HaltonParents

When one child says ‘Yes’ and the other says ‘No’!

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Carolyn Wilkie, RN

Several years back hubby and I lovingly nicknamed our young boys ‘Pig Will’ and ‘Pig Won’t’ (thank you, Richard Scarry). It seemed if one child was game to do something, the other was definitely against it, ughh! At the time, one son was very passionate and outgoing and the other was more reserved and cautious in his approach. I won’t lie, this was a challenge on many everyday levels. It took us some time to figure out how to best parent them, given their different temperaments, and ours too!

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Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Preparing for Kindergarten, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged challenging personality, disposition, intensity level, passionate child, personal style, personality, preschoolers, sensitive child, shy child, slow to warm child, spirited child, temperament | 1 Comment

How to increase your kids’ intake of fruits and vegetables with minimal effort

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Andrea Scott RN

It was one of those busy days when breakfast was cold cereal and dinner was soup with grilled cheese. My daughter had refused the soup, and her lunch bag showed her container of fruit and veggies were untouched. Unless you count the banana muffin she had at snack – I don’t – she had exactly ZERO fruits and veggies that day.

As I was putting my daughter to bed, I thought about her day and the “Counting down to a healthy lifestyle,” 10-5-2-1-0 recommendations. Check out the video below to get the scoop: Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Healthy Eating for Toddlers & Preschoolers, Healthy Eating for Your Child/Tween, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged fruit, healthy, how to get kids to eat, Physical Health, vegetables, veggies | Leave a comment

Help my little one is sick! Do I need to call the doctor?

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Tara Johnston RN

It can be tricky at times to know what was going on with our baby or toddler when they are not feeling well. When my kids were little, it felt like a mystery to me. Were they teething? Was it an ear infection? Or maybe the flu or a cold? Why do they have a fever? What could this rash mean? Now that my kids are school-aged, it is a whole lot easier as they can tell me how they are feeling and explain what they need.

Sad mother with baby I now receive calls from my siblings about their little ones. I’m thrilled I get to enjoy them as an aunt. It’s like a gift. But that call when they aren’t feeling well still stumps me at times. I proudly enjoy the calls as the experienced oldest sister (and they like that I happen to be a nurse). Is it really always that clear? I think not! Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Babies with Special Needs, Children & Tweens, Children & Tweens with Special Needs, Keeping Your Baby Safe, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Toddler & Preschooler Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Toddlers & Preschoolers, Toddlers & Preschoolers with Special Needs | Tagged call doctor, fever, grandparents, Physical Health, preschoolers, sick baby, sick toddler, what to do | 2 Comments

Through loss we grow

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Nicole O'Donnell, RN

My father-in-law recently died.

His diagnosis 4 years ago had hit me like a punch to the stomach. At that moment my mind jumped immediately to the end of his life and inside I panicked.

My very happy childhood had been peppered with the illnesses and deaths of family members and family friends. Our home was filled with pets whose life spans had varied in length. Each passing left me in despair. Everyone handles grief in their own way and my overwhelming instinct is to run away from it. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teens | Tagged death, death in the family, emotional health, families, family, grief, Mental Health, prepare, stress, support, teens | Leave a comment

Granola bars more than a dressed up cookie?

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Carolyn Wilkie, RN

There are many appealing things about store-bought granola bars; they’re convenient, portable, kid friendly and don’t require refrigeration. Perfect to compliment the lunch bag void, and for those grab-and-go moments. Sold, too easy right? But darn, sometimes “too easy” is for a reason. After chatting with our resident HaltonParents Registered Dietitian I am starting to re-think my buying habits.

Most prepackaged granola bars have evolved in a big way since their basic beginnings. Today’s store bought bars are often dipped in chocolate or yogurt-type coatings and include ingredients like chocolate chips and gooey marshmallows. Definitely delicious, but this snack evolution hasn’t happened in our favour, especially for a country that struggles with childhood obesity. Too much sugar, salt and fat can make these snacks no better than eating a store-bought cookie. Arghh! Continue reading →