Can provide parents with information to help find and choose a childminder.  Also offers extensive support for childminders.    www.ncma.org.uk

Walsall  Children and Young People's Service Directory                                          There are resources here for kids, teens, parents and professionals, all showing whats available for families in Walsall.  www.mywalsall.org

Coram Family
Leading children's charity that aims to develop and promote best practice in the care of vulnerable children and their families.   www.coram.org.uk

DFES Parents Site
This government site tells you about your child's education and development and how you can help and support them.  www.parentscentre.gov.uk

Home Start (UK)
Home-Start is the UK's leading family support organisation for families with young children. They support thousands of parents who are struggling to cope. Home Start can offer support for many reasons including post-natal illness, disability, bereavement, the illness of a parent or child, or social isolation.  Parents supporting other parents.         www.home-start.org.uk

National Family and Parenting Institute
independent charity working to support parents in bringing up their children, to promote the wellbeing of families and to make society more family friendly. Also includes the E-Parents website. www.nfpi.org

Childrens project
Parenting and Child Development books can be purchased from this site that draw upon the experience and expertise of parents, health professionals and academics to provide up-to-date information in a form that aims to be easily accessible to everyone - parents, carers and practitioners. www.childrensproject.co.uk

For Parents by Parents
This parenting site is made by parents specifically for other parents. It aims to tackle the more challenging and sometimes taboo aspects of becoming and being a parent. www.forparentsbyparents.co.uk

Netmums is a local network for mums with a wealth of information and advice on being a mum with young children in your home town. www.netmums.com

National Childminding Association
Can provide parents with information to help find and choose a childminder. Also offers extensive support for childminders. www.ncma.org.uk

Parents at Work Childcare
Offer a range of factsheets designed to inform parents about the different types of childcare on offer and what to consider when choosing childcare. Arranged by ‘zones’ for employers and families. www.workingfamilies.org.uk

Dads UK is the first and only helpline for single fathers. There are no group meetings. Instead, there is help from contacts over the phone, many of which are other men in your area who have life experience with which to give you advice, or to just listen. www.dads-uk.co.uk

Families Need Fathers is a registered UK charity which provides information and support to parents, including unmarried parents, of either sex. FNF is chiefly concerned with the problems of maintaining a child's relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. www.fnf.org.uk

Fatherhood Institute                     The national information centre on fatherhood. www.fatherhoodinstitute.org

HomeDad UK is the only UK support group dedicated to helping dads at home with their kids. Run by a team of stay at home dads since starting in 2000, having over 600 members. www.homedad.org.uk

School of Infant Mental Health              The School of Infant Mental Health
Offers integrated educational and training programmes for professionals working with under-5s www.infantmentalhealth.com

Refuge
Provides help and support for women experiencing domestic violence. The service provides a 24 hour domestic Violence freephone helpline, refuges and safe houses and emergency accommodation. Outreach services with culturally specific services are also available. www.refuge.org.uk

Association of Postnatal Illness
Offers advice and support to women suffering from postnatal depression. Aims to raise awareness of the condition. www.apni.org

Action on Pre-Eclampsia (APEC)
Helps and supports women worldwide who have had or who are worried about pre-eclampsia (preeclampsia), eclampsia, HELLP Syndrome or pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). www.apec.org.uk

Contact a Family
UK charity providing support and advice to parents of children with disabilities, whatever the medical condition of their child. www.cafamily.org.uk

Deaf Parenting Project
Information and resources for deaf and hard of hearing parents. There is also an e-mail support group that can be joined from the website. www.deafparent.org.uk

Disabled Parents Network
Volunteer led National organisation of and for disabled people who are parents or who hope to become parents, and their families, friends and supporters. www.disabledparentsnetwork.org.uk

I CAN provides a combination of specialist therapy and education for children with the most severe and complex disabilities, information for parents and training and advice for teachers and other professionals. They also work to ensure that the needs of these children are taken into account in all children's policy and carry out research to find the best ways to support these children. www.ican.org.uk