Child development

Child Development Resources

CHEO is committed to engaging with families and community partners. Below is a variety of resources and helpful tips provided by CHEO and our community to help families support their child’s development and growth. Families are welcome to share these resources with other family members, childcare providers, educators, and others to help those involved in your child’s life build knowledge and skills.

Learn about your child's development

Prepare for an appointment

More resources and supports

Favourite Words for Child Development

Find strategies and resources to support a child's development

Speech and communication development

Find speech, stuttering and language development resources

Eating

Videos

Dietician Guide to the Picky Eater - CHEO
Getting ready to eat - CHEO
Preparing for a Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study - CHEO
The Reluctant Eater - CHEO

Websites

Healthy eating for babies and toddlers - Parenting in Ottawa
Preparing infant formula - BestStart
Serving kids with pediatric feeding disorder - Feeding Matters
Webinars - International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative

Handouts

Helping your picky eater try new foods - CHEO

Feeding according to developmental level - Holland Bloorview

Play and learning

Websites

Recreation Therapy resources - CHEO
Learn and Play Activities - Health HQ
Adaptive Toys and Tech Resource Centre - CHEO
Active Play - Parenting in Ottawa
Play&Learn: discover activities to help your child learn, grow and thrive - McMaster
Using play to promote language - First Words
Creative circle time: music, stories & games - ConnectAbility
Social skills - ConnectAbility
Developing language through reading and storytelling - First Words

Videos

Sensory processing - CHEO

Apps

Jooay App: Finding leisure activities close to home for children with disabilities

Self help skills

Videos

Good night, sleep tight - CHEO
Occupational Therapy - KidsInclusive
Tips and tricks for dressing - CHEO
Toilet training - CHEO
Toilet learning - Parenting in Ottawa
Sleep - Parenting in Ottawa

Websites

Autism self-care toolkit - Holland Bloorview
Sleep guidelines - Government of Canada
Taking care of myself - ConnectAbility

Handouts

Constipation - CHEO

Motor skills

Gross motor skills

Videos

Walking with crutches - CHEO
Physiotherapy - KidsInclusive

Handouts

Torticollis - CHEO

Walking with crutches - CHEO

Fine motor skills

Videos

Grip and snip: Early hand skills for scissor use and pre-printing - CHEO

Seating and mobility

Websites

Transportation & car seats

Travelling safely while seated in a wheelchair - School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Ride Safe Brochure - Wheelchair Transportation Safety
Child Safety Link - Car Seat Safety
Safety with transporting oxygen cylinders in vehicle - Hamilton Health Sciences
SEATS for kids - FAQs
Travelling safely while seated in a wheelchair - Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre

Find information to help you prepare for appointments, school and more

Assessments and appointments:

Daycare and school:

Find more information on child development

Learn more about:

Early identification and well-baby visits
Early planning toolkit for families with kids aged 2-10 with a disability
Supporting your child's future
Developmental milestones:
Finding private practices:
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists

Learn more about a specific diagnosis:

Autism

Resources for adults

Autism Ontario - Adults

Brain injuries

Levels of cognitive functioning scale

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy resources

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis resources

FASD

Visit the FASD resource page for a full list of resources and supports.

Neuromuscular Disorders

Learn about Favourite Words (F-Words) for Child Development

Favourite Words (F-Words) focus on six areas of your child’s development and include: Functioning, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends and Future. CHEO Development and Rehabilitation is using Favourite Words when working with you and your child, in order to identify goals and areas of focus.

Below you will find a variety of resources to help you better understand, F-Words for Families.

Websites