Mealtime – a time when we effortlessly prepare a variety of foods and then wait excitedly for our families to rush to the table and enjoy every bite! Oh wait, I think I just saw a unicorn!
OK, time to get real: for many parents, meal time is a stressful, agonizing event that leaves one feeling exhausted, drained and asking, “how did we get here?” So how do meals become a stand-off with our children instead of an enjoyable time where we connect and share? Continue reading
Here at HaltonParents, we are asked how to deal with all sorts of misbehaviour. These questions can be difficult to answer. Very few misbehaviours can be solved by suggesting that if you do X, then your child will do Y. It can be downright frustrating! You just want to know how to get Sophie to listen, how to stop Liam from whining or how to get Emma to stop running wild at the grocery store.
To get to the root of misbehaviour, one of the first things we ask parents to do is to think about what else might be going on with their child. A child who is feeling lonely today might whine to express how they are feeling. If you can figure out why your child is misbehaving, you may have the power to prevent it from happening. Continue reading
Congratulations, your baby is 6 months old and you’ve started introducing solids to your little one. Adding solids into baby’s routine is fun, messy and definitely camera worthy! But for many parents it can be a nerve-racking adventure, especially when junior starts and ends his meal with gags, gulps, spews and coughs!
Parents can find themselves a little rattled and unsure if baby is really ready for these new foods. The good news is that these reactions are normal (sigh of relief!) and junior won’t master his meals right off the bat. Introducing soft textured foods at 6 months is a great way to increase your baby’s acceptance of a variety of foods and decrease their risk of feeding difficulties later on. Continue reading
It was freezing rain this one morning as my son and I hustled into the car to start our day. As we sat down, he noticed a thin layer of icy slush on the windshield. My son asked, “Will the wipers work or did you need me to scrape it off?” It seems like an everyday comment, but at that precise moment I felt an overwhelming sense of pride (and relief!) for my son. He was genuinely thoughtful!
My son is very much a typical teenager whose brain is still developing and enjoys his video games too much. But I sighed with a sense of relief because I felt the respect. I knew at that moment that we are building a good respectful relationship that will help carry us through any bumpy roads ahead. Continue reading
When I hear the word bully, I think of “Biff “from Back to the Future. Biff Tannen was a big, selfish bully who got what he wanted by intimidating others. Biff had an overbearing personality and was just plain mean. He had poor social skills and terrorized everyone who crossed his path. Biff was a stereotypical bully.
But is this really what a modern day bully looks like?
I was surprised to learn that a “real bully” is actually very popular, has excellent social skills and high self esteem. They are aggressive AND pro-social, they are also competent and have a lot of assets. I don’t get it – this kind of kid sounds like they have it all together. Why would they bully? Continue reading
Andrea Scott RN
Carolyn Wilkie, RN
Cynthia Lindsay RN
Halton guest blogger
HaltonRegion
Dr. Hamidah Meghani
Karen Hay, RN
Tamara Kraszewski, RN
Maureen Harris, RN
Nicole O'Donnell, RN
Sarah Flynn RN
Tanya Melykuty, RN, MSW
Heather Van Laare RN
HaltonParents 