Health and Safety External Resources

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

New Canada Food Guide

The iconic Canada Food Guide has provided Canadians with a snapshot of healthy eating recommendations for over 75 years, and Health Canada has just released the first updated edition in over a decade! The new Canada Food Guide suggests a focus on drinking water, plant-based diets, and home-cooking.

What are ACES and how do they relate to toxic stress?

The term “ACEs” is an acronym for Adverse Childhood Experiences. ACEs research shows the correlation between early adversity and poor outcomes later in life. Toxic stress explains how ACEs can trigger biological reactions that lead to those outcomes. The Harvard Centre on the Developing Child has developed a simple infographic that explains...

Do you have plants in your program?

About Kids Health has put together an overview of plant safety and and a helpful list of poisonous plants to avoid.

Refrigerate Right – Tips for Storing Food Safely

Did you know that it’s important to cover and place the food in a way that helps to keep it from getting cross-contaminated with drippings or juices from other foods when you store food in a refrigerator? Here's how...

Five Wellness Lessons From A Toddler

In the wake of World Mental Health day, the amount of stress in our modern day lives is obvious. And while stress itself is not considered a mental health problem, it often leads to depression and anxiety, which are the most common mental health issues. Yet there’s a natural source of inspiration – and even stress relief – in our lives that we may just have overlooked. The average toddler expresses qualities we have long since abandoned due to overwhelming ‘busy’-ness. Here’s five things that come naturally to toddlers that we can use to improve our general well-being!