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 Health811 (Health Connect Ontario) (dial 811).
Telephone Support for Families
Prenatal Health Info & Resources
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!
Healthy Start to Kindergarten (English PDF)
Un bon départ pour la maternelle (French PDF)
| Growth & Development |
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Child Growth: is your child growing well? (MLHU) (when should your child's growth be checked) |
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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) |
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SmartStart Hub at TVCC - Thames Valley Children's Centre (for children0-19: online referral form, school therapy service, preschool speech and language and more!) |
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Developmental Resource for Infants (DRI) - Thames Valley Children's Centre (Intake and service coordination for children 2 years and under with developmental concerns - TVCC) |
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(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) |
| Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Brain development of your baby |
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The Basics (Website for Parents) The human brains doubles to 70% of adult size during first year of life and 80% of adult size by age three. It is important to engage with your child often by doing activities together that:
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| Parent and Infant Relationship Clinic (PAIR) Vanier Children's Mental Wellness |
| Nurture Healthy Minds (MLHU) |
| Healthy Baby Healthy Brain: Videos by health nexus santé |
| What's in a smile? suitable for 103 years (Raising Children Australian parenting website) |
| Mental Health Supports for Children and Teens |
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One-stop referral and intake point shared services Vanier Children's Mental Wellness, Humana Community Services and Craigwood Children, Youth, and Family Services |
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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 |
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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 |
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Formerly WAYS Mental Health Support and Anago (Non) Residential Resources |
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The Support Line from Canadian Mental Health Association provides confidential listening and support to individuals 16+ any time of day or night. |
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Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people in English and French. |
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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. |
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Children's Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) Parent & Caregiver Resources |
| Mental Health and Community Supports for Adults |
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Information and resources for pregnancy to first year postpartum - MLHU |
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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 |
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Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley Information - CMHA |
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Information, Counselling Services and more - Family Service Thames Valley |
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Hope for Wellness Help Line 24/7 Immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada - Hope for Wellness |
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Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) Information and services including Indigenous-led child care and family centre, enhanced food security, and more- SOAHAC |
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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 |
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Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (MRCSSI) Information and resources promoting family safety and wellbeing within London's diverse Muslim communities - MRCSSI |
| Reading to Babies and Young Children |
| Reading to babies and children supports brain growth and development, language development and preparation for school. |
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London Public Libary Early Years
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Middlesex County Library Early Literacy & Storytime
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| La Ribambelle: les Baluchons de lecture pour bébé |
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My ABBC Aboriginal Book Bundles
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Murray and Bird - Children's Storybooks (MLHU)
Livres d'histoire - Murray et Oiseau (MLHU)
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| Transition to School Resources |
| School Health - Information for Parents (MLHU) |
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Getting Ready for School (All Kids Belong AKB) free downloadable PDF All Kids Belong -Online Resources (Merrymount family support and crisis centre) |
| On the way to kindergarten: Let's get ready for school (Video Series SWPublicHealth) |
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Welcome to Kindergarten (Thames Valley District School Board) |
| Welcome to Kindergarten (London District Catholic School Board) |
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Family Well-being Community Workshop Series (Thames Valley District School Board and London District Catholic School Board) |
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Your Teenager’s Transition to High School: Recorded Webinar (Video) Parent Resources (PDF) |
Last modified on: March 16, 2023