Health and Safety

New CMAS Online Course: Understanding Child Abuse and Your Duty to Report

Canada takes the protection of children very seriously. Each year thousands of children are subjected to abuse while in the care of their families. All of us who work with families need to understand our duty to report and role in protecting children. This includes knowing how to identify different types and indicators of abuse, cultural considerations, and steps to report and document suspected abuse–as well as strategies to support staff, parents, and children after a report has been made. All CNC program staff and administrators are encouraged to take our new interactive ecourse Understanding Child Abuse and Your Duty to Report.

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Surviving Cold & Flu Season

Cold & flu season generally occurs during the colder months of the year, between approximately October and May, making it less of a ‘season’ and something that needs to be top-of-mind for most of the year. While it is impossible to stop people from getting sick, it is possible to mitigate the risk and prevent germs from spreading.

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Free Educational Posters for Food Allergy Awareness

To help you with food allergy awareness and education efforts in CNC, Allergic Living has developed this series of free 8.5 x 11-inch posters that can be customized to meet the needs of your program. Click a poster’s image to download it.

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Children need to be active, so Have a Ball!

Physical activity is essential to healthy child development, and the early years are the best time to give kids an active start. But where do you begin? The Have a Ball Together website will give you the tools you need to be able to promote and encourage physical activity for children 0-6.

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Webinar: Updated recommendations for early introduction of allergenic foods

Did you know that the Canadian Paediatric Society has updated recommendations on the early introduction of allergenic foods for high-risk infants? Register now to learn about the new recommendations.

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Keeping Reusable Water Bottles Clean

We often ask parents to bring in reusable water bottles, but did you know that without proper cleaning, children's water bottles can be filled with germs? Reusable water bottles must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis to avoid contamination.

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How to Facilitate Risky Play

Risky play is when children engage in risk-taking activities. This benefits the child because it helps them build essential skills for their development; for example, their confidence, self-regulation, and independence. But how can we facilitate risky play safely in our programs?

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Sick with the flu: Helpful visuals for parents

When children display symptoms of the flu, parents are often unsure when they should call the doctor or when to take their child to the hospital. Children with the flu can typically be treated at home with rest and fluids. A trip to the emergency room (ER) should not be necessary for most cases of the flu. However, there are certain warning signs parents can watch for to know when to seek medical attention.

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Updated guidelines for introduction of common allergenic foods to infants

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, for high-risk infants (and based on developmental readiness) it's best to introduce common allergenic solids at around 6 months of age, but not before an infant is 4 months of age.

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New Canada Food Guide