General Resources for Parents and Caregivers
- Family Resources β Family Compass
- Well-Being Resources for children β Heart-Mind Online
Encouraging Healthy Physical Activity
- Globe and Mail β Kids and Physical Activity
- Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology β Guidelines for 12 -17
- Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology β 24 Hour Guidelines
- Government of Canada β Tips to get active
Promoting Positive Mental Health
- Mental Health and Well-being Resources from the WRDSB β Health and Well-Being
- WRDSB Resource List β Resource List for Parents
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health β Mental Health vs. Mental Illness
- Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington β Road map for Parents
- Right By You β Communicating with your Teen
- Here 24/7 β Portal for mental health
Resiliency, stress and anxiety
Tips for helping children and teens build resilience and manage anxiety: from the
- American Psychological Association βResiliency guide for parents and teachers
- Kids Health β Childhood stress
- The Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia β Anxietyβ¦can totally suck!
- Offord Centre for Child Studies β Anxiety problems in children and adolescents
- Harvard Graduate School of Education β What do anxious teens need?
- Teens can be Resilient β A Parent Guide
- Teens can be Resilient in High School β A Parent Guide
Bullying and peer conflict
Here are some resources for parents and caregivers on bullying prevention and intervention:
- Ministry of Education β Bullying: We can all help stop it
- The Red Cross β Preventing bullying: Tips for parents
- The Red Cross β How to help: A youth perspective on bullying (video)
- PREVNet β What parents need to know
- Stop Bullying Now β Advice for parents and guardians
- Edutopia β Empowering students to curb bullying
Safe internet use and creating a positive digital footprint
Resources on appropriate and inappropriate use of the internet, social media and digital technology:
- Canadaβs Centre for Digital and Media Literacy β Media smarts
- PREVNet β Parenting in a digital age
- Canadian Centre for Child Protection β Internet safety
- Cyberbullying Research Center β Cyberbullying fact sheet
- Ontario Womenβs Justice Network β Sexting and the law
Internet Gaming Disorder
- Psychology Today β Internet Gaming Disorder Article
Social and Emotional Learning
- CASEL β Social / Emotional Learning
- CASEL β Social / Emotional Learning Skills
- Edutopia β Social / Emotional Learning Parent Resources
Cultivating Care and Empathy
- Greater Good Science Center β Raising Kind Kids
- Harvard Graduate School of Education β Raising Caring Children
- Harvard Graduate School of Education β Cultivating Empathy
- Cultivating Kindness and Compassion in Children β Cultivating Kindness and Compassion
Self-Regulation
- Importance of Developing Self-Regulation β Developing Self Regulation
- Parent Map β Self Regulation in Tweens and Teens
- Harvard Graduate School of Education β Activities to Keep Organized
- Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation β Promoting Self-Regulation in Teens
Eating Disorders
Information for families wanting to better understand Eating Disorders and related behaviour:
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre β Know the facts
- Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo-Wellington β Services for eating disorders
- Waterloo-Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition β Advocacy and services
- Eating Disorders in Males β Eating Disorder Hope
Promoting Positive Body Image
- Mayo Clinic β Tips for Girls
- Kids Health β Encouraging Healthy Body Image
- Kids Help Phone β Body Image Info for Teens
- Healthy Bodies Curriculum β 10 Lessons
- Healthy Bodies Curriculum β Toxic Cultural Myths
Healthy relationships, consent and sexual relationships
Research shows that parent-child communication about sexual health encourages positive behaviour. Here are some resources to help:
- The Region of Waterloo β The talk: A parents guide
- Leicestershire County Council β What consent looks like (video)
- Harvard University β The Talk: How Adults Can Promote Young Peopleβs Healthy Relationships
- Amaze.org β What makes a relationship healthy (video)
E-Cigarette and Tobacco Use
- Canadian Paediatric Society β Dangers of E-cigarettes for children and youth
- Canadian Paediatric Society β Smoking and Youth
- University of Waterloo β Vaping
- Centre for Disease Control β Tobacco and Teens
- Mayo Clinic β Quitting smoking for Teens
Drug and alcohol use
- Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy β Preventing substance use
- Kids Health β Talking to your child about drugs
- Harvard Health Publications and HelpGuide.org β Teenage drinking
- WRDSB β Talking to your child about opioids use
- Centre for Addition and Mental Health β Opioids: What you need to know
- School Mental Health Assist β Cannabis Information
- Drug Free Kids Canada β Drug Free Kids Canada
Self-harm
Resources and information about why some youth self-harm and how you can help your child:
- Childrenβs Hospital of Eastern Ontario β What you need to know
- The Canadian Mental Health Association β Youth and self injury
Suicide
Information to help you understand the issue of suicide and learn about suicide prevention:
- Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council β Preventing suicide
- National Association of School Psychologists β Preventing youth suicide
- The Right by You β Support teen mental health
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and more (LGBTQ+)
Information for families of students who identify as LGBTQ+, who are unsure of how they identify and who want to serve as allies of LGBTQ+ students:
- K-W Counselling β OK2BME