HaltonParents

Positive parenting. Is it worth it?

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

I am officially the mother of a 16 year old! How on earth did that happen? How is it that I am the mother of teenage kids! I never imagined I would be that old or that I would be equipped to parent a teen! I had preconceived notions that parenting teens would be a nightmare. Actually its quite the opposite. It’s so much fun! Yes fun! I’m in awe at how my kids are turning into young adults that I am so proud of. I think to myself, how did I get here?

I started reflecting on my parenting journey just recently when I saw friends with younger children dealing with challenging behaviours. They asked me, (or should I say pleaded with me) “tell me it gets easier”? 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, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged assertive discipline, assets, emotions, father, Mental Health, mother, positive parenting, preschoolers, problem solving, self-esteem, stress, teens, tweens | 2 Comments

New to Canada? How to embrace winter!

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Halton Guest Blogger

When my parents told me we were moving to Canada, I remember being so excited to see snow for the first time. I couldn’t wait to make a snowman like the ones I had seen in the movies. You can imagine my disappointment when I looked out the plane window and didn’t see any snow anywhere. I was sad – but not for long! Three days after arriving in Canada, I woke up to see a white blanket of snow covering the ground! “Finally!” I thought. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged active play, activities, Canada, children, families, family, family time, Halton, halton region, newcomer, outdoor, outdoor activities, physical activity, Physical Health, play, preschooler, toddler, winter, winter activities | 1 Comment

What is true happiness? Have you found it?

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

Be happy. It sounds so simple, but is it really that easy? When you ask parents what they want for their kids when they grow up, many will often include the word “happy” in their descriptors. “I’d like to see my kids… healthy, happy, productive…” Whatever words you choose, often the emotion of happiness enters into play.

I notice it even more around the holidays when parents are running around trying to make their kids happy by finding that perfect gift. But what is happiness anyway? Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Pregnancy, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged happiness, happy, me time, Mental Health, Physical Health, preschoolers, stress, tweens | 2 Comments

Going out with kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Andrea Scott RN

I’ve got an active little guy and for a while there, it was getting tough to go out with him. Strollers, shopping carts, high chairs and being carried doesn’t contain him for long. He just wants to GO and so he starts acting out. We stopped going to restaurants. Grocery shopping felt like a race from the show Supermarket Sweep! Visiting relatives not used to kids is stressful (“Oh, that’s a pretty vase! And how much would it cost to replace it, in theory?”)

Then we changed our tactic, because it dawned on me. My little monkey was just being himself, and while I would never want him to change, he does need to learn HOW to act in certain situations. This tip works beautifully with kids of all ages, in pretty much any situation. Continue reading →

Posted in Keeping Your Toddler & Preschooler Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged behave, behaviour, going out with kids, grocery shopping, how to get kids to behave, how to talk to kids, preschoolers, restaurant, visiting | Leave a comment

Why we need to stop forcing our children to hug

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Maureen Harris, RN

Last updated: December 6, 2024

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 tend to shy away from overt displays of affection.