Author Archives: Maureen Harris, RN

About Maureen Harris, RN

I have been working as a Public Health Nurse for many years. I enjoy working with families and supporting them along their parenting journey. I’m passionate about promoting a healthy active lifestyle for families. When not working, you can often find me hiking the beautiful trails in Halton Hills with my family.

Why we need to stop forcing our children to hug

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Maureen Harris, RN

It’s the holiday season and that means lots of visits with friends and family. This can also lead to an awkward situation: relatives (ahem, grandparents!) and others who expect automatic hugs and kisses from children — even when some kids … Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Toddler & Preschooler Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged body image, children, families, grandparents, healthy body image, healthy sexuality, hugging, manners, personalities, preschoolers, relatives, Safety, temperament | 2 Comments

Why you need to stop rushing your preschooler

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Maureen Harris, RN

Do you feel like you’re always in a hurry, rushing your kids around? Have you ever stopped and wondered how this affects your child? I was recently walking through a park, when I noticed a grandmother with her young granddaughter. … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged balance, child, child development, children, curiosity, development, early learning, explore, family time, grandparents, imagination, learn, Mental Health, play, preschooler, rush, stress, toddler, transition, unstructured time | 2 Comments

Books and beyond: Raising readers

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Maureen Harris, RN

Do you remember your first library card? I do. I was so excited to have my very own piece of ID – something I didn’t have to share with my brothers or sister. I used it religiously. That card opened … Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Preparing for Kindergarten, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged books, child, child development, children, early literacy, family, family time, kids, library, library program, literacy, parents, preschooler, preschoolers, read, reading, school, toddler | 1 Comment

Potty training: Is my child ready to start?

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Maureen Harris, RN

There’s nothing that strikes fear and anxiety in a parent quite like the words “potty training”. This stage of development often conjures up a range of emotions. Whether you refer to it as potty training, toilet training, or toilet learning … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Preparing for Kindergarten, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged child development, children, development, potty training, stress, toddler, Toddlers & Preschoolers, toilet learning, toilet training | Leave a comment

Countdown to calm: How to ease transitions for toddlers

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Maureen Harris, RN

As a parent, you’ve likely received a lot of child-rearing advice – most of it unsolicited. While I usually take tips from strangers with a grain of salt, there’s one nugget I think of as the best piece of parenting advice I have … Continue reading →