Parent Resources
Parent and Caregiver
Parents and caregivers are pivotal in helping their children reach their fullest potential. Working collaboratively with community partners and service providers, we strive to ensure that families are informed about and connected to other community services they may require. In this section, you will find a variety of links to resources and downloads regarding the early years and licensed child care system.
PARENTING SUPPORTS
Becoming a parent is one of the most enjoyable life experiences, but can sometimes also be one of the most challenging. There are a variety of agencies in our district that offer programs and services to help you along the way. Below is just a sample of the community agencies and the services they provide; you can click on the links to visit their website and get more information on programs that may be of interest to you.
- Children’s Aid Society – infant and child development services, MotherCare, Community Action Plan for Children, etc.
- Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing – post-partum mood disorder program, addiction services, developmental services, counselling services, etc.
- Community Living North Bay – programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families
- Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca – autism services, child development, child and youth mental health, etc.
- Ministry of Education – for information on early years, licensed child care, and education (K-12)
- North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre – offer a variety of health programs for the entire family as well as child and youth programs
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit – prenatal classes, breastfeeding support, parenting workshops, etc.
- One Kids Place Children’s Treatment Centre – occupational, speech-language and physiotherapy services, therapeutic recreation, infant hearing program, autism services, etc.
- West Nipissing Child Care Corporation – The Stepping Stone program offers resources and supports to ensure that children with special needs are successfully integrated within licensed child care and EarlyON settings.
LOOKSEE CHECKLIST
The Looksee Checklist by NDDS is a checklist to help monitor a child’s development from 1 month to 6 years of age, with tips to promote the child’s ongoing development. It is not a diagnostic tool or formal assessment, but rather a quick survey to help parents, caregivers and professionals determine any areas that may require some extra help. Click here to visit their website and download the checklists.
PROMOTING LITERACY
Language and literacy develop together as a baby grows from an infant, to a toddler, to a school-aged child and older. Building literacy and language skills early on makes it easier for children to learn to read. Click on any of the flyers below to learn more about how you can build early literacy skills with your child.
HOW DOES LEARNING HAPPEN?
How Does Learning Happen? (HDLH?) is Ontario’s pedagogical approach for early learning. This play based approach is intended to:
- Guide program development, pedagogy and practice
- Strengthen the quality of programs
- Ensure high quality experiences for children
- Support positive outcomes in learning, development, health and well-being
The Children’s Services Quality Assurance team helps support licensed child care centres in the implementation of HDLH? through site visits and professional learning opportunities. Click here for more information on HDLH?.
QUALITY CARE
Licensed child care settings in Ontario are regulated by the Child Care Early Years Act , 2014 (CCEYA) to ensure high standards of safety and quality. The best way to determine if a child care setting will meet your needs is to visit the centre and observe the children and staff. Take into consideration the relationships you see between the staff and children. Are staff genuinely happy when interacting with children? Is everyone (administration, educators, cooks, etc.) receptive and open to questions? The Ministry has developed a list of questions to ask potential child care providers to help you on your quest, or you can visit Finding Quality Child Care for more helpful tips.
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Children’s Services is responsible for administering Inclusion Support Special Needs Resourcing to allow children with special needs to participate in early years and child care programs with no additional costs to the parent or caregiver. We have two Inclusion Support Partners: Community Living North Bay’s Inclusion Support Program and West Nipissing Child Care Corporation’s Stepping Stone Program, to ensure that all children are integrated with their peers.
Through Inclusion Support services, Resource Consultants (RCs) provide support to child care and EarlyON programs by conducting regular visits to programs, providing early identification and intervention as well as individual consultations to programs across the Nipissing District. RCs and front line staff work together to ensure programming is meeting the needs of every child and to include everyone in the conversations regarding next steps in supporting individual children. Children’s Services also administers funds to support enriched staffing levels for children who require additional care.
Additionally, EarlyON and licensed child care programs receive professional learning opportunities to build capacity in the area of inclusion and special needs resourcing.
OTHER RESOURCES
Income Support
Ontario Works helps people who are in financial need by providing financial assistance to help with the costs of basic needs like food, clothing and shelter, as well as health benefits for clients and their families. Click here to learn more about the Ontario Works program and supports.
If you are struggling to pay your rent, heat or hydro, the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) program may be able to help. Click here for more information about this program and other community services that may be of assistance.
Food Security
Food insecurity occurs when one does not have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. If you or someone you know requires support with food security, click on the links below to find more information on food banks and other services in your area to help with food security.