HaltonParents

Should we routinely track our children’s development?

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Andrea Scott RN

My little guy is now almost 18 months old and we recently received our 18-month Well-Baby package in the mail from HaltonParents. I love it when my work helps me out in my home life! The package includes information about this important 18-month progress check with your family physician or health care provider that we recommend all toddlers receive. This visit is an ideal time for a detailed discussion on how your toddler is growing and developing and is a chance for you to ask lots of questions. (Didn’t get a package? Dial 311 in Halton or check out this link). Continue reading →

My son, my mentor and our journey with Down syndrome

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Carolyn Wilkie, RN

I recently had the opportunity to meet Shannon, a mom to three children including eight-year-old Dominic. Here is her story:

Dominic is the second of my three children. Our journey with Dominic started with the routine ultrasounds and blood work that most pregnant women go through, but the results of these early tests were stressful. At my 12-week screening, Dominic’s limbs measured shorter then anticipated for his gestational age and this started the emotional roller coaster of check-ups, additional blood work, specialist appointments and even more ultrasounds. Testing continued until week 32 when our amniocentesis results came back negative for Down syndrome, but with a definitive diagnosis of dwarfism. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Parenting | Tagged Down syndrome, Grandparents, Mental Health, National Down Syndrome Awareness week, parenting a child with down syndrome, preschoolers, special needs, support for new parents | Leave a comment

How to tackle Mount Candy this Halloween

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

Name one word you associate with Halloween. 3-2-1…Go! “CANDY” that’s me shouting out my word!

I love Halloween. I love the fall season. I love carving pumpkins and eating pumpkin seeds. I love helping my kids dress up. And most of all I love that I can pick through my kids’ candies and chocolates once they’ve gone to bed. There. I admitted it! You do it too…right? (Please make me feel better…)

Every Halloween, my kids come home with bags full of candy – far too much to ever consume. I look at the huge pile with a big sigh! What on earth are we going to do with all of this? I can’t even imagine them consuming the huge amount of candy. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Healthy Eating for Toddlers & Preschoolers, Healthy Eating for Your Child/Tween, Healthy Eating for your Teen, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged candy, cavities, chocolates, dental health, dress up, halloween, halloween and teeth, kids, oral health, parents, Physical Health, pumpkins, tweens | Leave a comment

Girl friendships: Is there a secret language?

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

Girls, girls, girls! When your daughter was first born, you may have pictured her growing up with good friends, always having fun while playing endlessly for hours. Fast forward a few years and you get hit with a reality check – it’s nothing like that at all! You find yourself navigating your own emotions as you watch your daughter struggle to understand her friends and her friendships.

You see, it is often the ones closest to them that can exclude, whisper, gossip and ignore them. But how can this be? How can it be that the girls she considers to be her friends and who she plays with all the time are hurting her the most? Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Children & Tweens with Special Needs, 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, Teens With Special Needs, Transition to High School | Tagged friends, friendships, Girls, healthy friendships, mean girls, Mental Health, positive relationships, Safety, teen girls, tweens | Leave a comment

Playing with your new baby: no manual needed!

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Carolyn Wilkie, RN

It’s been a few weeks since your baby came home and your head is still buzzing from competing demands and new routines. Feed baby, eat, sleep, change a diaper, return a text, shower…you know how it goes! Life is busy, so where does playing with your new baby fit in and what does that even look like?

The great news is that babies don’t need fancy books, heaps of toys or sophisticated electronics for healthy growth; in fact, their favourite play thing is YOU! A loving caregiver nourishes a baby’s brain faster and better than anything found in the stores. Each time you play with your baby, new connections are being made in their brain, opening doors to future learning experiences. Continue reading →