Body Care for Kids / Children
- Puberty and hygiene
Children can start puberty as early as eight or nine years of age. This can be a very confusing time for both parents and children.
Talk to your children about the changes they're going through to help make the transition easier.
Proper hand hygiene can help prevent the spread of colds and flus, and keep families healthier. Encourage your child to clean their hands regularly.
- Head lice information for parents
Anyone can get head lice. It has nothing to do with clean or dirty hair, or the cleanliness of your home. Head lice doesn't spread disease, but can cause a lot of frustration.
Signs that your child might have head lice include itching, complaining of a tickling feeling in the hair or sores on the scalp due to scratching. Or, you may get a call from their school letting you know that your child has been checked and has head lice.
Check your child for head lice and learn about prevention and treatment.
- Vision health
Having regular eye exams for your children can find problems before they become serious and affect your child's vision.
The Ontario Government covers the cost of one major eye exam every 12 months for children under the age of 19. Find an optometrist near you.
Senior kindergarten vision screening
The provincial government has rolled out a new vision screening program for all students in senior kindergarten. Niagara Region Public Health provides screening in schools across Niagara. Screening is to identify eye conditions in your child that could affect their ability to see and learn at school
All students in senior kindergarten will be screened, and screenings are done by trained Niagara Lions Club volunteers.
Vision screening consists of three non-invasive eye tests to detect risk factors for eye disorders such as:
- Lazy eye
- Eye turn
- Nearsightedness and farsightedness
The vision screening takes about 15 minutes to complete.
You'll be informed of your child's results and the next steps you should take. This vision screening doesn't replace your child's regular checkup with your eye doctor or family doctor. Your child should still receive a full eye exam by an eye doctor.
Vision screening takes place at the school, or you can take your child to an eye doctor for a free eye exam. If you have concerns with your child’s eye health, contact your eye doctor or family doctor. You don't have to wait for the school screening visit.
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