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Parent and Guardian Resources

General Resources

  • American Library Association
    Find notable books and award winning titles for children of all ages highlighted by the ALA and other organizations.
  • Family Connections works to strengthen families and promote the healthy development of children by providing parent education and fostering community among families with children from birth through age 10.
  • Kids Gardening offers resources, activities, and more for parents and caregivers to inspire engaging outdoor time together for children of all ages.
  • Visit the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland for resources about identity, being an ally, and more.
  • The National Museum of African American History & Culture offers resources to help parents and caregivers help children understand what race is, how it operates in society, and why race in the U.S.A. is important. Visit Talking About Race.
  • PBS Kids provides parents and caregiver resources including hands-on activities, games, and more with tips about raising curious, kind, and resilient children.
  • PFLAG
    Explore glossaries, tips, and more resources from one of the nation’s first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
  • The Pollinator Partnership provides fun outdoor activities, ideas, and resources for parents and caregivers to help children learn about ecosystems and the role of pollinators.
  • Stop by for a story at Heights Libraries’ Virtual Storytime Archive.
  • Welcoming Schools is an HRC Foundation program offering bias-based bullying prevention programs and resources to help parents and caregivers respond to children’s questions about gender and related LGBTQAI+ topics.
  • Whole Family Center
    Articles and resources for parents.

Grief & Trauma

  • The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
    (CRCC) offers supportive services and information for parents and caregivers with children who have survived sexual assault.
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events: What Adults Can Do. The lead federal agency for research on mental health, NIMH offers extensive information and resources on a variety of topics.
  • RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, and offers extensive resources to help parents and caregivers have conversations about understanding, preventing, and responding to harassment, sexual abuse, and assault.

Learning & Education

  • Take a virtual trip to Carnegie Hall with resources organized by age group, from birth through fifth grade.
  • Visit the CHUH School District for information about neighborhood schools, the academic calendar, and more.
  • Daily Dose of Reading is an organization created by local pediatrician Dr. Shelly Senders whichoffers various programs and materials to support families in achieving thegoal of reading daily.
  • Family Education Learning Network is a fundamental part of Learning Network, bringing together leading organizations from both the public and private sectors to help parents, teachers, schools, and community organizations use online tools and other media resources to positively affect our children’s education and overall development.
  • Visit the Ohio Department of Education for resources about getting Ready for Kindergarten.
  • Mother Goose Rebus Rhymes features various rhymes by title or subject.
  • Reaching Heights works to mobilize community resources to foster highly valued public schools that provide all Cleveland Heights-University Heights students a successful education.

Storytime at Heights Libraries

Storytimes feature age-appropriate early literacy skills, and provide an opportunity to for building listening, cooperative, and social emotional skills. Here are some tips to help make storytime a happy and fun learning time for everyone:

  • Attend the storytime with attention to age guidelines.
  • Arrive on time – space may be limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Put away toys, snacks, drinks, and silenced phones.
  • A little restlessness in young children is expected; it’s also okay to take a break, leave the room, and return.
  • Please save conversations with other adults for playtime and participate in the program. Join in the singing, activities, and have fun!

Summer Reading Program

Summer library programming at Heights Libraries enhances lifelong learning and provides meaningful, fun experiences for families and the community. Each summer, Heights Libraries offers programming to advance academic performance by engaging children of all ages in reading during summer months. Join the challenge and enjoy new incentives and activities each year that build a love of reading!