Health and Wellness

Childhood Development

Developmental Milestones

It’s a joy for parents to watch their children grow. Although every child develops differently, if you want to look at some general guidelines, the Looksee Checklist from the Nipissing District Developmental Screen [external link] is a free, easy-to-use tool to monitor a child’s development from 1 month to 6 years of age.
   
Family Centres provide a single door to many opportunities available throughout the city that support all children, youth, and families in achieving their full potential. Many Family Centres also host EarlyON programming at their locations. Family Centres connect you with information, programs, and services related to:
 

• parenting and early learning
• early childhood education
• public health and wellness
• recreation, sports, and leisure

Literacy and Learning

Most people think of literacy as just reading and writing.  Literacy is so much more. It is also having the ability to understand, use, and apply those skills so you can participate in school and society.

In London, statistics around literacy in the community are troubling. More than one in 4 children are not ready to learn in Grade 1, significant numbers of children are below the provincial average in reading, writing, and math, and more than one in 5 students are not graduating from secondary school. This paints a challenging picture for our community and too many children are being left behind.[1]

To tackle this vast and complex issue, the London Child and Youth Network’s Literacy priority is committed to effective interventions for literacy and learning. It is through the implementation of a community-developed and led action plan that community partners work to meet the Literacy priority goal of making sure children, youth, and families develop strong literacy skills and competencies needed to fully participate, engage, and thrive throughout their lives.

Some of the Child and Youth Network's initiatives  [external link] include:
   
Find more literacy resources and services in London and Middlesex County:
   
 

Physical Health

Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating is an important part of maintaining overall health. As a parent, you will lead by example by cooking and serving nutritious meals throughout your child’s life to instill a lifetime of healthy habits. Here are some resources to support your family so you can put healthy food on the table. 
Other helpful articles from the Heart and Stroke Foundation include:
 
Are you looking for support to put food on the table? Please visit the Food section of our Specialized Services page.


Keeping Active

Getting your body moving through play, sports, daily activities, or exercise is an excellent way to keep healthy. Being physically active has many benefits, including better physical and mental health, feeling more energetic, and reducing your risk of chronic diseases and obesity.[2]

It’s important to be a role model for your children so they can learn healthy habits from a young age. The Middlesex-London Health Unit provides benefits and guidelines of physical activity by age on their Physical Activity page [external link].

For more recreational and leisure activities visit the City of London and Middlesex County’s Recreation Programs and Facilities pages and check-out the links below.

Health Care Facilities   

Dental Health
   

Eye Health  

Did you know that children under age 20 with an Ontario Health Card are eligible for a free eye exam once a year? It’s important to catch vision problems early, and your child may not know that anything is wrong. The Middlesex-London Health Unit encourages parents to make your child’s vision test a part of their regular back-to-school routine.[3] Find more information below.
                 

Social Relationships & Bullying

According to the Middlesex-London Health Unit, signs of healthy social, emotional, and mental health development are your child’s ability to:
 

• Make and develop friendships
• Manage, understand, and express emotions
• Explore and interact with the environment
• Show empathy (caring) towards others
• Have self-confidence
• Do well in school [4]  

The Middlesex-London Health Unit has a variety of resources that can help you nurture your child’s mental health so they can thrive in social relationships. Here are a few pages to visit:
 
Other Useful Services:
   
 

Need More Help?

Community Connectors are fundamental to helping London families get connected to services and supports. In every Family Centre, families are greeted by a knowledgeable, friendly Community Connector who helps them connect seamlessly to more opportunities that help them be successful in all aspects of their lives.

Contact or visit a Family Centre to speak with a Community Connector.

In Middlesex County, Middlesex County Library Branches act as hubs for accessing information on family-centered supports and services. Library staff are knowledgeable and trusted Community Connectors equipped to help provide families with information on whom and how to connect to service agencies as well as providing access to key resources relevant to the service or support.  

Visit Middlesex Family Connections for more information on how to connect with a Community Connector in Middlesex County.

MLHU Telephone Support for Families
Available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm, call 519-663-5317 to speak with a Public Health Nurse from the Middlesex-London Health Unit about questions or concerns about parenting, or caring for your infant or child.
 
Telehealth Ontario
Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential service you can call to get health advice or information. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In a medical emergency, call 911.