As a Public Health Nurse working in the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program, I am asked every day: Is it safe to take my baby outside? My answer is YES, I recommend you go outside for a discovery walk (everyday if you can). Here’s my top 5 benefits of a discovery walk: Opportunity for new learningBabies… Continue reading Benefits of taking your child on a discovery walk
Tag: Toddler
Baby talk: Let’s get moving with action words
Children expand their vocabulary by hearing the words we use. We tend to be really great at labeling objects (think: "A car! A ball! A puppy!"). But of course, we need other types of words to build sentences. Action words (verbs) are really important for building sentences, but they can be trickier to teach. Here… Continue reading Baby talk: Let’s get moving with action words
Building resilience: What is it and why is it important?
This is the fourth part of my brain development series. As a quick summary of this series, I've shared: Part One: How the brain develops Part Two: How to build better brains Part Three: The impact of early life experiences on the brain This last and final part will focus on resilience. "Resilience is not… Continue reading Building resilience: What is it and why is it important?
Happy World Breastfeeding Week!
In Canada, Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually on October 1-7th to promote the importance of breastfeeding. This year's theme is "Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet." Breastfeeding contributes to a healthier planet by…. being environmentally friendly, there is no packaging or waste being low cost, convenient and readily available reducing baby's exposure to the effects… Continue reading Happy World Breastfeeding Week!
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
How to build better brains
This is the second part of the brain development series. The first part explained how brains develop, now the focus will be on how to build better brains. I recently read a story about a boy who planted two identical seeds in two different types of soil – one rich in nutrients and the other… Continue reading How to build better brains
Tips to be an active family
We know the benefits of physical activity. We all need to move more and sit less. Being active helps us build strong bones and muscles, it makes us feel better physically and emotionally and it's good for our heart. Research shows that families play a big role in influencing how active their children are. The… Continue reading Tips to be an active family
Child care centres are re-opening!
Child care centres are re-opening after COVID. You may not know whether to jump for joy or worry yourself sick. You have been following all the ways to help reduce the virus spread and kept your family safe at home and now it's time to send your little ones back in to the world. Child… Continue reading Child care centres are re-opening!
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
Programs for new parents: Where to take your baby in Toronto?
When you're a new parent it may be difficult to know where to go with your baby. Maybe you are looking to go out somewhere that's baby friendly. Or maybe you are thinking about going to a place to meet other new parents and learn more about parenting or baby's growth & development. As a… Continue reading Programs for new parents: Where to take your baby in Toronto?
