School Program

Program Highlights

• Ready-to-teach safety lessons for K–12 that help build resilience online and offline
• Curriculum-aligned across all Canadian jurisdictions
• Focused on safety including personal safety and online/sexual exploitation
• Engaging & adaptable lessons with skill-building and practice
• Community based program that includes take-home activities for parents and caregivers

The Kids in the Know Program equips teachers with ready to use, age appropriate lessons that help children build personal safety skills—online and offline in everyday life. Through engaging, interactive lessons, students strengthen their resilience and learn skills that reduce the risk of victimization online and offline.

Why Schools Choose the Kids in the Know Program

• K–12, age appropriate & engaging — Lessons are tailored for Kindergarten through high school with interactive activities that meet learners where they are.
• Research & evidence-based — Grounded in current evidence, balancing empowerment with protection to promote safe decision making.
• Approved & widely used — Approved by Ministries of Education and implemented in thousands of schools across Canada.
• Flexible & scalable — Deliver as stand alone modules, integrated units, or as a school wide program; adaptable for diverse classrooms and communities.

What Students Learn

Students develop important skills and knowledge to help them stay safe, build healthy relationships, and seek support when needed. Key topics include:

• Healthy relationships — understanding cooperation versus control
• Online safety — focusing on content, contact, and conduct
• Understanding personal boundaries, bodily autonomy and agency
• Building refusal skills, practicing assertiveness, and using bystander strategies
• How to get help — identifying safe adults and support pathways
• Building resiliency skills — assertiveness, self-awareness, social-emotional competence, problem-solving, critical thinking, and making low-risk choices
• Recognizing and reporting concerning experiences and behaviours to safe adults
• Understanding that those who have experienced abuse are never to blame
• Strengthening communication between parents and children about personal safety

For Teachers

The Kids in the Know Program offers ready-to-teach lesson plans with clear learning goals, outcomes, and built-in assessments. Educators can also access virtual trainings and workshops to support implementation.

Key features include:

• Interactive activities such as discussions, scenarios, role plays, and reflection prompts
• Differentiation supports for diverse learning needs
• Implementation guidance for classroom, school-wide, and community-based use — including resources for parents

Program Structure & Implementation

The Kids in the Know Program is designed to be flexible, scalable, and easy to implement across diverse classrooms and communities.

• Grade levels: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9/10, 11/12
• Flexible formats: Use in digital, print, or blended formats
• Modular structure: Choose single lessons, sequenced units, or implement as a full school-wide program
• Built-in assessment: Includes formative checks, performance tasks, and reflection tools

Evidence & Approvals

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a leader in developing awareness and educational resources on personal safety. To ensure lessons and safety strategies are current, research-based, and effective, the Kids in the Know Program is informed by:

• Cybertip.ca: Canada’s national tipline for reporting online child sexual exploitation — data and trends help keep content current and relevant.
• NeedHelpNow.ca: Our national resource supporting youth in regaining control when intimate images have been shared online.
• Student Advisory Groups: Input from youth ensures lessons are engaging, practical, and age-appropriate.

The program is grounded in recent research on child safety education and trauma-informed practice, and is approved by Ministries of Education in jurisdictions across Canada. All lessons are aligned with Department/Ministry outcomes nationwide.