PARENTS & CAREGIVERS
Helping kids grow up healthy, connected, confident and safe.
Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping young people build healthy habits, strong relationships and the skills to navigate difficult situations.
Explore trusted resources for online safety, mental health, physical wellness, relationships and personal safety.
ONLINE SAFETY & PREVENTION
Resources from the Joy Smith Foundation
The Joy Smith Foundation provides practical resources to help parents understand online risks, recognize warning signs and protect young people from exploitation.
APPS & SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS CANADIAN PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Learn about popular apps and platforms used by young people, potential risks to be aware of and practical steps parents can take to help keep kids safer online.
DOWNLOAD THE APPS & SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDE
PRACTICAL PARENTING TIPS FOR ONLINE SAFETY
Find practical advice for navigating privacy, personal information, devices and conversations about online safety.
EXPLORE JOY SMITH FOUNDATION PARENT RESOURCES
KNOW THE SIGNS FOR PARENTS
Learn about grooming, recruitment, warning signs and ways parents can help reduce a young person's vulnerability to exploitation.
DOWNLOAD KNOW THE SIGNS FOR PARENTS
FREE EDUCATION FOR PARENTS
The Joy Smith Foundation's National Human Trafficking Education Centre offers free education to help parents better understand human trafficking, online risks and prevention.
EXPLORE THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING EDUCATION CENTRE
REGISTER FOR FREE PARENT EDUCATION
KEEP THE ONLINE CONVERSATION GOING
Online safety works best as an ongoing conversation.
Know which apps and games your child uses, review privacy and location settings together, and talk about what to do if someone pressures them, asks for private information or images, threatens them or makes them uncomfortable.
Most importantly, make sure your child knows they can still come to you for help even if they made a mistake online.
MEDIASMARTS: DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP GUIDE FOR PARENTS
Practical Canadian information about privacy, cyberbullying, healthy online behaviour and conversations families can have about digital life.
EXPLORE THE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP GUIDE
KIDS IN THE KNOW — FOR PARENTS
Canadian personal and online safety resources that help families continue important safety conversations at home.
EXPLORE KIDS IN THE KNOW FOR PARENTS
MENTAL HEALTH & EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Make mental health part of everyday conversation.
Talking openly about mental health can make it easier for young people to reach out when they are struggling.
RIGHT BY YOU
Created by Jack.org, Right By You gives parents and caregivers practical guidance for talking with teens about mental health and supporting their well-being.
KIDS HELP PHONE — RESOURCES FOR CARING ADULTS
Find articles and tools for adults supporting young people through mental-health concerns, relationships, bullying, body image, online safety and more.
EXPLORE RESOURCES FOR CARING ADULTS
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Kids Help Phone provides free support to young people across Canada, 24/7.
Call: 1-800-668-6868
Text: CONNECT to 686868
PHYSICAL WELLNESS
Movement, sleep and healthy routines matter too.
Physical activity, sleep, outdoor play and breaks from sitting all contribute to overall well-being.
CANADIAN 24-HOUR MOVEMENT GUIDELINES
See Canada's recommendations for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children and youth.
VIEW THE CANADIAN 24-HOUR MOVEMENT GUIDELINES
PARTICACTION
Find practical ideas to help children and families add more movement to everyday life.
WORRIED ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR EXPLOITATION?
Contact the Joy Smith Foundation.
If you are concerned about human trafficking or exploitation, the Joy Smith Foundation is here to help.
Phone: 204-691-2455
Email: help@joysmithfoundation.com
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Central
JOY SMITH FOUNDATION — GET HELP
NEED SUPPORT OUTSIDE FOUNDATION HOURS?
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is a separate confidential national service available 24/7.
Call: 1-833-900-1010
CANADIAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
KEEP TALKING
Ask about their friends.
Ask what's happening online.
Ask what's going well — and what's been difficult.
Listen to the little things so they know they can bring you the big things too.
