As the weather gets warmer, it is a perfect time to get outdoors and play. Playing outside is great for exploring the world, learning new things and staying active. Outdoor play is also good for vision development – research shows that playing outside in early childhood may reduce the risk of nearsightedness later in life.… Continue reading Help protect your baby’s eyes in the sunshine
Early Abilities programs have moved to Surrey Place
Looking for support for your child's speech and language development? Does your newborn baby need a hearing screen? Do you have a child with permanent hearing loss, low vision or blindness? As of April 2022, the Toronto Preschool Speech and Language, Blind-Low Early Intervention and Infant Hearing Programs have moved from Early Abilities at Toronto… Continue reading Early Abilities programs have moved to Surrey Place
What is a newborn hearing screen – and does my baby need one?
Before a child can communicate using speech and spoken words, they need to hear the sounds and words we use. If a child has an undetected hearing loss, they may miss certain sounds and words in speech, causing a spoken language delay. The Infant Hearing Program provides free Universal Newborn Hearing Screening for all babies… Continue reading What is a newborn hearing screen – and does my baby need one?
Your baby’s speech, hearing & vision health matters
In Canada, the month of May is dedicated to raising awareness about communication, hearing and vision health! Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing information about your child's speech, language, hearing and vision – with tips to monitor your child's development, expand their skills and set them up for success in school and… Continue reading Your baby’s speech, hearing & vision health matters
Did you know? Telehealth Ontario is now Health Connect Ontario!
Times of illness can be very stressful for parents and caregivers. It's normal to feel worried and have lots of questions, such as: How serious are my/my child's symptoms? Do we need to go to a doctor? Is it safe to breastfeed if I'm sick? Who can I contact for health advice and support? If… Continue reading Did you know? Telehealth Ontario is now Health Connect Ontario!
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Caring for Baby when you are COVID-19 Positive
Are you pregnant or a new parent and have COVID-19? Not sure what you should do? Our nurse Ella Shapiro shares some information that might help. Pregnancy: Getting COVID when you are pregnant can affect the health of you and your baby. Most pregnant people who get COVID-19 will have mild symptoms, but some pregnant… Continue reading Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Caring for Baby when you are COVID-19 Positive
COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy
Are you or someone you know, pregnant or planning to get pregnant and have questions about taking the COVID-19 vaccine? During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes that may increase the risk of getting sick, including getting viral respiratory infections. The COVID-19 vaccines are very effective in preventing infection. According to the Ministry of… Continue reading COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy
COVID-19 vaccine and fertility
A common question I'm asked about the COVID-19 vaccine is "how does it affect my fertility" or "will it affect my reproductive health"? Rumours or misinformation about vaccines and the possible impacts it has on fertility or reproductive health, make it hard for people to make an informed decision. It's important to consider the facts… Continue reading COVID-19 vaccine and fertility
Screen Time: Tips for Setting Reasonable Limits
Our nurse Allison Stockley shares part 3 of her series on the importance of the early years. Her first post reminded us to check in on our child’s development and her second post taught us about the importance of playing with our children. This post gives us some tips on screen time. Screen time is… Continue reading Screen Time: Tips for Setting Reasonable Limits
Learning through play
Our nurse Allison Stockley shares part 2 of her series on the importance of the early years. Her first post reminded us to check in on our child's development. This post teaches us about the importance of playing with our children. Play is meant to be fun, sparking curiosity and imagination, but did you know… Continue reading Learning through play