According to my dictionary the word 'Parenting' is almost 100 years old even though the role has been around for ages. The definition is very simple: "the raising of a child by its parents," but most parents would agree that this does not properly describe the really complicated and difficult job of parenting. Negative behaviour… Continue reading Language & Discipline: Finding positive words for negative behaviour
Author: Noel Barnett, MHSc., SLP Reg. CASLPO
I studied at the University of Toronto (Faculty of Medicine, Rehabilitative Sciences) and have worked as a paediatric speech-language pathologist and health promotion consultant in the Cty of Toronto for the last 12 years. I'm a registered member of the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). I've previously worked for the Hanen Centre and Geneva Centre for Autism and presently work for Toronto Public Health (Early Abilities) in the Preschool Speech and Language program. Last but far from least, my wife and I have been blessed with two young children of our own.
Play & exploration lead the way to language development
Your baby is experiencing the world using their senses and growing physical ability. A blanket is something they look at, touch, feel and smell. During the first several months of infancy, they explore and experience but are not yet able to describe what they see, hear, feel and smell with real words. Your child is… Continue reading Play & exploration lead the way to language development
Early literacy and reading to your child – How early is early?
One day I was watching TV and flipping through the channels. I saw a toddler reading while the talk show audience sat amazed! This 2.5 year olds reading skills were much better than what we expect. At the time I didn’t have any children, but thought the parents of that child worked very hard to… Continue reading Early literacy and reading to your child – How early is early?
Encouraging your baby’s first sounds
When my daughter was born, I held my wife's hand, looked reassuringly into her eyes and listened to the sounds around us. The lights hummed, machinery whirred and monitors beeped constantly while the friendly doctors talked world events and then suddenly… "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH" our daughter was born. Was she ever LOUD! Even the docs commented on it. She… Continue reading Encouraging your baby’s first sounds
Encouraging baby’s first words
Babies are beautiful and they grow quickly! One moment they are still, quiet, dependent observers and then it seems overnight they become rampaging, loud, independent explorers! But sometimes our children don't develop the way we expect them to. Baby isn't talking! 'Hmm, what's going on?' How many words should this baby be saying? Is it too… Continue reading Encouraging baby’s first words