kIDS: 1)Online harms now top threat to Canadian children, new report says; 2)Back-to-school photos? South Simcoe Police say take a second look before posting; 3)How to make the most of parent-teacher conferences during back-to-school and beyond

1)Online harms now top threat to Canadian children, new report says

Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press

By Anja Karadeglija, Sept. 8, 2026

Online harms now constitute the top threat facing children in Canada, ahead of bullying, poverty and child abuse, Children First Canada said Tuesday in a new report.

It is the first time online harms have been in the top 10 list of threats, the report said.

“We’ve seen how now it’s permeating the lives of every kid in Canada, from birth all the way through adolescence. This is no longer a conversation just about teens on social media,” said Sara Austin, CEO of Children First Canada.

“In the past year alone, we’ve seen particularly the rise of AI-amplified harms,” she added.

The report says kids are coming into contact with AI toys and algorithmic-driven content before they even learn to read. It cites multiple risks related to the online environment, including cyberbullying, child luring, sexual extortion, AI-facilitated abuse and mental health impacts.

Last year’s shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. — which has led to dozens of lawsuits focused on the shooter’s use of ChatGPT — was a defining moment for the debate around online safety in Canada, the report says.

It notes that over the past decade, police-reported incidents of online child sexual abuse have increased by more than 300 per cent, while the Canadian Centre for Child Protection processes more than 100,000 reports of online child sexual abuse and exploitation each month.

“Meanwhile, the emergence of violent online networks such as 764 has prompted law enforcement agencies to warn that Canadian children are being actively targeted through gaming platforms, social media, and messaging apps,” the report says.

The federal government added 764 to its list of terror entities in December 2025. It described the group as a “decentralized transnational network of online nihilistic violent extremists.”

It said members of the group use social media and gaming platforms “to lure, groom, and extort youth to commit violent and sexual acts, including self-harm.”

The report argues Canada has regulations and safety standards in place for other children’s products, including food, medicine, pyjamas and toys — and that tech companies should not enjoy an exception.

Children First Canada is calling on the federal government to strengthen and pass the digital safety bill it introduced earlier this year. Bill C-34 would force social media platforms to at least temporarily block access for kids under 16 and regulate the companies behind social media platforms and AI chatbots by imposing on them a duty to act responsibly, among other measures.

“We’re very glad to see that it goes beyond social media to include AI chatbots, but we know that kids don’t just exist in these two platforms,” Austin said.

The group also would like to see the bill address gaming and live streaming platforms, as well as messaging apps.

Austin said the onus needs to be on tech companies to design safer products in the first place.

The group received financial support and subject matter expertise from the non-profit PolicyWise for Children & Families, the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Canadian Medical Association.

The report argues that online harms aren’t a stand-alone issue.

“They are amplifying many of the other threats facing children, contributing to declining physical activity and play, bullying, violence and child abuse, racism and discrimination through online hate, and even climate change through the growing environmental impacts of digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence,” it says.

2)Back-to-school photos? South Simcoe Police say take a second look before posting

Courtesy Barrie360.com

By Ian MacLennan, September 7, 2026

Those first-day-of-school pictures are a tradition for many parents — but South Simcoe Police (SSP) are asking you to take a second look before you post. See these examples: https://barrie360.com/south-simcoe-police-back-to-school-photos-privacy/

Police Constable Penni Sisak, a parent herself, says a photo of your child heading back to school can reveal more than you intended.

South Simcoe Police say details in the background, on clothing, signs or in the caption can reveal a child’s name, school, regular routines, bus route, neighbourhood or other personal information.

Police suggest checking what’s visible before sharing, and leaving out details that could identify where your child goes to school, where they live or where they can regularly be found.

They also suggest leaving out your child’s name and using the word “school” instead of naming the school.

You can still celebrate the milestone by sharing things like your child’s favourite hobbies, interests or what they want to be when they grow up.

“Share the excitement and not the personal details,” SSP said in a social media post. “A few simple changes can help keep your child’s information private while you capture those special first-day memories.”

Barrie Police shared a similar message in a social media post.

“While these signs are fun, they can unintentionally give away personal info that someone with bad intentions could use. Let’s kick off the school year smart and safe.”

3)How to make the most of parent-teacher conferences during back-to-school and beyond

Courtesy Barrie360.com and The Associated Press

By Cheyanne Mumphrey, September 6, 2026

Parent-teacher conferences can conjure a familiar scene: adults crammed into child-size chairs, listening to teachers run through a list of students’ achievements and struggles.

For many families, they can also mean frustration. Today’s school conferences are sometimes 15 to 20 minutes, with little time for parents to ask their own questions. Adults may arrive with their own baggage about their time in school. They may be worried about being judged or dreading what a teacher may say about their child.

For teachers, conferences can mean pressure to give a snapshot of a child’s progress, with the next opportunity to connect months away — if at all.

The conference may be brief, but it can set the tone for a family’s relationship and partnership with the teacher. Parents, teachers and school administrators have these tips to make the conference productive and help build a stronger connection between home and school.

Communicate early and figure out what works

Schools typically offer several early opportunities for parents and teachers to connect, from meet-the-teacher events and back-to-school nights to open houses. By the time conferences are on the calendar, parents and teachers should already be communicating.

But sometimes it can take weeks, or even months, to hear from your child’s teacher, who must establish relationships with dozens of families. Don’t wait, say parents and teachers alike. Take the initiative and reach out yourself.

“Do you want to set your child up for success? It’s a yes or no. And if it’s a yes, then you have to be very involved,” said Bell White, a Houston mother of two.

When her son Lennox, now 8, was in preschool, four teachers came and went during the school year. White quickly learned how important it was to stay engaged with the school.

Since then, she has introduced herself to each of her son’s teachers at the first opportunity, even if virtually. She tells them how she prefers to communicate — whether over email, phone or via a school app — and when she’s most reachable.

Technology can make it easier for parents with multiple children or busy schedules to stay connected and for teachers to send quick messages or reminders. But with schools using multiple platforms, some parents say it helps to establish a preferred way to communicate.

Early in the relationship, parents and teachers should focus on building trust, said J.B. Robinson, a clinical psychologist and dean of students at National University in San Diego. Positive interactions are like putting money into a relationship bank that can be drawn on when challenges arise, he said. For parents, that can mean showing interest in the classroom and recognizing the effort that goes into creating a positive learning environment. Teachers can similarly begin with questions about the individual child, rather than immediately moving into classroom expectations or academic performance.

Whatever the nature of your first communication with a teacher, try not to worry that you’re bothering the teacher. Your child’s growth is the priority, and communicating with you is part of the teacher’s job.

Make the time count

Parent-teacher conferences are designed to address students’ academic and social progress, identify concerns and discuss what comes next, but there may not be time to cover everything parents or teachers want to discuss.

“The teacher and the parent need to go in with realistic expectations as to what can actually be accomplished in one parent-teacher conference and see that more as a starting point for a conversation,” said Robinson, the psychologist.

The meetings can also be ripe for tension. Teachers may be having dozens of back-to-back conferences, while parents may arrive with weeks’ worth of questions, all seemingly valid. Depending on the school and the child’s grade, some teachers follow a set agenda, with presentation slides, packets or lists of topics to cover.

Emily Henderson, who teaches first and second grade at BASIS Charter School in Flagstaff, Arizona, says her conversations are mostly individualized, with some focusing more on academics and others on social-emotional needs.

“We use parent-teacher conferences to really talk about strengths, talk about weaknesses of students, and then come up with a plan together to address those concerns or address those needs,” Henderson said.

Given time constraints, parents should come with just a few thoughtful questions, teachers say. But remember this is a starting point. It’s totally reasonable to set up another conference later in the year, even if your school doesn’t have one scheduled. Or you can continue the conversation online or over the phone.

What to do if your kid is present

Some schools recommend that students join the conference, and in other cases, a parent may want to bring them along — or need to, if they lack child care. For younger students, teachers recommend asking in advance whether they should attend, if that is an option. If you do plan to bring the student or younger siblings, let the teacher know ahead of time so they can prepare for a more engaging meeting or set up a few distractions.

If younger students are present, it is up to administrators and teachers to engage them and speak directly to them, said Kellie Hintze, head of school at BASIS Flagstaff.

“When I have younger students at a meeting, we typically have a mini meeting with the student and the parent,” she said. “Then we can dive a little deeper or have those long, drawn-out conversations that a student wouldn’t want to be a part of or be able to focus through.”

Older students have more agency over their learning and are better positioned to contribute to discussions about their progress, challenges and possible next steps, experts say.

“We’re doing students a disservice when we’re not teaching them how to advocate, when we are not teaching them those communication skills, to have the tough conversations when they need to be had,” said Kendrick Friendly, who is a high school assistant principal with Denver Public Schools. “This is a safe space for those conversations to happen.”

Questions to consider

Parents don’t need to arrive with a long list of questions. A few thoughtful ones can help clarify what a teacher considers success, what they are seeing in the classroom, what support is available and how to stay connected throughout the year.

Consider asking:

1. How do you prefer to communicate with parents, and how often should we check in?

2. What does success look like for my child this year?

3. How do you identify when a student is falling behind, and who should I speak with about getting additional support?

4. What are you noticing about my child that I might not see at home?

Leave with a plan

Parent-teacher conferences do not resolve every concern, but they should identify next steps, whether those are regular check-ins, strategies for improved behavior or additional resources, such as tutors, specialized instruction or extracurricular activities.

Before leaving, make sure everyone knows what happens next, who is responsible for it and when you’ll check back in. Don’t be afraid to request another conference later in the year. Remember: Your child’s growth is the priority, and it will take everyone in the room to get there.