Children should receive their vaccinations according to the publicly funded immunization schedule (create link), to keep them healthy and avoid harm from serious diseases.

A copy of your child’s vaccination record needs to be presented when registering for school.

Algoma Public Health will need a copy of your child’s vaccination record. According to Ontario's Immunization Schedule, all children attending school between ages 4 to 17 need to be immunized.  link to required vaccines

Healthcare providers are not required to report immunizations to public health.  This is the responsibility of parents and caregivers.

How can I check or update my child's vaccination record?

• Email: immunizations@algomapublichealth.com (include child's name and date of birth) Online: the online reporting tool is available at www.algomapublichealth.com/icon
• In-person: bring a copy of your child’s immunization record to any of our locations during regular business hours www.algomapublichealth.com/contact-us
• By phone: call your local APH office
• Fax a copy of your child’s record: 705-541-5959
• Mail a copy of your child’s record to our address:
  

   

  Algoma Public Health Attention: Immunization Program

  294 Willow Avenue Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 0A9

NOTE: If you are sending us personal information by email, please be aware that electronic communication is not always secure and can be vulnerable to interception.

Healthy teeth and gums are important as your child grows to help them develop good speech, healthy eating habits and good social skills.

• Help your child brush their teeth 2 times a day for 2 minutes each time
• Give your child healthy snacks such as water, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables

Visit a dental professional regularly or contact Algoma Public Health about our free dental program at 705 942-4646 ext.3085.

Children may not know that they have a vision problem and can’t always tell you what they see. Vision problems may interfere with a child’s eye health, their learning, and social development.

Regular eye exams are important to detect and correct vision problems early.

Comprehensive eye exams are free once every 12 months for children 0-19 years of age, with a valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card. Contact an optometrist (eye doctor) to book a comprehensive eye exam for your child before they start school. To find a local optometrist, please go to: www.findaneyedoctor.ca.

Eyeglasses can be expensive. The Eye See Eye Learn program provides children in Junior Kindergarten with one free pair of prescription eye glasses with their OHIP-covered exam. To find a participating Eye See Eye Learn doctor, visit their website at https://optom.on.ca/esel/ .

Foods from Canada’s Food Guide provide the nourishment children need to grow, learn and play. Aim for plenty of vegetables and fruit, a protein and whole grain.

• Build time for breakfast into your morning routine.
• When packing your child’s lunch, aim for plenty of vegetables and fruit, protein and whole grain. Further tips for packing lunch can be found at www.brightbites.ca
• Don’t forget a reusable water bottle.
• Insulated lunch bags, freezer packs, and insulated containers help keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.
• Involve your child in tasks related to packing their lunch (e.g., menu planning, meal prep, assembly into lunch bag).
• Allow your child to decide what and how much to eat from what is available in their lunch. It is okay if they are less hungry on some days than others.
• Ask your child’s school if food is ever provided during the school day. Some schools offer a Student Nutrition Program (e.g., breakfast or snack program) or something similar.
• Ask your child’s school about their policy on food allergies and if any foods cannot be sent to school.

Does your school follow a Balanced School Day?

A Balanced School Day will have two nutrition and activity breaks. Regardless of how your school organizes its day, children need the same amount of food. The only difference is when the food is eaten.

The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommendations include a balance of physical activity, high-quality sedentary behaviour, sufficient sleep, and the interconnection between all three behaviours.  A healthy 24 hours includes three concepts, move, sleep, and sit.  The Whole Day Matters!

Early years (0-4 years)

• At least 180 minutes (three hours) of physical activity at any level (intensity) spread throughout the day, with at least 60 minutes of this being energetic play.
• 10 to 13 hours of good quality sleep, which may include a nap, with consistent bedtimes and wake-up times.
• Avoid sitting for more than one hour at a time, such as in a highchair, stroller, wagon, or car seat and when sedentary, consider reading, storytelling, singing songs, and other non-screen-based activities
• Screen time should be avoided or limited. It is recommended that children from two to four years have no more than one hour a day of screen time – less is better

"For optimal health benefits, children and youth (aged 5–17 years) should achieve high levels of physical activity, low levels of sedentary behaviour, and sufficient sleep each day.”  - The Canadian 24-Hour Movement

Sweat

• Minimum of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.  Include vigorous physical activities and muscle and bone-strengthening physical activities at least three days a week

Step

• Spend several hours a day doing a variety of structured and unstructured light physical activities

Sleep

• Children 5 to13 years of age should have 9 to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep, with consistent bedtimes and wake-up times

Sit

• Have no more than two hours a day of recreational screen time
• Limit sitting for extended periods

Children often play outdoors mid-day when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are strong. Protect your child’s skin and eyes as well as help prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke with the following tips:

• limit time spent in the sun when the UV index is 3 or higher, usually between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• look for shade or create your own (i.e. umbrellas) when outdoors
• wear loose fitting, tightly woven clothing to cover exposed skin
• wear a wide brimmed hat with or baseball cap with flaps to shade the face, neck, and ears
• apply plenty of sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, labelled ‘broad spectrum’ and ‘water resistant’
• reapply sunscreen when needed, especially after swimming, sweating, or toweling off
• use a lip balm with sun screen
• wear close fitting, wrap-around sun glasses with UV400 or 100% protection

It is important to get outside during the winter months. Here are some tips to help you enjoy winter:

• dress your child in layers
• wear a hat and keep ears covered at all times to avoid frost bite
• wearing mittens will keep hands warmer than gloves
• wear warm, waterproof boots with deep treads
• use a neck warmer instead of a scarf and mitten clips instead of a string to prevent choking
• apply plenty of sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, labelled ‘broad spectrum’ and ‘water resistant’ on skin not covered by clothing
• reapply regularly and apply a lip balm with sunscreen
• wear close fitting, wrap-around sun glasses with UV400 or 100% protection

What is a concussion?

A concussion happens when your brain moves around inside your head. A hard bump to your head, neck, or body can cause a concussion. For example, you can get a concussion if you are hit on the head with a ball or if you fall hard onto the floor.  A concussion is a severe injury.

 Most people get better quickly but some people have long-term problems with their memory or how they feel.  Check out the Government of Ontario's Concussion Awareness Resource e-booklet (Ages 10 & Under).

Talk to your child about concussions - they should report any head injuries to yourself and their teachers, regardless of how severe.

Participating in sports and other activities is fun and healthy. But sometimes when you play you can hurt yourself.  
 

Injuries on the playground happen most often to children up to 9 years of age. Here are some things you can do to help your child have fun without getting hurt

• Check your child’s clothing. Make sure there are no drawstrings or other cords, which can get trapped in equipment.
• Take off bicycle helmets. Your child’s head could get caught in a space between narrow openings and become stuck when the helmet is too big to pull back through.
• Bicycle safety and required safety equipment
  
• Always tie up shoelaces and remove or tuck in scarves.
• Check for signs indicating the equipment meets CSA standards and the recommended age range for children using the equipment.
• Teach your child to watch for other children and to take turns on playground equipment.

Use the 2-V-1 Rule to properly fit your helmet:

A damaged helmet is not safe. If a helmet is banged hard or is in a crash, it should be replaced immediately. Just like clothes, helmets need to be replaced as you grow.

Most children, age 10 and under, should be with an older person when crossing the road. Children under the age of 10 have difficulty judging the speed and distance of traffic. Teach children about how to cross the road safely and be a good role model.

Here are some safety tips:

• wear bright coloured clothing in the day
• wear reflective and light coloured clothing at night
• unplug headphones and put down the cell phone while walking
• when possible, cross at crosswalks, pedestrian crossovers or at corners with traffic lights or stop signs
• stop, look and listen for traffic
• check all ways and around the corner
• make eye contact with drivers
• cross when the road is clear or when traffic has stopped
• obey crossing signals
• continue to watch for traffic while crossing

Our hands carry and spread germs. Washing our hands is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of illnesses and diseases such as the cold and flu. Be a good role model and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Encourage your child to wash their hands often, including:

• after using the washroom
• after sneezing, coughing, blowing their nose
• before eating foods
• before touching a cut or open sore
• after touching garbage
• when hands are visibly dirty
• after playing with animals

Role modeling is a fantastic way to help children learn, develop, and maintain new and wanted behaviours, wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Head lice are tiny insects that can live and breed on your child’s head. They are greyish brown in colour and their eggs are white. The oval-shaped eggs (nits) stick firmly to hair near the scalp.

Having head lice is common. To help prevent your child from getting head lice you can discourage head-to-head contact and sharing of hats, scarves, hairbrushes and combs and tie long hair back in braids.

Only use head lice shampoos or products if your child has head lice. Head lice cannot be prevented by using head lice products. Read the directions carefully; using the treatments incorrectly or too often can be harmful.

Stress is a normal part of everyday life and development for children and adults. It helps to motivate us and adds a positive challenge to life. However, too much stress can be overwhelming.

Too much stress:

• makes it more difficult for children to get along with others
• interferes with children’s ability to focus, think, and ultimately learn
• has a profound effect on children’s physical, emotional, and mental health

By helping children learn positive coping strategies to deal with stress, you can help build their resiliency and prevent stress from escalating to distress, anxiety, and meltdowns.

Bullying used to take place mostly in the schoolyard but it now reaches into children’s homes via social networking, phones, emails, and the internet. Many schools have anti-bullying programs in place to help children understand bullying is not acceptable and help them learn coping strategies such as assertiveness, problem-solving, and basic social communication. Talk to your child’s school about their anti-bullying programs.

Children are curious about bodies. Answering their questions throughout their lives will allow you to keep the lines of communication open as well as share cultural and family values. Parents are encouraged to discuss the changes of puberty with ongoing and open age-appropriate conversations.

• Communicate your values honestly and use simple age appropriate language
• Answer questions directly and honestly without judgement. It is okay not to know an answer but make sure you know where to access accurate information
• Use everyday opportunities to discuss healthy sexuality. This could be when the topic comes up on TV or in the movies, or even during a car ride.
• Check out some tips for Talking about Sexual Health
• Use and teach proper names for all body parts.
• Repeat, repeat, repeat. It is never too late to begin talking about healthy sexuality and children learn best when they hear messages many times in a variety of ways.