Kids do better when they have good dads, but what does it mean to be a good dad? Dads Unlimited, a new initiative shaped by educator and father Allan Shedlin based on the results of thousands of hours of interviews with dads and kids, hopes to support good "daddying" beginning with parenting consulting and school-home liaison services. He is offering pro bono consulting at local family clinics.

This site - part of the PBS Caring for Critically Ill Children online series -- has practical suggestions for parents and teachers on talking to critically ill children about what is happening to them, including a section with tips for different aged children.

When people who concentrate on the bottom line call for more public investment in early childhood development programs because they offer the greatest economic return for the money, child advocates should pay close attention. This Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis analysis argues that most of the projects and initiatives that state and local governments fund in the name of creating new jobs result in few public benefits, but dollars invested in early childhood yield extraordinary public returns.

There is little point in beginning intensive toilet training before a child reaches 27 months, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Researchers found that if parents started earlier asking a child to use the toilet more than three times a day, training took longer.

This National Council on Disability paper identifies the essential supports for families with disabilities under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. These include making sure parents or children with disabilities are appropriately screened, barring states from terminating assistance until they have offered families help in meeting TANF rules, and allowing states to count rehabilitation and other acts as work activities. The paper also recommends giving families access to Medicaid or other health coverage as they move from welfare to work, and increasing funding to better train caseworkers.

This Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Web site offers caretakers, guardians, and mentors suggestions for better communication with children, as well as other tips that aid in prevention.

One out of every five American teens has used an inhalant to get high. This Partnership for a Drug-Free America guide helps inform parents about the risks of inhalant use.

In this MegaSkills minibook, Dorothy Rich has practical ideas to help parents incorporate reading, writing and math skills as part of everyday routines in ways that nurture children's natural curiosity and eagerness to learn. Cost: Bulk orders are $160 for each packet of 20. Contact MegaSkills at edstaff@megaskillshsi.org

Promoted as a way to teach young children to find healthy ways to deal with frustration and everyday conflicts, this activity book for parents has concrete tips and real-life examples that are useful in helping parents weather the storms of the terrible twos and other trying times. Cost: $19.95

These age-specific parent information newsletters, produced and distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Extension Family Life Specialists, cover the first year of a child's life. Some states cover parenting up to age 5, and some are available in Spanish as well.