All posts by Matt Horner

The state of early child development in Canada

A group of researchers from the University of Manitoba, McMaster University, and the University of British Columbia have written a discussion paper for the Public Health Agency of Canada on the current state and future direction of early child development in Canada.

Early Childhood Development in Canada: Current State of Knowledge and Future Directions

The discussion paper aims to summarize the current state of knowledge on early childhood development, based on the set of indicators in the Canadian Institute of Child Health’s 2017 Profile on the Health of Canada’s Children and Youth.

The paper describes how certain family factors impact the early years of children’s lives, including:

  • demographic characteristics
  • income and employment status
  • family and community characteristics
  • access to and use of health services
  • health status

The paper concludes with an overview of current policies, programs, and interventions that support early childhood development in Canada.

The report is also available in French.

How does a parent’s chronic illness impact their child?

Chronic physical illnesses are complex, lengthy, and difficult to treat. People dealing with this type of illness often experience impaired physical and social functioning, as well as reduced well-being. Because of these issues, the impact of a physical illness often reaches beyond an individual to his or her immediate family. Continue reading How does a parent’s chronic illness impact their child?

Canadian Children’s Health in Context Study reveals impacts of SES on children with health disorders

A health disorder – either mental, such as autism or anxiety, or physical, such as asthma – early in life can have a big impact on the developmental trajectory of a child. Continue reading Canadian Children’s Health in Context Study reveals impacts of SES on children with health disorders

The intergenerational effects of teenage pregnancy on child development

Children born to teen mothers generally perform worse on school readiness assessments than children born to adult mothers. What isn’t known is whether this relationship extends to the grandchildren of these teen mothers. Continue reading The intergenerational effects of teenage pregnancy on child development

Can early social-emotional functioning predict later mental health issues?

Many mental health conditions are first diagnosed in early adolescence, yet many people report experiencing symptoms before their teenage years. Continue reading Can early social-emotional functioning predict later mental health issues?