Parent Resources
Parenting is rewarding, but it's also very challenging. Find useful resources for expecting parents, parents of newborns and parents of school-age children, including public health resources, community resources, and links to other useful websites.
Questions and concerns
If you have questions or concerns about your child, contact your healthcare provider. You can also call the Middlesex-London Health Unit to speak with a Public Health Nurse, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or get heath advice 24/7 by calling Health Connect Ontario (dial 811).
A Healthy Start to School
This helpful guide for parents and caregivers is available in French and English from the links below. Find helpful tips on packing lunches, reporting immunization, limiting screens and much more!
Growth & Development, including Physical Activity & Safety |
Looksee Checklist provided by the Nipissing District Developmental Screen (NDDS) (Screening tool Looksee Checklist monitors a child's development from 1 month to 6 years of age and provides tips to help them grow. This electronic resource is available in English and French and free - NDDS) |
Developmental Resource for Infants (DRI) - Thames Valley Children's Centre (Intake and service coordination for children 2 years and under with developmental concerns - TVCC) |
Speech/Language Therapy - Thames Valley Children's Centre (Resources and services regarding speech and language development-TVCC) |
(Information for many families aboutscreens (e.g. phones, tablets, TVs). We know it's not good for our kids, but the reality is that screens are here to stay. So what can we do? - MLHU) |
Babies and Reading and London Baby Book Bags (Information and resources - London Public Library) |
Murray & Bird - Children's Storybooks (Storybooks: Have fun reading along with Murray and Bird as they learn about different health topics - MLHU) |
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Brain development of your baby |
The Boston Basics (Website for Parents) 80% of brain growth happens during the first three years of life
|
Parent and Infant Relationship Clinic (PAIR) Vanier Children's Mental Wellness |
Nurture Healthy Minds (MLHU) |
Healthy Baby Healthy Brain: Videos by health nexus santé |
Mental Health Supports for Children and Teens |
One-stop referral and intake point shared services Vanier Children's Mental Wellness, Humana Community Services and Craigwood Children, Youth, and Family Services |
Vanier Children's Mental Wellness Offers a range of services designed to offer support to families who have a child struggling with social, emotional, behavioiural and metnal health issues |
Craigwood Children, Youth and Family Services Provides a broad range of counseling, care and therapeutic services to adolescents and to their families, all designed to make a positive change in their lives |
Formerly WAYS Mental Health Support and Anago (Non) Residential Resources |
The Support Line from Canadian Mental Health Association provides confidential listening and support to individuals 16+ any time of day or night. |
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people in English and French. |
An Indigenous Wellness Program developed by Indigenous educators, school counsellors and community program workers to empower First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth with skills, tools and resources to support their well-being. The program is offered to Indigenous youth from six to 29 years old in both audio and video format. |
Mental Health and Community Supports for Adults |
Information and resources for pregnancy to first year postpartum - MLHU |
Free, 24/7 bilingual confidential mental health and addictions support and services line for people living in Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford and London - Reach Out |
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley Information - CMHA |
Information, Counselling Services and more - Family Service Thames Valley |
Hope for Wellness Help Line 24/7 Immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada - Hope for Wellness |
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) Information and services including Indigenous-led child care and family centre, enhanced food security, and more- SOAHAC |
Francophone Community Resources /Communauté francophone Organisations ou programmes qui offrent des services principalement en français ou qui autrement appuient l'unité et le développement culturels au sein de la communauté francophone - Familyinfo.ca |
Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (MRCSSI) Information and resources promoting family safety and wellbeing within London's diverse Muslim communities - MRCSSI |
Transition to School Resources |
School Health - Information for Parents (MLHU) |
Getting Ready for School (All Kids Belong AKB) free downloadable PDF |
On the way to kindergarten: Let's get ready for school (Video Series SWPublicHealth) |
Welcome to Kindergarten (Thames Valley District School Board) |
Welcome to Kindergarten (London District Catholic School Board) |
Family Well-being Community Workshop Series (Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board) |
Your Teenager’s Transition to High School: Recorded Webinar (Video) Parent Resources (PDF) |
Last modified on: January 25, 2023