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VICTORIA – B.C. today released a new edition of Toddler’s First Steps, a handy reference guide that provides parents and caregivers of children between the ages of six months and three years of age with the most up-to-date parenting tips and child health and wellness information.
“With this new edition of Toddler’s First Steps, we are recognizing the importance of providing parents and caregivers with the resources they need to ensure that all children in this province are given the best start in life,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “Children under the age of three are at a key stage in their development and we have updated the content of this guide, with the help of health and early childhood experts, to ensure those caring for young children have access to the most current and relevant information possible.”
Toddler’s First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your Six- to Thirty-Six-Month-Old was first released in 2002 and covers a wide range of topics on caring for a toddler in an easy to read, accessible format. The latest version was updated with assistance from health-care providers, early childhood educators and child development specialists and includes recommendations from the World Health Organization, Dietitians of Canada, Health Canada and the Canadian Pediatric Association. New to this edition is a revised nutrition section, which includes up-to-date information from the Canada Food Guide.
“The early years of a child’s life can
profoundly impact their health and well-being. We are committed to ensuring
that parents, grandparents and other caregivers have access to a variety of
tools to assist them as they guide their child through these critical years,”
said Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen. “This revised
edition of Toddler’s First Steps provides a number of useful tools and
resources to help B.C. parents and caregivers give children a healthy and happy
start in life.”
Toddler’s First Steps includes information for parents and caregivers on early childhood development; nutrition, including the importance of breastfeeding toddlers; healthy growth; parenting; physical activity and play; toddler safety; and tips for recognizing potential health problems. The guide also contains a resource section for parents, which includes information specific to the health and well-being of Aboriginal children.
“The toddler years are an exciting time in the development of a child, and this guide provides parents and caregivers with a wealth of practical information on how to best meet the challenges and joys associated with caring for a toddler,” said Dr. Robert Peterson, clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UBC’s Faculty of Medicine and director of Child Health BC. “Children go through rapid developmental changes in their first few years of life, and this handbook presents parents with the information they need to understand these changes and to celebrate with their toddlers as they achieve these early milestones.”
The new edition of Toddler’s First Steps is
available free of charge at public health units across the province or online
at www.health.gov.bc.ca/children/initiatives/parent.html.
Toddler’s First Steps is the companion book to Baby’s Best Chance, a reference guide for pregnancy, birth and the care of babies six months of age or under. Baby’s Best Chance is also available at public health units or at www.health.gov.bc.ca/children/initiatives/parent.html online.
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Communications Director Ministry of Health 250 812-5571 (cell) 250 952-1887 (media line) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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