Anyone who ever said being a parent is easy, is wrong. It's a life-changing, life-long commitment and immensely rewarding. There will be great moments but it is not all fun and games. Sometimes it is downright stressful and hard work but doing your best to be a good parent is one of the greatest thing you will ever do. Being a good parent is not about money and material goods - it is all about putting in the effort to nurture, educate and guide.

To help you we have assembled some useful sources of information and support. This is a completely free, not-for-profit web site which we hope will help inform and inspire parents to carry out the job of raising and educating their children well.

INFORMATION   HEALTH & SOCIAL   CHILDREN'S INFO   THINGS TO DO   LEARNING ACTIVITIES   LEARNING RESOURCES   GOVERNMENT

PARENTS INFORMATION LINKS:

BBC PARENTS www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents
LEARNING & TEACHING SCOTLAND www.LTScotland.com
EDINBURGH CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP (CEC) 0131 529 7777 www.edinburgh.gov.uk
CHILDCARE LINK 0800 096 0296 www.childcarelink.gov.uk
SCOTTISH CHILDMINDING ASSOCIATION - Enid Lowe 0131 449 4614
www.findababysitter.com is a quick and easy way for parents to find local child care online.
PARENTAL LEAVE: MATERNITY ALLIANCE 020 7588 8582 www.maternityalliance.org.uk
PARENTLINE SCOTLAND 0808 800 2222 www.parentlinescotland.org.uk
EDINBURGH RECYCLING 0131 538 7942 www.leep.org.uk
FIRST LINK MAGAZINE www.55north.com/fl4p_home.asp
PARENTS+SCHOOLS MAGAZINE 0800 389 3899 www.dfes.gov.uk/parents
CLICKTHINKING AS A FAMILY: personal safety on the internet www.scotland.gov.uk/clickthinking
10 things parents can do to nurture their child's confidence www.centreforconfidence.co.uk 
BILINGUALISM MATTERS www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk
OKtoAsk Parenting Helpline: 0808 800 2222 www.parentingacrossscotland.org
SCOTTISH PARENT TEACHER COUNCIL (excellent information resource) www.sptc.info
EDUCATIONAL LETTERS articles, info and template letters www.educationletters.co.uk/
CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND agency for all who work with children in Scotland www.childreninscotland.org.uk
SUCCESSFUL SINGLE PARENTING www.successfulsingleparenting.com
Persevering Through Divorce: Single-Parent Resources: www.18884mydivorce.com  
Maintaining a Balance of Mind, Body and Soul
FREE, QUALIFIED, CONFIDENTIAL LIFE COACHING near you: 0844 8030235 www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk

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HEALTH & SOCIAL ISSUES:

DEPT OF HEALTH www.doh.gov.uk
NHS DIRECT 0845 4647 (yes, that's the full number) www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
IMMUNISATION INFO LINE www.immunisation.org.uk
SCOTTISH SOCIETY FOR AUTISM 01259 720044
NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY 0141 221 8090
DYSPRAXIA FOUNDATION 01383 736814 www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
BRITISH STAMMERING ASSOCIATION 0845 603 2001 jan.anderson@ecosse.net www.stammering.org
RNIB: Help and info for blind & partially sighted 0845 702 3153 www.rnib.org.uk
ECZEMA www.talkeczema.com
THE SEX EDUCATION FORUM: free factsheet for parents www.ncb.org.uk
SAFER SCOTLAND - drugs awareness www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org
NATIONAL DRUGS HELPLINE 0800 77 6600 www.ndh.org.uk
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION www.equalityhumanrights.com
ONE PARENT FAMILIES SCOTLAND 0800 0185026 www.opfs.org.uk
TRUANCY: PARENTLINEPLUS 0808 800 2222 www.parentlineplus.org.uk
NSPCC: child safety advice 020 7825 2775 www.nspcc.org.uk
BABY SIGN LANGUAGE: www.babysignlanguage.com/

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CHILDRENS INFORMATION LINKS:

NSPCC: child protection helpline. Free 24 hour advice 0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk
CHILDLINE   Freepost 1111 London N1 0BR 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
CHILDLINE FACTSHEETS and further help:
Gangs, Bullying, Child abuse, Suicide, HIV/AIDS, Stepfamilies, Safe surfing, Drugs, Pregnancy, Running Away, Friends
PARENTS SEPARATING OR DIVORCING? Support and information www.itsnotyourfault.org
ANTI-BULLYING www.young-voice.org  www.bullying.co.uk  www.successunlimited.co.uk/bully/links
KIDZONE: health and safety info for under 12's www.wpthezone.co.uk/kidzone
TEENZONE: health and safety info for teenagers www.wpthezone.co.uk/teenzone
ADULTZONE: health and safety info for young adults www.wpthezone.co.uk/adultzone
MARIE STOPES INTERNATIONAL: sex info for 11-15 year olds www.likeitis.org.uk
RESOURCES FOR KIDS FACING DIVORCE: www.18884mydivorce.com/

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THINGS TO DO:
FILM EDUCATION: tips and free resources www.filmeducation.org
LEARNING AND DISCOVERY www.nationaltrust.org.uk                             
SCIENCELINE: free answers your science questions 0808 800 4000 http://scienceline.org  
THE ORACLE: guide to free events in Edinburgh www.theoracle.co.uk
EVENTS EDINBURGH: guide to events in Edinburgh http://eventsedinburgh.org.uk/
COUNTRYSIDE RANGERS: outdoor free events in and around Edinburgh www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
DO FREE STUFF: various free activities in Edinburgh www.dofreestuff.com/edinburgh.html
MONEYSAVINGEXPERT: forum for free activities in Edinburgh http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/
HOSTEL BOOKERS: Free festival stuff in Edinburgh http://blog.hostelbookers.com/
ENTS24.COM: various free events in Edinburgh www.ents24.com/
Events and attractions for children visiting the Edinburgh region. www.kidsedinburgh.com
www.museums.co.uk  www.familiesonline.co.uk  www.guardian.co.uk/education  www.lone-parents.org.uk 
CYCLING LINKS:
Organised bike rides in and around Edinburgh www.cycling-edinburgh.org.uk/
Edinburgh RC Cycling Club www.edinburghrc.co.uk/
Try Cycling in Edinburgh www.trycyclinginedinburgh.org.uk/
Edinburgh Cycling www.edinburghguide.com/
Edinburgh Council free cycle route maps - city and Pentland Hills www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
Getting around Edinburgh by bike www.edinburgh.org
Cycling Scotland http://cycling.visitscotland.com
Born2Bike second hand bikes, used parts, cheap repairs www.born2bike.freeuk.com   

OFFERS to save you money:
MONEYSAVINGEXPERT: great advice and links to make your cash go further www.moneysavingexpert.com
VOUCHERCODES: save money with money-off vouchers www.vouchercodes.co.uk/
Promotional Codes: www.promotionalcodes.org.uk
DISCOUNT CODER: Save money online by using discount codes and vouchers from www.discountcoder.com

and don't forget to check at your local library for free and reasonably priced events plus free internet access.
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Early Years - Learning Activity Sites:

BBC EDUCATION www.bbc.co.uk/education
LADYBIRD learning activities including animated nursery rhymes www.ladybird.co.uk
CBEEBIES interactive stories by BBC www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/
BBC EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/eyfs/
BABY SIGN LANGUAGE: www.babysignlanguage.com/

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Primary 1 and 2 - Learning Activity Sites:

BBC EDUCATION www.bbc.co.uk/education
THE MAGIC KEY Reading & grammar activities www.bbc.co.uk/schools/magickey
ABC ORDER alphabet game www.learningplanet.com/act/abcorder.asp
CBBC interactive learning by BBC www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/
BBC 4-11 PRIMARY RESOURCES www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/
GIVE YOUR KIDS THE IT EDGE. Free computing lessons: Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) www.pcpro.co.uk

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Primary 3 to 7 - Learning Activity Sites:

GRIDCLUB www.gridclub.com
BBC 4-11 PRIMARY RESOURCES www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/
GIVE YOUR KIDS THE IT EDGE. Free computing lessons: Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) http://www.pcpro.co.uk
SECRET BUILDERS.COM interactive play and learn game www.secretbuilders.com

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Secondary - Learning Activity & Advice Sites:

DADS AND SONS: Help with early secondary years 0845 602 2260 www.teachernet.gov.uk
BBC BITESIZE www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision
CHANNEL 4 HOMEWORK HIGH www.channel4.com/homework
AIM HIGHER: Higher education magazine 0800 587 8500 www.dfes.gov.uk/aimhigher 
WORRIED ABOUT LEAVING HOME? www.uni4me.com
UNIVERSITY FUNDING HOTLINE 0800 587 8500 www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport
MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS: CAREERS SERVICE www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
NATIONAL TESTING: FREE LEAFLET 0845 602 2260 www.standards.dfes.gov.uk
BBC 11-16 SECONDARY RESOURCES www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/11_16/
GIVE YOUR KIDS THE IT EDGE. Free computing lessons: Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) www.pcpro.co.uk
GIVE YOUR KIDS THE IT EDGE. Free computing lessons: Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16) www.pcpro.co.uk

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Other Learning Help & Resources:

NUMERACY & LITERACY www.learn.co.uk
POETRY CHALLENGE www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A78496933 
ENGLISH TIPS AND READING LISTS:  www.booktrust.org.uk  www.boox.org.uk  www.fathersdirect.com
HELP WITH MATHS PROBLEMS: http://mathschallenge.net/  www.learn.co.uk  www.bbc.co.uk/schools
SCIENCE SOLUTIONS: www.sciencemadesimple.com  www.nhm.ac.uk  www.howstuffworks.com
FANTASY LEAGUE: MATHS & ICT SKILLS http://www.schoolsfl.com
ENCYCLOPAEDIA http://factmonster.com  http://uk.encarta.msn.com

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ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES:

Secretary of State for Scotland Scottish.secretary@scotland.gov.uk www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE - EDUCATION www.scotland.gov.uk
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE - EDUCATION www.parentscentre.gov.uk  www.ngflscotland.gov.uk
EDUCATION, CULTURE & SPORT COMMITTEE www.scottish.parliament.uk
DEPT OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS www.dfes.gov.uk/parents
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