LibGuides: Parenting: Parenting

Community Parenting Classes

FamilySpeak
Throughout Colorado Springs
Classes available for many topics.

Catholic Charities Parent Education Programs
Early childhood and parent education programs
Mothering Together This free group will feature a supportive topic each week that will focus on the adjustments of being pregnant or after becoming a parent. Babies and children are welcome.

Mental Health Resources

Child Health Advocacy

Colorado Crisis Line

If you or your child is struggling with any mental health, substance use or emotional challenge the Colorado Crisis Line is for you. No problem is too small. Call 844-493-8255 (TALK) or text "TALK" to 38255.

Daily Life

Cope with Stress

Keeping Kids Safe Online

Breathing Exercises

Supporting Mental Health in Tough Times

Mental Health Support for Kids and Teens

Pandemic Teen Mental Health

I Matter Colorado
The I Matter program connects parents and youth with a therapist for 6 free virtual counseling sessions.

Parenting Video Series

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Universal Pre-K Resources

Did you know that all 4-year-olds in the state of Colorado qualify for 15 free hours of preschool per week?

Interested in registering your child for preschool but unsure of where to start? Click the links below to learn more about Universal Preschool in Colorado and El Paso County.

Parenting Resources

Welcome, Parents! We have provided some helpful links on childhood development, health, importance of play, educational ratings on media, local resources for special needs children, and social-emotional support for parents and kids.

Parenting Resources @ PPLD:

PPLD Classes: PRENATAL SERIES
Join Pikes Peak Library District and Nurse Family Partnership for a series of prenatal classes. This six-week series of classes is offered quarterly. The classes, held on Wednesdays at noon, explore different topics each week and include a Q&A session. Click on link to register for individual classes.
LENA Start!
LENA Start is an 8-week program where parents learn how to increase conversational turns with their babies and toddlers.
Click on the link for session and registration information.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

PPLD Booklist: Reassuring Reads for Kids
It's a difficult time for all. Here's a list of reassuring children's books curated by PPLD children's librarians available at area PPLD Libraries.

Online Resources

American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 66,000 pediatricians committed to the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. They offer a large, trusted library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music.
The Genius of Play
The Genius of Play provides families with the information and inspiration they need to make play an important part of their child’s day. Parents can find facts, useful tips and expert advice on how toys and play can help kids build confidence, creativity, critical thinking and other skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
The Resource Exchange
The Resource Exchange is a Colorado Springs organization that serves over 4,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families, through a range of fully customizable service lines. Their mission is to build independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Zero to Three
ZERO to THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development.

FamilySpeak
Alliance for Kids brings together resources designed to meet the needs of families. FamilySPEAK.org offers information on: social-emotional well being, health, nutrition, safety, learning at home, child development, early intervention services, resources for military families, parenting classes, podcasts, and blogs.
Kindergarten Information Hub
Alliance for Kids is collecting information about Kindergarten from school districts in El Paso County and will provide updates at this hub for parents and families.
SafeKids
Safe Kids Worldwide® is a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries.
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Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the United States and with partners in more than 30 countries to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more.
Need Project
We exist to support parents and caregivers of those with special needs with local resources.
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Visit the Local Resources page on this website to see resources in the El Paso County area.

Parenting Blogs

Colorado Springs Mom Collective
One stop resource for parents raising kids in Colorado Springs.
Confidence Meets Parenting
A blog about building confidence in your parenting.
Macaroni KID
Macaroni KID is a free weekly newsletter and website that delivers news on all the kid and family friendly events going on in your community.
Your Modern Family
This blog provides tips for a happy household in the modern world.

Helping Children in Traumatic Experiences

Sesame Street Workshop provides printables, videos, and more for parents and caregivers to use to help children in traumatic experiences.

Adoption Choices of Colorado
Adoption Choices of Colorado is a private, non-profit adoption agency licensed by the state.
The Adoption Exchange
The Adoption Exchange connects children waiting in foster care with families who adopt, and supports families through the adoption process.
Adoption in Colorado
Adoption creates supportive, loving families for children, teens and adults. There are three types of adoption: adoption from foster care, international adoption and private domestic adoption. Most adoptions in the United States are through the foster care system. Learn more about adoption in Colorado through this site.
American Adoption
American Adoptions is a full-service adoption agency that provides domestic adoption services, unplanned pregnancy counseling and home study resources.

Children's Hospital Colorado
This site will help you learn what to do if your child is being bullied.
Kidpower Colorado
Kidpower is dedicated to working together to build cultures of caring, respect, and safety for everyone, everywhere.
Peaceful Households
The vision of Peaceful Households is to ensure a safe, nurturing and predictable environment for children and their families.

Guide to Shopping with Your Special Needs Child
Detailed guide to making excursions with your special needs child and dealing with sensory overload. From blogger Rob Gorski, parent of three children on the Autism Spectrum.
Home Accessibility Checklist: What You Need to Know
A home accessibility checklist from the United Disabilities Services Foundation.
Kaufman Children's Center- Special Needs Grants
The Kaufman Children's Center has compiled a list of grant information from various organizations.
Making Special Education Work for Your Child During COVID
Harvard Medical School Health Blog discusses selecting learning environments for children with disabilities.
Parent to Parent of Colorado
Connecting families of sons and daughters with disabilities or special healthcare needs to emotional and informational supports.
PEAK Parent Center
PEAK Parent Center is a nonprofit that works every day to ensure that all people with disabilities are fully included in their neighborhood schools, communities, employment, and all walks of life.
Resource Exchange: TRE
TRE is proud to offer a wide variety of supports and services for people of all ages who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Special Kids Special Families
An organization to provide respite and specialized care for children and adults with disabilities and special needs.
THRIVE Center
The THRIVE Center exists to provide parents with information and training about disabilities; parent and children's rights under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and other relevant laws; and resources.

Early Intervention

Council for Exceptional Children
The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities.
eParent
eParent provides practical advice, emotional support and educational information for families of children and adults with disabilities.
Imagine!
Provides support services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Autism & Asperger Syndrome

Academy D20
Autism & Asperger Connections of Colorado Springs
Where the Colorado Springs autism community connects.
Autism Society of Colorado
Autism Society of Colorado is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of all Coloradan's touched by Autism.
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.

Down Syndrome

The Arc
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Colorado Springs Down Syndrome Association
Providing support and encouragement to families of children with Down syndrome.
National Down Syndrome Congress
The National Down Syndrome Congress is a national not-for-profit organization that provides individuals, families, and health care providers information and support about Down syndrome, as well as advocating with and on behalf of individuals with Down syndrome.
National Down Syndrome Society
Leading organization that offers support to people with Down syndrome, their families, friends, teachers, and coworkers, and educates the general public about Down syndrome.
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association assures inclusion and enhances independence of people with Down syndrome. This association provides education, resources and support in partnership with individuals, families, professionals, and the community.

ADHD

ADHD Childhood
Learn about childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Find, causes, symptoms, treatment tips and other valuable information.
The National Resource on ADHD
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) is the nation's leading nonprofit organization serving people affected by ADHD.
Understood
A resource for parents whose children, ages 3–20, are struggling with learning and attention issues.

Operation Homefront
A nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive.
Operation Kid Comfort
Volunteers at the Armed Services YMCA create custom-made photo transfer quilts and pillows to help with the separation of deployment.
Thriveworks
Local organization that offers deployment counseling for children.

Discipline for Toddlers
Children's Hospital Colorado offers tips for toddler meltdowns, discipline and rewards.
Discipline Tips by Age
Age appropriate techniques to discipline your child.

Colorado State Foster Parent Association
CSFPA is a voice for all foster, kinship and adoptive families in Colorado. They provide education programs, support referrals, and advocacy.
El Paso County Human Services
List of resources for foster care organizations through El Paso County.
Kids Crossing
Kids Crossing was created by foster parents for foster parents. They are determined to provide a safe and caring home for every foster child.

Grandfamilies.org
Grandfamilies.org serves as a national legal resource in support of grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare system.
Kinship Care COCAF
A Resource Guide for Kinship Families in Colorado provides local and statewide information about organizations and programs that may be useful for kinship caregivers.

Child Welfare Information Gateway
Family-centered services for incarcerated parents, their children, and families focus on parenting programs, family strengthening activities, nurturing of family relationships, community supports for families during incarceration and following release, and gender-specific interventions.
The Sesame Workshop
Discover printables, videos, and more on topics to help your child cope with incarceration of a loved one .
SKIP, Inc
A resource to provide support services to children of incarcerated parents and their families.

The Center for Parenting
Provides parenting support and education to families so they can do the best job they can in raising their children.
FamilySPEAK
This site is a tool for strengthening families by providing family support, parent education and knowledge in one accessible location.
First Visitor
A free, one-on-one program that supports moms and dads in the comfort of their own home. First Visitor provides emotional support, connect parents and caregivers with free community resources and share information on health, nutrition, safety and important developmental milestones.
Healthy Children: American Academy of Pediatrics
Looking for general information related to child health or for more specific guidance on parenting issues? This website is backed by 67,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Lutheran Family Services
Provides free counseling to all women and couples experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.
Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families and children that are healthy, safe and ready to learn.
Remembering Cherubs
A non-profit organization to help families work through pregnancy loss.

Postpartum

Children's Hospital Colorado
Children's Hospital Colorado supports pregnant women and women struggling with mood and anxiety issues after delivery, as well as their families.
Postpartum Support International
This resource is dedicated to helping families suffering from postpartum depression, anxiety, and distress.

The Center on Colfax
The Center on Colfax's Family Program provides a safe, welcoming way for LGBTQ families to meet and have fun together.
Human Rights Campaign- Explore: Parenting
HRC provides current resources that address the many potential paths to parenthood as well as tools for issues facing LGBTQ-headed families or LGBTQ youth.

Parents without Partners
Parents Without Partners provides single parents and their children with an opportunity for enhancing personal growth, self-confidence and sensitivity towards others by offering an environment for support, friendship and the exchange of parenting techniques.
Single Parent Advocate
This is a non-profit organization committed to educating, equipping and empowering single parents with resources, practical assistance, emotional encouragement and social networking to better their lives, and those of their children.

Single Fathers

Center on Fathering
The Center on Fathering is is equipped to help dads and families understand and fulfill their essential role in the life of a child.
National Fatherhood Initiative
Explores ways to help fathers enhance their parenting, relationship, and co-parenting skills.
National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
Explore ways to help fathers enhance their parenting, relationship, and co-parenting skills.

Single Mothers

Single Mom Assistance
This site provides resources available in Colorado Springs.

Advocates for Youth
Advocates for Youth works alongside thousands of young people here in the U.S. and around the globe as they fight for sexual health, rights and justice.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Resources for teens and parents.
Power to Decide
Power to Decide, the campaign to prevent unplanned pregnancy, works to ensure that all young people—no matter who they are, where they live, or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. We do this by increasing information, access, and opportunity.
Teen Pregnancy from Medline Plus
Trusted health information for teens.