Child Development Programs (CDP)

08/17/2023

A child’s journey towards literacy begins long before they can read and write. There are many emergent literacy skills that we can support in their early years to pave the way for later literacy success. Click on the link to learn more about emergent literacy!

One of the key ways to prepare young children for school success is to build their emergent literacy skills – the skills required before a child begins to read and write. What are the key emergent literacy skills young children need to learn, and what are some of the research-based ways we can sup...

08/16/2023

Starting school is a big transition for our little ones. Here are some lesser-known tidbits for you to put in your back pocket about the first few weeks of school.

The ABCs and 123s aren’t pre-requisites for starting school. We’ve got a few other lesser-known tidbits for you to put in your back pocket for the early days of kindergarten.

08/15/2023

York Region has so much to offer for recreation for both visitors and residents. To learn more, check out: http://yorkscene.com/. Please share what is your favorite area to explore in York Region.

The York Region is composed of nine different municipalities, each with its own unique charm. These municipalities are Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

07/28/2023

A child’s attachment and resilience depend on how their parents and caregivers interact with them. Check out this precious video by a 7-year-old:

"What if I was to tell you that a game of peek-a-boo could change the world?" asks seven-year-old Molly Wright, one of the youngest-ever TED speakers. Breaki...

07/26/2023

What is Attachment?

The emotional relationship between a child and a parent or caregiver. It starts at birth and continues as the child grows.

What is Resilience?

The ability to solve problems, bounce back, and thrive. It develops throughout life.

How is Attachment Linked to Resilience?

A child’s resilience is best built through having at least one secure attachment relationship to a parent or caregiver.

How are Communication and Play Related?

Babies learn to communicate at the same time they are building attachment. A parent or caregiver’s response to a child’s communication builds their attachment and language skills, which in turn strengthens their resilience because they can let you know what they need and get those needs met.

Playing with your child allows them to grow many skills including thinking, emotional, and social. They become more confident in their abilities, which makes them more resilient and better able to respond to problems.

https://www.birthandbabies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/AHS-Building-Blocks-for-Resilience-Birth-to-2-Years-2019.pdf

07/25/2023

Did you know that children between 3 and 6 years old registered with the Ontario Autism Program can participate in the Entry to School program before entering school for the first time? In York Region, our Entry to School classrooms are supported by speech-language pathology staff from the York Region Preschool Speech and Language Program. Our staff love working with York Simcoe Autism Network partners in the Entry to School classrooms to help children build their communication, play and interaction skills in preparation for school!

Want to know more about ETS? Register for an information session at https://www.ysanetwork.ca/entry-to-school/.

07/25/2023

Check out this video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University to learn how your interaction with your child can shape their brain and learning for skills like language!

One of the most essential experiences in shaping the architecture of the developing brain is "serve and return" interaction between children and significant ...

07/24/2023

Dr. Seuss on Attachment...

“A person’s a person no matter how small”

And Resilience...

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

07/21/2023

TGIF! Please share why you love Fridays...

07/21/2023

CAPC (Community Action Program for Children) programs are free for teen parents, newly immigrated parents, parents who are socially isolated due to economic circumstances, illness, disability, place of residence and/or ethno-cultural factors, who have children 0 to 6 years of age.

CAPC programs are currently running in Georgina, Markham and Vaughan.

To learn more about , please click the link below:

About CAPC Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) CAPC targets children living in low income families; children living in teenage-parent families; children experiencing developmental delays, social, emotional or behavioural problems; and abused and neglected children. Community Action Program....

07/20/2023

EarlyOn Centres provide wonderful free programs for children and caregivers. If you have not visited an centre yet, summer would be a perfect time to start!

Check out EarlyOn programs in your area:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-earlyon-child-and-family-centre

07/20/2023

Summer is a great time to take a trip to your local library! Libraries offer many programs and many books!

Please share the title of your child's favourite book!

https://www.centralhealthline.ca/listServices.aspx?id=10247®ion=YorkRegion

07/17/2023

Please share your child’s favourite ‘happy’ time where you see them being their true self.

07/14/2023

Play can be a lot of things – messy, silly, structured, free, loud, quiet, physical, pretend… the list goes on. But always remember that play should be FUN! This weekend, have some fun with your child by playing along with them.

Give us a LIKE if you’re looking forward to playing with your child this weekend!

07/13/2023

With summer coming up, there are lots of fun ways that we can help our children learn to play with others. Check out this great blog post with some ideas for activities that your child may enjoy doing with a friend, sibling, or neighbour this summer.

Leave a comment below letting us know what your favourite idea is!

Source:

Young kids can learn so much from playing in the company of other kids! But many parents are wondering how they can beef up toddlers’ and preschoolers’ social skills, especially after a long period of not interacting with many other kids.

07/12/2023

My child likes to spend a lot of time watching videos and playing on the iPad. Is that okay?

If you’re asking this question – you’re not alone! Many parents are wondering about the impact of screen time on their children. In general, the younger the child is, the less time they should be spending on a device. We can try to spend more time playing with toys, reading books, going outside, or doing crafts with our child. We can also try to make screen time more engaging by playing games together or talking about their online activities.

Share this with a friend who is also wondering about screen time!

Source:

Not sure how much screen time is appropriate for your preschooler? Get advice here.

07/11/2023

In this article about play, a researcher says that, “any activity can be play or not play. The secret sauce is playfulness – the ability to see a situation and be curious about it, realize it can be enjoyable, and take agency over it…Even cleaning up can be fun, if you have the right mindset”.

What do you think? Can anything be play, or do you need something special (like special toys) to make it into play?

Source:

Even though children increasingly spend most summer days inside or at a full-day camp program, the idealistic image of summertime is still one of free play: neighbors racing bikes, friends building a fort, siblings producing a show, a family on the beach.

07/10/2023

Our children learn so much about the world and about themselves just by playing. They learn how to relate to their environment and how to interact with others in their play. Children learn skills needed for confidence, self-esteem, resilience, interaction, social skills, independence, curiosity, and how to regulate their emotions. As adults, sometimes the best way that we can connect with our child is through play!

What are some ways that you like to play with your child?

06/27/2023

June 27th is Canadian Multiculturalism Day. Multiculturalism is what makes us who we are as Canadians. On June 27th, we celebrate the many multicultural communities that have contributed to the diversity that is our country's greatest strength. As Canadians, we also acknowledge that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis who have called out country's lands home. As we celebrate this year, let us continue to commit to equity, inclusion and respect to ensure that everyone can take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging here in Canada. Happy Multiculturalism Day!

You can find out more about Canadian Multiculturalism Day here: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/celebrate-canada/multiculturalism-day.html.

05/12/2023

It’s the weekend - let’s get out and PLAY!!

To support a Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HH) child develop Listening and Spoken Language skills in ALL environments, parents and caregivers must be vigilant in helping them hear speech clearly and consistently. It takes more than full-time use of hearing technology (but that’s a great start!) to develop clear speech and language.

You can help by providing an optimal listening environment:
o Stay close to D/HH child; when closer, your voice is closer & easier to hear
o Keep background noise to a minimum; ‘extra’ noise makes it harder to notice the more important sounds, like talking!
o If you can’t be close or there’s a lot of noise, use a remote mic when possible; this brings your voice right to their technology and helps the child hear your speech clearly!

Ask your Tri-Regional Infant Hearing Program Audiologist or SLP for more information, and look here: https://www.babyhearing.org/devices/remote-microphone

05/11/2023

As toddlers become preschoolers, their speech becomes clearer, but how does this happen? Only 30% of English speech sounds can be identified easily just by looking at the mouth. For children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and are learning to listen and talk, developing a strong auditory feedback loop is a key listening strategy in clear speech production. As a parent or caregiver, you can help your Deaf/Hard of Hearing child develop great speech skills with these ideas: http://mymightyvoice.com/strategies-for-improving-a-childs-auditory-feedback-loop/, or talk to your Tri-Regional Infant Hearing Program SLP for more information.

Have you ever been talking about two people, and accidently mixed up their names? Like instead of Mary and Ben you said “Bary and Men” and then caught yourself? Or accidentally called your child or…

05/10/2023

Auditory Verbal Therapy ( ) through the Tri-Regional Infant Hearing Program empowers parents and caregivers to embrace strategies to help their Deaf/Hard of Hearing child learn to listen and talk. One of the most important skills that even babies can learn is to notice when someone talks to them and know to react/respond. Serve and Return is key for all children in learning to communicate. You can read more about serve and return here: https://www.hearinglikeme.com/practicing-serve-and-return-conversations-with-deaf-children/

Did you know that teaching your child to listen and speak is a lot like a tennis match?Learn a few simple tricks to serve and return high-quality language in...

05/09/2023

May 1-7 was Children's Mental Health Week.

Children's Mental Health Ontario is a great place to start when you are looking for children's mental health supports in Ontario. The website offers resources for parents, youth, and professionals who are searching for information related to mental health for children.

https://cmho.org/cmhw2023/

05/09/2023

When the parents of a Deaf/Hard of Hearing child choose to follow a Listening and Spoken Language ( ) pathway to communication, Auditory Verbal Therapy ( ) is one therapy approach available to help them learn to listen and talk. Families are coached on strategies such as the Auditory Sandwich to help the child learn language while focusing on listening. Reminders for this strategy are here: https://www.jtc.org/auditory-sandwich/

Speak to your Tri-Regional Infant Hearing Program provider for more information.

Click to Download PDF Version Learning to listen takes experience. Provide a child with opportunities to listen first, next listen with a visual cue, then listen again. To add visuals as needed: Use objects in babies’ play. Put gestures in toddlers’ routines. Provide pictures in preschoolers’ ...

05/09/2023

In Child Development Programs (CDP), the Tri-Regional Infant Hearing Program offers listening and spoken language support when a child is identified as Deaf of Hard of Hearing, if their parent/caregiver chooses.

Our Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) therapy approach focuses on a caregiver-coaching to help babies and young children learn to listen with the support of hearing technology.

Learn more here about LSL for your Deaf/Hard of Hearing child: https://www.hearingfirst.org/lsl/what-is-lsl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejaw9LdJeYA

In Part 3 of this 3-part series, Winston and Janet tell about their introduction to Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT), and how they have helped their daughter le...

05/05/2023

May 5 is Cri Du Chat Awareness Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN1leMcmDqk

Share and help us change the narrative!

05/05/2023

A great TikTok account about Riley and her family who support her with learning both ASL and spoken English.

Had a great lil Sunday 🥰

05/04/2023

Check out this quick checklist of ways to make listening easier in the classroom!

https://speechandhearing.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Acoustics_info-sheet_EN.pdf

05/03/2023

Many children with cleft lip and palate experience trouble hearing. May 15 marks the start of International Face Equality Week. We are celebrating by sharing Logan’s story of growing up with a facial difference.

https://www.aboutface.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Making-Faces.pdf

05/02/2023

Meet Alyssa. She was born with only one ear and loves using her technology to help her hear better.

Microtia - Congenital Ear Deformity Institute; BAHA Patient Profile 1

05/02/2023

Are you a new parent of a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome?

https://www.fpwr.ca/about-prader-willi-syndrome/newly-diagnosed-what-now/

05/01/2023

Check out this fun video put together by the staff at the EarlyON Centre at the Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf in Toronto. They also offer a variety of programs and resources for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families.

Come join Sheila for Songs and Stories all about Helpful Hearing Technology and make some hearing technology for your toys. Video is in English with ASL supp...

05/01/2023

Show your support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children by “Dressing Loud” any day this month.

Voice for Deaf Kids supports those children and families who use spoken language for communication.

VOICE is an organization that develops and implements programs and services encompassing advocacy, family support, and public education. VOICE has connected hundreds of parents and families of children with hearing loss and has become one of the largest support organizations of its kind.

04/28/2023

When thinking about people with PI’s, think Zebra!

Hero’s don’t always wear capes, meet the plasma heroes here. These heroes are donating plasma, working to build awareness, and providing expertise to build a community of donors. They’re saving lives. https://www.plasmahero.org/hero-stories

04/27/2023

Here are a few great websites with a lot of family friendly information, resources, and support groups related to Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders:

1. https://primaryimmune.org/about-primary-immunodeficiencies
2. https://immunodeficiency.ca/
3. https://immunitycanada.org/

If you have recurrent, persistent, or severe infections, ask your doctor to check for the possibility of a primary immunodeficiency (PI), also known as an inborn error of immunity (IEI).

04/26/2023

To answer common questions you may have about Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders, please follow this link:

Listen Overview Symptoms & Causes Diagnosis & Treatments Research & Clinical Trials Programs & Services What are primary immunodeficiency disorders? Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDDs) are a group of inherited conditions affecting the immune system, due to a lack of, or dysfunction of white b...

04/25/2023

“Did you know that there are more than 450 types of primary immunodeficiency’s, which occurs when a person’s immune system is absent or does not function properly. Over 10 million people live with PI’s around the globe, and yet many of these rare PI’s are still widely under diagnosed. The impact of living with a PI/multiple PI’s can range from mild to severe. Some people living with PI’s might be more prone to catching bacterial infections and require additional antibiotics to treat these infections, while others living with PI’s may need monthly IVIG infusions from donated plasma to keep their immune system functioning.”

04/24/2023

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A. A. Milne

04/22/2023

Happy Earth Day!

Here are some eco-friendly activities kids and families can do together to celebrate Earth Day!

• Nature scavenger hunt. Make a list of things found in nature around your home, neighborhood or a local park. ...
• Neighborhood clean up. ...
• Family bike ride…
• Make a bird feeder…
• Practice Earth Day yoga…
• Make seed bombs or seed paper…
• Start a garden…

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?

https://runwildmychild.com/earth-day-with-kids/

04/21/2023

Many in celebrate Eid al-Fitr on the first day of in the calendar. It marks the end of the month-long fast of and the start of a feast that lasts up to three days in some countries.

Some of our CDP families, and some of our CDP staff, will gather to attend special prayers, exchange greetings and gifts, share a joyous meal and give to others in need.

From all of us, Eid Mubarak!