1. Parenting & Family

Bulletin Boards

What You Need To Know

From , former About.com Guide

Stay-at-Home Parents can feel very isolated at times. No matter how much we love and enjoy being home with our children, there are times when we all need some adult interaction. So, this week, I will begin a series of articles about different ways to use the Internet to help you connect with other parents. This week, we will look at Bulletin Boards.

What is a Bulletin Board?
A bulletin board is simply a place where you can post questions, comments, or rants and raves to people with similar interests. Maybe you have a favorite website you would like to share with others; many bulletin boards allow you to share the address.

How Do I Post?
Most, but not all, bulletin boards require some type of registration before posting. Normally, you will be asked for an email address, a nickname (this is the name that will show-up when you post), a user name, and a password. You can usually enter either your real email address, or a "fake" address if you feel more comfortable. Of course, if you want anyone to reply to a question you post via email, you will have to add your real email address. Finally, you will want to make a note of your user name and password, so you can post again using the same nickname.

How Do I Know What I Can Post?
Most boards will have an FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, and you can go there to find out which types of posts are allowed. For example, I have an FAQ page for our Stay-at-Home Parents bulletin board here at About.com. It is generally a good idea to read the FAQ for a particular board before you post.

Where Can I Find A Parenting Bulletin Board?
There are thousands of bulletin boards on the Internet geared toward parents. I will be adding new bulletin board links at regular intervals, and the following links will get you started. Happy posting!

Related About.com Bulletin Boards

  • Parenting Babies & Toddlers
    If you have questions about your baby or toddler's health or development, this is the board for you.
  • Parenting of K-6 Children
    Post questions and comments about your school-age children.
  • Daycare
    Do you run a home-based daycare center? Find answers to your questions here.
  • Pregnancy/Childbirth
    Find answers to all your pregnancy-related questions. A very active and informative bulletin board.
  • Travel With Kids
    Travelling with kids can be stressful, but this Mining Co. site can help.

And please stop by our Stay-at-Home Parents bulletin board. Feel free to post any questions or comments.

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