Resources for a Preschooler - 2½ to 3½ years

Your child is becoming more independent and more of their own person. Your child is curious and will have endless questions. Play is a huge part of a preschooler’s life.

A preschool readiness program for parents and your preschooler will help make the transition to school easier on both of you. Contact your local Best Start Ontario Early Years Hub (link to OEYC site) for information on school readiness programs.

Member agencies of the Best Start Network offer the following programs and services in our area:

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Cornwall Public Library

• Storytime: storytime for 3 to 5 years old. Stories, songs, rhymes and crafts.
  http://library.cornwall.on.ca/eventsprograms/

Eastern Ontario Health Unit

• Baby Talks!: series of free information sessions held at the Watch Me Grow drop-in locations for parents of children under the age of six.
  http://www.eohu.ca/segments/programs_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&programID=48
   

• Healthy Babies, Healthy Children: program for pregnant women and families with children up to the age of six.
  http://www.eohu.ca/segments/programs_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&programID=34

• Watch Me Grow: informal drop-in program for parents of children under the age of six.
  http://www.eohu.ca/segments/programs_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&programID=109

• Words in Bloom: speech and language development program for children up to the age of five.
  http://www.eohu.ca/segments/programs_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&programID=39

Nippissing District Developmental Screen:

• Free developmental screening tools for infants and children up to 6 years of age.
  www.ndds.ca

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Eastern Ontario Health Unit

• Immunization Clinics
  http://www.eohu.ca/segments/programs_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&programID=2

• Car Seat Inspections
  http://www.eohu.ca/segments/programs_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&programID=43

CHILD CARE

City of Cornwall, Child Care Department

• Licensed Child Care: list of licensed child care centres throughout the City of Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. http://www.cornwall.ca/en/socialservices/licensedchildcarecentres.asp

• Licensed Home Child Care: early learning and care in a home-based family setting.
  http://www.cornwall.ca/en/socialservices/licensedhomechildcareinforforparents.asp
   

• Child Care Fee Subsidy: helps eligible families pay for child care costs at licensed programs in the community.
  http://www.cornwall.ca/en/socialservices/eligibilitychildcarefeesubsidy.asp

PARENTING PROGRAMS

Eastern Ontario Health Unit

• Nobody's Perfect: 6-week course for parents of children 0 to 6 to learn about their child’s development, mind and behaviour.
  http://www.eohu.ca/segments/programs_e.php?segmentID=8&segment_subID=10&programID=47

SPECIAL NEEDS / MENTAL HEALTH

Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre, Early Childhood Program

• Infant Development: prevention and early intervention service for children 0 to 5 who have a physical and/or developmental disability, or are at risk of a developmental delay.
  http://www.octc.ca/early-childhood.php#top

• Getting Started Services: discipline-specific strategies for children from birth until they enter school who do not yet have a formal diagnosis while they are waiting for a developmental assessment.
  http://www.octc.ca/early-childhood.php#top

Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre

• Eastern Ontario Blind/Low Vision Early Intervention Program: provides education and support for parents.
  http://www.pqchc.com/children-family-services/blind-low-vision/

• Eastern Ontario Infant Hearing Program: identification, support and communication development services for infants who are deaf or at risk of developing hearing loss in early childhood.

S.D. & G. Developmental Services Centre

• Infant Development Program: serves children from 0 to 5 years of age who have a developmental delay or are at risk of developmental delay.
  http://www.developmentalservices.ca/serv02.htm

• Child and Adolescent Services Program: supports services for children 0 to 18 who are developmentally challenged and for their families/caregivers or children 0 to 5 who are at risk of developmental delay.
  http://www.developmentalservices.ca/serv01.htm
   

• Occupational Therapy Services: for children 0 to 5 who are developmentally challenged or at risk of a developmental delay.
  http://www.developmentalservices.ca/serv04.htm
   

Visit the following link for information on services and programs available at your local Best Start Ontario Early Years Hub