Baby's First Year · Parenting

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

Baby's First Year · Parenting

Have you heard? Hearing is key to communication!

Did you know that audiologists are key members of the speech and communication team? That's because hearing is a critical part of your baby's health and development! Before they can say sounds and words, babies need to hear those sounds and words to learn what they mean. An undetected hearing loss can impact their development… Continue reading Have you heard? Hearing is key to communication!

Baby's First Year · Parenting

May is Speech and Hearing Month – It’s Time to be a Detective

May is Speech and Hearing Month. Now more than ever, it's time for us as caregivers to be detectives about how the pandemic and its restrictions may be affecting the development of our children's communication. Every May, Speech-Language Pathologists celebrate Speech and Hearing Month and spend time discussing the importance of early identification and intervention,… Continue reading May is Speech and Hearing Month – It’s Time to be a Detective

Baby's First Year · Parenting

How do babies communicate when they are too young to talk?

When I mention "communication", a lot of parents think I only mean talking. But there are so many ways that you and your baby communicate that don't involve any words at all – through gestures, body movements, touch, and facial expressions. These forms of (non-verbal) communication are important stepping stones to talking. How your baby… Continue reading How do babies communicate when they are too young to talk?

Baby's First Year · Parenting · Pregnancy

Parenting During a Pandemic

All parents and caregivers of children under 6 years old deserve a medal for having coped with these months of lock down. Explaining to a young child why we are doing things so differently - in a way that they understand and without frightening them - is so important. Emotional well-being is as important as… Continue reading Parenting During a Pandemic

Baby's First Year · Parenting

May is Speech and Hearing Month!

May is one of my favourite months. Flowers are in bloom, the sun is shining a little longer each day – and bonus – it's time to celebrate communication and hearing! Since it's Speech and Hearing Month, I thought this would be a good time to highlight our four most popular blog posts about communication… Continue reading May is Speech and Hearing Month!

Baby's First Year

BabyTalkTO: Texts to support baby’s communication development

A common growth and development milestone many new parents and caregivers ask about is baby's communication. Many turn to the web to find out what to expect as baby grows. Knowing where to get reliable information is key to learning how to support baby's development. Communication starts from birth, with crying and eye contact, then… Continue reading BabyTalkTO: Texts to support baby’s communication development

Parenting · Pregnancy

Sex during and after pregnancy: What’s your pleasure?

With Valentine’s Day approaching, there’s a good chance you are noticing romance in the air! But if you're pregnant or just had a baby, you might have questions about getting physical. I went straight to the experts to share some tips and information on sex and pleasure for pregnant people and/or new parents. Here’s Christina… Continue reading Sex during and after pregnancy: What’s your pleasure?

Baby's First Year · Parenting

Positive parenting: Ideas to help guide children’s behaviour

Parents of children age birth to 6 years (or any age for that matter), will agree that parenting can be a difficult and challenging time. No matter how well you model behaviour and teach your child, no child can behave the way you want allthe time. 4 Tips to encourage positive behaviour: Make your surroundings… Continue reading Positive parenting: Ideas to help guide children’s behaviour

Baby's First Year · Parenting

People games: Peek-a-Boo, I see you!

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, I provide families with practical tips on how they can bond with their child and create fun opportunities to teach their child new language.  I often recommend people games! People games are play routines that you have created with your child that do not involve any toys. Keep in mind that… Continue reading People games: Peek-a-Boo, I see you!