The catalog section lists some of our favorite catalogs. They have wonderful things in them that you can't find just going down the street. When you find catalogs or stores that you think our other parents will be interested in, let us know by return e-mail in the "Contact Us" section or drop a note on our desk at the school.

There's a lot of information on the Internet for new parents that's a lot like self-help books. Once you've read a few, the rest are repeats. This list includes repeats as well as some things you might not have thought about, like Backyard Wildlife Habitats or the Cordblood Donor Program. When you run across some really great sites, let us know about them, either through the "Contact Us" section or drop a note on our desk at the school.

Hearth Song This vendor consistently wins awards for creativity in toys for children. They have craft items, small games, lots of imagination things, and I've been known to purchase gifts for special adult friends occasionally.

Natural Baby Catalog - This vendor specializes in simplicity, quality, and all natural, ecologically-minded products. It's basically clothes for birth to six year olds, but they have some nice equipment and toys, too.

Perfectly Safe This vendor focuses on making the environment safe for your little "explorer" with products for traveling, on-the-go, in the car, and when your child is playing at home.

The Right Start Innovative products to make your life safer, more convenient, and fun. They usually have some great exclusive items that you won't see any where else. Right now they're featuring a Bach music tape that we love.

Health and Safety

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity - Has some different perspectives on ADD and some valuable links.

Cordblood - There are more and more diseases that are being treated most successfully with umbilical cord blood. If you are an expectant parent, please consider this life-saving choice even if it's to a public donor bank.

Drug Abuse - Has some good answers for "did you ever use drugs". Also has specific effects and long-term results of various drugs.

Fit for a Kid - From Chrysler and General Motors a wealth of information about car seat safety.

KidsinDanger - Started by parents whose 17-month-old died when his portable crib collapsed, the site warns of product recalls. It has links to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall list, and is searchable by product category or name.

Kidsource - A good source for in-depth health and education information, this site is managed by a group of California parents committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of parents and children.

March of Dimes - Visit this site for information on prenatal and infant health and referrals to your local chapter of the March of Dimes.

Parenting Q&A - Leading Boston-based pediatricians and child-development experts promise answers to your questions within two business days.

Safe Food - Good tips for keeping germs out of the kitchen.

Safe Kids - A national organization to prevent unintentional injury to children.

Very Best Baby - In-depth info on prenatal health and infant and family nutrition.

Zero To Three - This site contains research and information on physical, cognitive, and social development of infants and toddlers.

ABC Parenting - Visitors can recommend and rank helpful sites on various parenting subjects.

Baby Bag - Lots of general information from Parents, child, and Family Circle magazines.

BabyCenter - A parenting community with scheduled chat room, including a middle-of-the-night club from 2:30 to 4:30 a.m. EST.

Children's Television Workshop - Useful information on classic topics such as education and child development. When your preschooler wants to take over the computer, have him click on Sesame Street Central for stories, games, coloring pages, and all the latest scoop on Big Bird and friends.

Family - A member of the Disney online family, this site covers all the bases - food, travel, education, activities, home computing, and family relationships.

iVillage - A general women's network. The Parent's Place has good information on pregnancy and budgeting. Parent Soup has good chat rooms and bulletin boards. You'll be surprised, and relieved, at some of the frank discussions and their conclusions.

Maternity Outfitters - Specializes in problems of dressing professionally when you are also pregnant.

Parents Unite - Briefings on issues such as gun control or using the unemployment fund to finance paid parental leave plus automatic e-mails to your congressional representatives.

Screenit - A comprehensive review of movies, videos, and music. Reviews rate potentially objectionable material as alcohol, sex, violence, and profanity as minor, mild, moderate, and severe. They also detail the parts of the material in which these things appear.

Talking With Kids - From Children Now and Kaiser Family Foundation, a site to help you talk about tough issues like sex, violence, alcohol, and drugs.

Life in General

Center for Loss and Life Transition - Helps people in a grieving place. Great for you or if you are wanting to companion a person who is grieving.

Kraftfoods - Quick and easy food ideas using ingredients you can keep on hand.

Lifeadvice - Sponsored by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company to help you manage life's events. Topics range from moving to getting the best prices on mortgages. Has general information as well as links to specific vendors.

National Wildlife Federation - This organization is an advocacy group to sustain our natural ecology. Their backyard wildlife habitat program is particularly good, and they have really high quality nature-inspired gifts.

Montessori

Association Montessori Internationale - This association was founded by Dr. Montessori to maintain the integrity of her life's work and to ensure that it would be perpetuated after her death. The site describes the pedagogy, provides a historical background, and has an online store for purchasing materials, books, and videos.

American Montessori Society - The society's purpose is to help children develop their potential through the educational principles of Dr. Maria Montessori.

North American Montessori Teacher's Association - A membership organization that provides a wealth of information on their site.

Montessori Foundation - Dedicated to the advancement of Montessori education in the US and abroad. Offers programs and resources for parents, teachers, administrators, and boards.