For Parents

The Youth Services department is dedicated to serving your family's needs. To meet this goal, we offer a wide range of programs and events for all ages.
The library offers many resources for parents and caregivers, including a bulletin board with local events and resources, subscriptions to local newsletters and parenting magazines, and a non-circulating parenting collection.

Book and Media Selection Tools

Parent's Choice Foundation
Provides reviews and ratings for books, toys, movies, video games, mobile apps, magazines, CDs, computer software, and websites.
Common Sense Media
Provides reviews and ratings for movies, television, video games, music CDs, books, and websites.
ESRB Ratings
Guide to video game ratings. Lists every rated video game with recommended ages and reasons for the game's rating.
MPAA Ratings
Guide to movie ratings, including searchable database of movie ratings and reasons.

Family Health
Internet Safety
KidsHealth Internet Safety
Guides to internet safety for parents, kids, and teens.
FBI - Parent Guide to Internet Safety
SafeKids
Information and advice for parents about online safety and etiquette, including a Parent's Guide to Facebook.

For Homeschoolers
A-Z Homeschooling

Parenting Resources
Family Education Network
Parenting advice, activities for children, family games & recipes.
Cookalotamus
Recipes and information on cooking and eating healthy with your kids.
Department of Education Parenting Page
Government-sponsored resources for parents, focusing on public schools.
Highlights Parents
Activities, crafts, parenting advice and more.

Things to do in the Chicago Area
Chicago Parent
For 25 years, Chicago Parent has been Chicago's essential companion for parents. With the largest circulation, the broadest assortment of useful advertising and more awards than fit our walls, Chicago Parent has helped generations of Chicago families find their way, or at least their way to the Field Museum.
Chicago Kids
ChicagoKids.com is an online resource for parents in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. We make it easy for you to find fun places to go and things to do with your kids. Find fun family events in our Calendar of Events, find a great family destination in our Places to Go section, find special offers in our Coupons & Deals section, and use our Resource Guide to find kids classes, shopping, a kids party guide and more.
Illinois Parents
Resources for families and schools to strengthen school communities.
Macy's Museum Adventure Pass
Bridgeview Library cardholders can check out free passes to educational institutions throughout Chicagoland, including the Brookfield Zoo, the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and the Oak Lawn Children's Museum. Click here for a list of participating institutions. We recommend calling ahead (708-458-2880 x103) to make sure the passes you want are available.
Oaklee's Guide
Oaklee's Family Guide was started in 1999 by suburban Chicago moms who wanted to know the activities for kids around town. We figured that if we were looking for a family guide, then we knew other busy parents and caregivers needed it too! Our tree mascot, Oaklee, represents that gathering place in the neighborhood where friends go to hear about the family events, latest festival, party place, or great coupon. We hope that Oaklee's Family Guide helps you to make the most of the precious and fleeting time with your kids in Chicago!