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Child Development

HomeHealth and WellnessChild Health and School-Age ChildrenChild Development
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Growth charts

Weight and height are important parts of your child's growth and development. Every child grows differently. Your health care provider will use a growth chart and talk to you about how your child is doing.

Using growth charts

The Dietitians of Canada recommend using the World Health Organization's (WHO) growth standards for children up to five years old.

To read more about the WHO growth charts, visit the Dietitians of Canada website.

If your child was born premature or has an illness, talk to your health care provider about which growth chart you should use.

If you have any concerns about your child's growth, talk to your health care provider.

Positive discipline

Parenting can be rewarding and fun, but it can be hard sometimes. You are not alone. We are here to help build your parenting skills.

Discipline is part of parenting. Using the right type of discipline will teach your child how to behave and grow into a healthy, caring person. Your child will also learn how to behave by watching you. It is important to be a good role model in your actions, behaviours and words.

Read more about positive discipline in our Positive Discipline Guide for Parents and Caregivers.

What is positive discipline?

Positive discipline teaches your child how to behave, feel safe and get along with others. How you teach your child is just as important as what you teach.

Positive discipline is not physical punishment. Punishment such as spanking, hitting or yelling does not work. It can be harmful to your child.

Positive discipline helps your child:

  • Make good choices.
  • Be confident.
  • Get along with others.
  • Treat others with respect.
  • Learn to solve problems.
How to use positive discipline

Teaching your child discipline takes time and patience. Don't expect your child to listen to what you say all the time.

Your child's actions have to do with their age and development. Knowing what your child can do at different ages will help you discipline them the right way.

Positive discipline tips:

  • Stay calm and patient.
  • Do not yell at, hit or spank your child.
  • Take your child to a calm place.
  • Help your child talk about what happened.
  • Help your child tell you their feelings.
  • Use positive words. For example, "It is not OK to draw on the wall, but here is some paper you can use."
  • Give reasons for your rules. For example, "Do not run with scissors, you might fall and hurt yourself."
  • Talk to your child about how their actions affect others.

Preschool developmental milestones (One to three years old)

Children learn new things at different ages. Taking a first step, stacking two blocks, and holding a cup to drink are examples of developmental milestones.

To check if your child is meeting their milestones, you can use the Looksee Checklist®.

The Looksee Checklist® is free, online and easy to use. They look at stages from infancy to six years of age. For one to three years, you will find the checklists for 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, two years, 30 months and three years. They also give examples of activities you can do with your child.

Screens are available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

If you have any questions about your child's development, talk to your health care provider.

Examples of milestones

Here are some examples of what your child should be doing from one to three years old. For a full list, refer to the Looksee Checklist®.

Does your 15-month-old:
  • Understand simple questions?
  • Pull up to stand at furniture?
  • Pick up small items using tips of thumb and first finger?
  • Say five words or more?
  • Crawl up stairs?
  • Repeat an action that made you laugh?

For activities you can do, refer to the Health Department's guide for 15-month-old children.

Does your 18-month-old:
  • Say 20 or more words?
  • Walk alone?
  • Point to show you something?

Now is an important time to book a visit with your health care provider. This visit is called the Enhanced 18-month Well-Baby Visit. The health care provider will check your child's development and give immunizations. The earlier a child gets help with their development, the better they will do in school.

Read more here about the Enhanced 18-month Well-Baby Visit

For activities you can do, refer to the Health Department's guide for 18-month-old children.

Does your two-year-old:
  • Join two words together? For example, "want cookie" or "my hat."
  • Try to run?
  • Copy your actions?

For activities you can do, refer to the Health Department's guide for two-year-old children.

Does your 30-month-old:
  • Give you the right toy when asked?
  • Join three or more words together? For example, "I want big ball."
  • Run without falling most of the time?
Does your three-year-old:
  • Speak in sentences of five or more words? For example, "I go home and play"
  • Understand two- or three-step directions? For example, "Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet."
  • Walk up the stairs using the railing?

For activities you can do, refer to the Health Department's guide for three-year-old children.

Visit our Child Safety page for ways to prevent injuries.

Vision

Vision plays an important role in early child development.

  • Optometrists (eye doctors) recommend that children have an eye exam again at age two to three years, and then every year after. A child’s first eye exam is recommended at six months old.
  • An optometrist can complete an eye exam even if your child doesn’t know their ABC’s or is not yet speaking in full sentences. Shapes, pictures and other child-friendly ways can be used to check your child’s vision and eye health.
  • Yearly eye exams by an optometrist are covered by OHIP for children under 19 years old.

Toilet learning

Children will learn to use the toilet when they are ready. Toilet learning can take time. Most children are ready for toilet learning between two and four years of age.

You can help your child by knowing when they are ready. Some signs that your child may be ready for toilet learning include:

Your child can:

  • walk to the potty and sit on it without help
  • pull their pants up and down
  • have a dry diaper for one to two hours at a time
  • tell someone when they need to use the potty

Your child is:

  • interested in the potty
  • willing to stop what they’re doing to use the potty
  • motivated to do things on their own
  • eager to please parents and caregivers

If your child is showing many of these signs, they may be ready to start toilet learning.

Read our quick tips handout and toilet learning guide for more readiness signs and tips to help your child with toilet learning.

Getting your child ready for school

There are many things you can do to help your child prepare for school.

1-2-3 Get Set for Kindergarten (English)

1-2-3 Get Set for Kindergarten (French)

Read more in our Getting Your Child Ready for School Guide.

Programs and services for children birth to six years old

Ready, Set, Grow Check-Ups

Do you have questions about your child’s development, learning, speech, or behaviour? Attend a free drop-in for parents and caregivers of children birth to five years old. Bring your children and ask questions about learning, development and behaviour. Professionals from agencies will be present to answer your questions. Ready, Set, Grow Check-Ups happen monthly at different locations across Durham Region.

Upcoming Ready, Set, Grow Check-Ups

Infant and Child Development Program
  • Are you worried about your child's development? We can help.
  • For more details, see our Infant and Child Development Parent Handbook.

Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program

The Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program is a free program to help children get a healthy start in life.  We can support you while you are pregnant, after the baby is born and as your child grows.

Public health nurses and family visitors offer programs, services and home visits. They are free and ensure you get the information and support you need.  Having a baby can be both an exciting and challenging time.  You may have questions and need support adjusting to pregnancy and life with a baby.

Learn more information about the HBHC program in Durham Region

We can help you learn about:

  • Having a healthy pregnancy and birth
  • Caring for yourself
  • Healthy eating
  • Breastfeeding
  • Parenting
  • Connecting with your baby
  • Growth and development
  • Other services and programs in your community

Results from the HBHC Client Feedback Survey: 2023 Infographic

To learn more about referral to the HBHC program, call the Durham Health Connection Line.

EarlyON Child and Family Centres (previously known as the Ontario Early Years Centres)

EarlyON Child and Family Centres are in your community and can help you connect with other parents and children. These centres have programs and activities for you and your children up to age six.

Read more about locations and programs at EarlyON Child and Family Centres.

Additional services and information

Funding Guide for Young Children and Families

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