Every child is unique and as a parent or caregiver, you know your child best. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts – getting help early can make a big difference. Talk to your health care provider if you have any concerns about your child’s development.
It’s important for your child to see their health care provider at 18 months of age. This visit is a chance to ask questions and talk about how your child is growing and developing.
Developmental screening tools can help identify potential delays or concerns with your child’s development. The earlier a delay is found, the sooner your child can get support.
You play an important role in helping your child grow and learn. You are your child’s first teacher — and favourite playmate!
Playtime is fun for both you and your child and it helps them grow and learn. Playing together – you don’t need expensive toys. Let your child lead play time.
Play helps your child:
Visit Play and Learn, a program developed by the University of Toronto and McMaster University, for a variety of fun games and activities that will support your child’s development.
Video: Everyday Play, Health Nexus. Used with permission from Health Nexus.
Reading, singing and speaking with your child provides many opportunities for back and forth interactions – also known as serve and return interactions – that help your child’s brain develop. Your child will imitate sounds, facial expressions and gestures, and you can do the same. Start right after birth! Learn more on our Early Brain Development page.
Visit Read, Speak, Sing to Your Baby: How Parents can Promote Literacy from Birth from the Canadian Paediatric Society (Caring for Kids) for ideas reading, singing and talking with your baby every day.
Video: Playing with Language – Reading Books
Technology and digital media are part of everyday life for most families. While screen time can offer some benefits, too much can reduce valuable face-to-face interactions and opportunities for physical activity — both key to healthy child development.
Screen time refers to the amount of time spent on devices with screens such as TVs, computers, tablets, video game consoles, and smartphones. It doesn’t include video chatting with family or friends.
Screen Time Recommendations:
| Age | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Under 2 years | No screen time |
| 2 to 4 years | Less than 1 hour per day |
| 5 to 17 years | Maximum of 2 hours a day of recreational screen time |
Children under 2 do not learn effectively from screens. As children grow, excess screen time can impact:
To learn more about the impacts of screen time and setting healthy screen time limits, visit our Screen Time page.
Your child depends on you to stay active every day. Physical activity helps your child:
Get involved in activities that are age appropriate, fun and safe. For free and fun physical activities, visit Have a Ball Together by Best Start.
Video: Have a ball together: Children and Physical Activity by Health Nexus.
For more information:
Nutritious food provides vitamins, minerals, and energy your child needs to grow strong and healthy. It also:
Learning to eat well as a child makes it easier to stay healthy as they grow. Use these feeding tips to give your child the nutrition they need to grow strong and healthy.