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Enjoyable Ways to Help Them GrowYour child will love to watch what you do and listening to what you say. They will become a copycat whenyou play with them.They like to play with:Books made of cloth or board.Pull-apart toys. Show them how to pull them apart and put them in a small bin or dishpan. You can say,%u201cOh! You pulled those apart. Do you want me to put them back together with you?%u201dBlocks to build up and knockdown.Pots, pans, or drums to bang on.Toy pianos. Show them how to push the keys to make noise and help them play.Nesting cups %u2013 cups of different sizes to put together, take apart and stack.Create your own mini photo album, you can say, %u201cLook Abby, here%u2019s your mommy. Who%u2019s she holding?That%u2019s you!%u201dKeep toys with small parts out of reach. If it can fit through a toilet paper roll, it%u2019s probably too small. Adultsupervision of play is important for safety.It can be helpful to talk to a supportive friend, especially when that friend has children of similar ages. Theproblems don%u2019t seem quite as bad, and sharing happy experiences allows you to enjoy them again and again. Tryto take one day at a time. Take care of yourself. Here are a few friendly reminders:%u2022 Follow Canada%u2019s Food Guide and move your body regularly.%u2022 Get as much sleep as you can. Have a nap when your baby naps.%u2022 Do things you enjoy.%u2022 Have enjoyable contact with other adults. Try visiting your local EarlyON Child & Family Centre. EarlyON Childand Family Centres offer free, high-quality programs for families and children from birth to 6 years old. You canlearn and play with your child, meet people and get advice from early childhood professionals. Find an EarlyONchild and family centre | ontario.ca%u2022 If you can, spend at least a few minutes each day by yourself. Even a bath can be a nice quiet time to relax andreflect.Pregnancy, the birth of a baby or an adoption brings physical, emotional and social changes. Adjusting to thenew roles and relationships is not always easy. Some women are unaffected while for others, the severity of themood disorder varies from the normal baby blues to the medical emergency postpartum psychosis. Life with anew baby is stressful for partners and other family members as well.A postpartum mood disorder is a mental health disorder striking within the first year of giving birth. The resourcefrom Best Start, Life with a new baby is not always what you expect, provides more information about PostPartum Mood Disorders. The resource Managing Depression: A Self-help Skills Resource for Women LivingWith Depression During Pregnancy, After Delivery and Beyond describes three depression management skills%u2013 reactivating your life, thinking realistically and solving problems.For local resources visit Mental Health & Wellness (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca).