HaltonParents

Why the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) should matter to you?

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Carolyn Wilkie, RN

I think we can all agree that the air we breathe is pretty important but, just like many of you, I often take it for granted. When we talk about “air”, the conversation tends to focus on air conditioning or air travel. Air is just…there, free and invisible, its a no-brainer, right? Unfortunately this laid-back, casual mindset may contribute to the many environmental issues we experience today.

There is a scale called the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and we should start paying more attention to it. Continue reading →

Getting out the door with a smile and a high-five

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Andrea Scott RN

Mornings are not my thing and my daughter feels the same way. So getting ready for the day has, more often than I care to admit, been incredibly challenging.

One thing that helped our family was making a Morning Routine Checklist. One day, when Pumpkin and I were both in a good mood (not in the morning 🙂 ), we sat down and brainstormed a list of all the things she needs to do before it’s time to leave for childcare, and very soon, school.

There are some really cool “Pinterest-worthy” checklist templates out there, but personally I prefer the idea of working with Pumpkin to make our own. If she’s involved as much as possible in deciding what goes on the checklist and creating it, then hopefully she will be more likely to actually complete the tasks. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Children & Tweens with Special Needs, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Preparing for Kindergarten, Toddlers & Preschoolers, Toddlers & Preschoolers with Special Needs | Tagged child, children, get ready, independence, morning, mornings, on time, out the door, Preparing for Kindergarten, preschooler, preschoolers, routine, routines, school | 1 Comment

Staying safe and staying healthy at the splash pad

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Karen Hay, RN

In my opinion, nothing beats a splash pad for free neighbourhood summer fun! I especially love how kids, families, friends and neighbours of all ages come together to play and enjoy the cooling water jets and wafting mist.

My girls really loved going to the splash pad, and when I close my eyes I can still hear their shrieks of delight when the spray jets turned on and and they got unexpectedly soaked.

The best thing about playing at the splash pad is that play is unstructured. There are no skills or equipment required, and no schedule – just free, spontaneous fun – and that’s just what our kids need! Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Keeping Your Baby Safe, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Toddler & Preschooler Safe, Parenting, Play, Growth & Development, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged activities, babies, baby, child, children, families, family, Halton, halton region, health, infant, Keeping Your Baby Safe, kids, parents, physical activity, play, preschooler, preschoolers, Safety, splash pad, splash park, spray pad, toddler, water safety | 2 Comments

What is a tick anyway?

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

What is a tick and why is there so much talk about them this summer? Oh, this is going to be a fun blog! The short answer is that a tick is part of the arachnid family – yup, I said arachnid – which other than spiders, also includes scorpions and mites.

To my surprise, there are actually many kinds of ticks and they can be found almost everywhere in North America.

So I ask myself, if they are everywhere “Why all the fuss?” It’s most likely due to the fact that some do carry diseases that can be harmful to people and pets. And it could also be the media coverage of recent stars with Lyme disease such as Avril Lavigne and Ashley Olsen. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Keeping Your Baby Safe, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Teen Safe, Keeping Your Toddler & Preschooler Safe, Parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal Health, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged avril lavigne, bites, bug spray, bugs, halton region, insect repellant, Lyme disease, Mental Health, Physical Health, preschoolers, preventing tick bites, school health, testing, tick bites, ticks | Leave a comment

Water safety: Everyone plays a part

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Carolyn Wilkie, RN

It is amazing how some moments can become lodged in our memories, never to be forgotten. For me, one of those brief yet impactful moments happened in the dead of winter near the end of my shift. The public pool was busy this Sunday afternoon, a time when many families came out to embrace the last few hours of the weekend. Scanning the pool, among many swimmers, I spot a young boy, likely 7 years old, on a mission to get a hold of a shiny red ball, drifting across the water’s surface. Between awkward strokes he would intentionally bob his body up and down to feel the security of the pools floor. With the red ball finally in reach he lunged forward and found himself at the drop off point. Small splashes. A last gasp. And he went quietly under the water. Continue reading →