Helping your child feel good: building self-esteem not just confidence

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Sarah Flynn RN

The other night I was watching Grown Ups 2 and while laughing at the parenting scene in the video below, I also started thinking about self-confidence and how I have been building this character strength in my children.

I am going to go out on a limb here and say I am probably not the only parent out there who gets super-excited when my child answers a question correctly or presents an excellent report card.  If my child is happy, I am happy – if they feel good, I feel good – it’s win-win, right?!  Well, not exactly, because self-confidence and self-esteem are not the same thing. 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How to help your young child calm themselves down

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Andrea Scott RN

Like my colleague Karen, I am lucky enough to have a spirited child. My sweet, thoughtful, persistent and perceptive daughter feels all of her feelings so profoundly. Finding out that Daddy is working late elicits such sorrow that all I can do is hold her through her tears. If she is angry about something, then watch out!!! There is no talking her down from the tantrum!

After one of my daughter’s recent outbursts, I noticed that once she was technically “over” whatever injustice she felt had been served, she still took a while before she could stop crying, then stop whimpering. Like most kids, she struggles with calming herself down. I’ve tried helping her in the heat of the moment but nothing ever seemed to work.

Continue reading →
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, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

11 life hacks for taking care of yourself when you’ve got a baby

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Andrea Scott RN

May 2 was Maternal Mental Health Day! I like to think of it as a day for us mothers to think about ways we can promote our own mental well-being. And Mother’s Day is coming – a day to support and honour all mothers. We at HaltonParents know all too well just how hard it is for moms (and dads) to take care of themselves when they’ve got a baby, so we worked together and came up with 11 tried and tested life hacks that helped us take care of ourselves when our kids were oh-so-little. We hope it’ll put a smile on your face and boost your mood for today!

Life Hack 1: Get a shower in by putting baby in a bouncy seat or floor mat right in front of your shower. Sing or play music while you are showering and make sure baby can see you! Also works for washroom breaks. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Babies with Special Needs, Breastfeeding Your Baby, Depression & Anxiety After Birth, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What is mindfulness?

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

Last updated: February 19, 2025

Okay, I’ve been hearing a lot about mindfulness. Is this a new buzzword? What on earth does it really mean?!

I’m one of those people that likes to be busy, because when I’m not busy, I get bored. And if I’m bored, I feel like I should be doing something (get my vicious cycle?). Relaxing and re-energizing for me is participating in team sports, like hockey or baseball. So when someone talks about mindfulness, I secretly roll my eyes – I’m just not that kind of person. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Pregnancy, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

What you need to know about Zika virus if you are or may become pregnant

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Karen Hay, RN

This week, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care reported Canada’s first positive case of sexually transmitted Zika virus.  It is suspected that the individual – an Ontario resident – contracted the virus from a partner who was infected after travelling to a country where Zika virus is circulating. This is very important information to know for women and men that may be pregnant or planning a pregnancy and are travelling to countries where Zika virus is circulating.  When you consider that an estimated 50 per cent of pregnancies are unplanned, this information really is important for anyone at an age that becoming pregnant is a possibility. Continue reading →

Posted in Before Pregnancy, Parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment