Early Years

Are you about to become or have just become a parent? Scared? Nervous? Excited? DYK: Becoming a parent is the start of a relationship that lasts forever. ALL parents wonder if they’ll be a good parent, if they’ll know what to do. You grow and learn as a parent by WATCHING and LISTENING to your child. Your child grows and learns with your LOVE and SUPPORT. Life is a journey of discovery that you and your child are taking together. NO parent starts out having all the answers. E...very day brings something new. You and your child will both discover new skills and new strengths as you go along. For more helpful information check out public health publications: http://www.nshealth.ca/public-health-publications

Have a baby at home? Do you feel like COVID has limited his/her social time with others? NOT TO WORRY! Here are a few tips to help your baby develop social skills: Show your baby how to do things. Clap hands, blow kisses and wave bye-bye. Respect her feelings. Your baby is starting to notice that people are different. She’ll be glad to see some people. She’ll start to be shy with some people. Let her take her time. She’ll decide for herself who she likes. Interact with your baby. Sit face-to-face when you play so he can see you smile and makes faces. Copy his facial expressions and give him time to respond to yours. Praise and encourage your baby. Smile when praise your baby. Say things like, Good job getting your red ball! and Wow! You pulled yourself up! Let her know that you notice and care about what she does.

Your baby wants you to know I don’t cry to make you mad. When I cry it’s not because I’m mad at you. It’s not because you’re a bad parentI cry because I need something, but I don’t always know what it is I need. Loving Care 0-6 months

Family Meals are a time for sharing Mealtime can be a time to share and to learn--to talk about the day, to catch up with one another, and to learn about the food you’re eating together. Making this time together an important part of your family life can make eating well fun for everyone. Sharing family meals doesn’t just mean eating together. It can include everything involved in getting the meal on the table. Even small children can share in:... Deciding what to eatoffer healthy options for your children to choose from. For example, an apple or a pear, peas or carrots. Shoppingavoid the snack isle when shopping with children! Preparing or cooking the meal Setting the table Eating Cleaning up Keep mealtimes calm and pleasant. This isn’t he time to argue or fight. Turn off the TV and focus on one another.

Most parents are surprised by how much time and energy it takes on a daily basis to care for children and are frequently not prepared for how having a child will change their relationships and how much less energy they have for caring for themselves. In addition to feeling tired and overwhelmed, from time to time parents may feel resentful or jealous. These are very normal feelings and are feeling that most parents are embarrassed to talk about. Having feelings like this goes not mean you do not love your child or that you are not being a good parent. Experts say that when you are experiencing these feelings, it is time to figure out some additional ways to take care of you. Sort of like your gas tank is empty and it is time to fill it up again. What are some ways you fill up your gas tank when you feel it getting empty?