Embedded Files
March
March
🌿 Prescription: Nature
Spending time in nature isn’t just refreshing—it’s good for your health! 🌳 Research shows that just two hours a week outdoors can boost your mental well-being, self-esteem, and ability to handle stress. 🌞 Whether it’s a walk in the park or quiet time in your backyard, nature helps build resilience and supports overall wellness. 💚
🌿 Ways to Connect with Nature
📵 Unplug from technology and take a break from screens.
🚶♀️ Go for a walk in a park, forest, or any green space.
🌤️ Lay in the grass, watch the clouds, and listen to the calming sounds of nature.
Even small moments outdoors can help you feel more grounded, relaxed, and refreshed! 💚
🆘 Getting Help
Kids Help Phone provides free, 24/7, and confidential support for your mental health and well-being. 💬
Help is available online at 🌐 https://kidshelpphone.ca/
📞 Call 1-800-668-6868 or
📱 Text 686868 anytime.
🌳 Things Kids Can Do Outside (No Screens Needed!)
Ride a bike or scooter 🚲
Go for a nature walk or hike 🥾
Play tag, hide and seek, or capture the flag 🏃♀️
Build a fort with sticks and leaves 🏕️
Draw with sidewalk chalk 🎨
Kick a soccer ball or shoot hoops ⚽🏀
Have a picnic with friends or family 🧺
Watch the clouds or stargaze 🌤️🌟
Plant flowers or help in the garden 🌱
Fly a kite on a breezy day 🪁
Go on a scavenger hunt 🔍
Skip rocks at a pond or lake 💦
Read a book under a tree 📚
Play hopscotch or jump rope 🪄
Explore a local park or trail 🏞️
February
February
🤖 What Is AI (Artificial Intelligence)?
AI is a technology that allows computers to do things that usually require human intelligence—like understanding language, recognizing patterns, and making decisions.
🧠💡It can:
✅ Automate tasks
🎨 Boost creativity
🧩 Solve complex problems
📚 Support research, education, entertainment, and more!
⚠️ Potential Risks of Generative AI
❌ Misinformation: AI can sometimes create inaccurate or misleading content.
🧠 Overdependence: Relying too much on AI may reduce critical thinking and creativity.
🔐 Privacy Concerns: Some AI tools may collect personal data.
⚖️ Bias: AI can reflect or reinforce existing biases.
🕵️♂️ Lack of Transparency: It’s not always clear how AI generates its content or where it gets its information.
📄 Copyright Issues: There’s ongoing debate about who owns AI-generated content.
🚧 Unknown Risks: AI is evolving quickly, and some risks may not yet be fully understood.
🌍 Ethical & Cultural Concerns: If AI uses cultural or Indigenous knowledge, it may raise questions about cultural appropriation.
✅ Tips for Using AI Responsibly
🤝 Use Ethically: Don’t use AI to create or share copyrighted material without permission, or to spread false information.
January
January
🚨 Watch Out for Online Predators
Predators may try to pretend to be someone you know—a friend from school, a friend of a friend, or someone from extracurriculars. 🕵️♂️
They might:
💬 Use flattery or compliments to gain your trust
😡 Use threats or intimidation to control you
🎁 Promise gifts like phones, money, drugs, or alcohol
😢 Empathize with personal struggles you’ve shared online to build comfort
📸 Exchange inappropriate pictures to pressure you into sending your own
⚠️ This can lead to blackmail, like threatening to share those pictures with your family or friends if you don’t do what they say.
If anything feels off, go offline, talk to a trusted adult, and report it. You’re never alone 💙.
What to Do If You’re Worried Someone May Be Trying to Lure You Online
Talk to a trusted adult—don’t keep it to yourself.
If you feel unsafe or need help right away, call 9-1-1.
To report concerns or get support, contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 or visit https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca
December
December
🔐 Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats
📱🔒 Manage Your Mobile Privacy & Security
Here are some quick tips to stay safe:
🧾 Limit personal info stored on your device.
🔐 Use strong passwords & auto-lock to prevent unauthorized access.
🚫 Avoid public Wi-Fi for personal or financial transactions—use a VPN or cellular data instead.
📲 Only download apps from trusted sources.
⚙️ Check app permissions during installation—know what info the app can access.
📍 Review your location settings regularly to see which apps are tracking you.
🌐🧠 Protect Your Online Reputation
Anything you post online or in a text becomes part of your digital identity. Here’s how to protect it:
🕰️ The internet never forgets—think before you post or chat.
🔒 Keep your profile private by checking privacy settings often.
🚫 Never post inappropriate or private photos.
❌ Don’t respond to inappropriate requests.
🧘♀️ If something feels off, go offline, take a moment, and talk to a trusted adult.
November
November
🔐 How to Avoid Scams
🚫 Don’t open suspicious attachments, click unknown links, or reply to strange messages.
✅ Ask questions, talk to someone you trust, or contact the sender using a different method.
📱 Be cautious with apps—avoid ones that seem sketchy and deny permissions that don’t make sense.
🛒 Shop smart—only use secure websites (look for the “S” in https://) when buying or logging in.
🏷️ Stick to trusted sellers when purchasing products online.
🤫 Keep personal info private—don’t post sensitive details on social media.
🚨 If You Think You’ve Been Scammed
✋ Stop all communication with the scammer.
🧑🤝🧑 Talk to a trusted adult.
👮 Report it to your local police.
October (CYBER AWARENESS MONTH)
October (CYBER AWARENESS MONTH)
🚨 Signs Someone Might Be Experiencing Cyberbullying
🧠 Emotional & Behavioral Changes
Sudden withdrawal from social activities or friends
Noticeable changes in mood—sadness, anger, anxiety, or irritability
Avoiding conversations about online activity
Expressing feelings of helplessness or low self-worth
📱 Online & Device Behavior
Reluctance or refusal to use their phone, computer, or social media
Quickly closing screens or hiding devices when others are nearby
Deleting social media accounts or changing usernames frequently
Receiving excessive or threatening messages, comments, or tags
🏫 School-Related Indicators
Drop in academic performance or participation
Avoiding school or certain classes
Sudden changes in peer relationships or friend groups
😶 Physical & Mental Health Signs
Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares
Changes in appetite or eating habits
Complaints of headaches or stomach aches without a clear cause
🗣️ Communication Clues
Saying things like “I wish I didn’t have to go online” or “No one likes me”
Refusing to talk about what’s happening online
Mentioning being excluded, mocked, or targeted in group chats or posts
More information on Cyber Awareness Month can be found at https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/cyber-security-awareness-month
September
September
Cyber awareness for back to school
Use apps from official app stores to avoid installing potentially harmful apps. Be cautious with browser extensions/add-ons – Some may appear harmless but could be collecting your data, scamming you, displaying unwanted advertisements and hijacking your browser. Only download from official marketplaces.
Set/update privacy settings – Use the most private options on your devices and apps.
Periodically review privacy settings to make sure they have not changed due to a version update.
How to change your privacy settings in Facebook
How to change your privacy settings on Snapchat
How to change privacy settings on X Twitter
How to change your privacy settings in Instagram
How to change your privacy settings in TikTok
How to change your privacy settings in Whatsapp
Cyber Awareness Source:
Educational Computing Network of Ontario (ECNO). Cyber Awareness Calendar. ECNO, https://www.ecno.org/cyber-awareness/calendar/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2025.
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