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
Category: Parenting
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!
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
Checking in on your child’s development
Worried about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your child's growth and development? Our nurse Allison Stockley has written a four part series on the importance of the early years. Here is part one on growth and development. The pandemic has many families feeling like life has slowed way down, sped up, or that… Continue reading Checking in on your child’s development
Pregnancy and alcohol: Do they mix?
September is FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) awareness month with September 9th designated as International FASD Awareness Day. This day was started as a reminder that pregnancy and alcohol don't mix. Why pregnancy and alcohol don't mix: Alcohol can pass from the mother's blood into the baby's blood and affect the growth of the baby's… Continue reading Pregnancy and alcohol: Do they mix?
Giving birth in a new land
Being pregnant and giving birth in a new country can be exciting, stressful and scary at the same time. Prenatal care, birth practices, and traditions surrounding the birth of your baby can differ from country to country. Many individuals face challenges adjusting to their new country. For example, language barriers, employment, financial worries and lack… Continue reading Giving birth in a new land