Transitioning to School (KinderStart)

The public health nurse supports families in keeping their children healthy by:

• Supporting school communities in disease prevention and management (e.g., handwashing, head lice, scabies)
• Promoting healthy eating, healthy behaviours and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Providing immunizations according to the provincial immunization schedule.
• Providing education for school staff and families
• Referring families to other needed service providers (e.g., hearing, vision, lifestyle clinic).

Please ensure that the public health nurse for your school has a current immunization record for your child. The public health nurse will review student records to ensure up-to-date immunization status.

• Information on health conditions and treatments.

Dealing with head lice can be frustrating. Some people are embarrassed that their family has head lice, but it may help to talk with a public health nurse.

• Learn more about head lice.

Eating well is one of the most important things parents and caregivers can do for their children’s health.

• Healthy eating helps children grow and develop. Learn more about healthy eating for children.
• Pack healthy snacks and lunches for school. Check out healthy lunch and snack ideas for school.
• Offer water! Water is the best way to quench your thirst. Learn more in Canada’s Food Guide. Drinks with caffeine are not recommended for children.
• To learn more about what parents and caregivers can do to help children and youth eat well, check out Information for Parents and Caregivers to Help Support Healthy Eating.

The nurse will offer vaccinations according to the provincial immunization schedule and direction.

• Preschool health check (age 4)
  Call your local Public Health office to make an appointment.
  • Developmental screening
  • Immunizations

• School vaccination program
  Offered in specific grades according to provincial immunization schedule with written consent from parent/guardian.

Allergies are common among school-aged children. All families have a role to play in keeping children safe.

• There may be children in your school who have life-threatening allergies. Inform the school if your child has a life-threatening allergy.
• Your school may restrict certain food items in the classroom or the whole school.

Learn about being allergy aware.

Movement is an important part of healthy living at any age. It is essential for children.

• Children need to move to grow and develop healthily.
• Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines – early years (0-4 years)
• Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines – children (5-11) and youth (12-17)

Good hygiene practices help prevent the spread of certain diseases.

• Teach your child how to wash their hands; it is the most effective way to stop the spread of disease.
• Children should bathe:
  • once or twice a week;
  • when they get dirty (e.g., playing in the mud);
  • after being in a pool, lake, ocean or other body of water; and
  • as often as directed by their doctor if they are treated for skin problems.

Preschool and school-age children typically require 10-12 hours of sleep every night to be rested and alert during the day.

For tips and resources, please visit:

• Sleep: Benefits and recommended amounts for children (About Kids Health)
• Are Canadian Children Getting Enough Sleep? Infographic (PHAC)

As parents, you want to keep your child safe. The proper use of car seats is an important part of keeping your child safe. You can:

• Learn about the four stages of child safety in vehicles.
• Choose the stage that is right for your child.
• Correctly install a child seat in your car.
• Safely and properly buckle up your child in a child seat, even for short trips.
• Remember that the back seat is always the safest place for your child.

For more information and resources, please visit Car seat safety.

Head injuries are the number one cause of severe injury and death to kids on bicycles. ​Bike helmet use can make a dramatic difference, cutting the risk of serious head injury by up to 80 percent.

Choose the correct helmet for each activity, fit it correctly, and see that it is certified (meets approved CSA standards).

For more information and resources, please visit Helmets.

Parents are the first and most important sexual health educators of their children. As a parent of a young child, discussing healthy sexuality may not seem like a topic you should consider so early – but it is!

Learn more: Sexual health – young child (birth-5).

Many parents think children are ready for school if they’ve learned certain academic activities, such as knowing the alphabet. In fact, school readiness means much more.

It means that children start school with the basic skills to learn to read, write and count. It also means that children are healthy and can get along with others.

Learn more: Is my child ready for school?

Parents Empowering Kids is a free online program for parents of children ages 3-12. Learn more at Bridge the Gapp.