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Let’s talk about bully prevention!
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Dare to Care Blog
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering youth to lead bullying prevention efforts, we know that knowledge is power. That's why we started this blog - to share our experience and insights into the complex issues surrounding bullying.
Whether you're a concerned parent looking for advice, an educator searching for classroom resources, a coach, a referee, a sports team, or a student wanting to make a difference, you'll find a wealth of information here.
Together, through understanding and community, we can create positive change. Thank you for visiting, and welcome to the movement!
Navigating Teen Apps: Setup & Safety Guide
Learn how to set up your teen’s social media accounts securely with this quick guide on what settings to adjust and what risks to watch out for. (Last update: October 2026) Remember: Privacy settings are a tool, not a substitute for active parenting. As adults and caregivers, we cannot expect age restrictions, parental controls, or platform safety features to fully protect our kids. There are always ways around them—and kids are incredibly savvy when it comes to technology.
Sarah Hébert
2 days ago5 min read
3 Practical Ways to Implement the Dare to Care Virtual School Program
Building a culture of kindness, belonging, and bullying prevention doesn’t require adding another large block of time to an already busy school day! All the lessons are ready to use with no preparation. The Dare to Care Virtual School Program is designed to be flexible, making it easy for schools to integrate bullying prevention into existing classroom, small-group, and student-support routines. Whether you are a classroom teacher, educational assistant, or school counsellor
Sarah Hébert
Sep 293 min read
3 Low-Prep Kindness Games for Students (Grades 2-6)
Interactive games improve the sense of belonging and allow students to practice empathy, active listening, and safety strategies in a low-stakes environment. Here are three slow-prep belonging games that require virtually zero prep time: 1. "Who Stole the Spotlight?" Compliment Circle Time: 10 minutes The Goal: It teaches students to look beyond surface-level observations and appreciate their peers' character traits. How to Play: Sit in a circle. Pass a small object (like a
Sarah Hébert
Sep 32 min read
School Safety Comes First: Why the First 30 Days of School Matter Most
Every new school year, classrooms come alive with colourful bulletin boards, stacks of new textbooks, and freshly printed schedules. But behind every eager smile is a nervous system working overtime, and for many students, the anxiety of potential exclusion, teasing, or bullying is top of mind. Before students can process long division or analyze literature, their brains are silently asking a fundamental question: Am I safe here, or will I be targeted? Neuroscience shows us t
Sarah Hébert
Sep 13 min read
Summer Reading (and Listening!) List for School Leaders
Summer isn't just a break; it’s a vital window to step back, decompress, and fill your own cup. To help you recharge, we’ve curated a Dare to Care Summer List! This year, we’re focusing entirely on school leaders. And because we know the best professional development sometimes happens while you’re walking the dog, commuting, or finally tackling the weeds in the garden, we’ve included a few must-listen podcasts alongside our top book picks. Whether you prefer the tactile feel
Sarah Hébert
Jun 103 min read
What Superintendents and District Leads Need to Know About the Rising Reality of Violence and Bullying in Schools
Across Canada, principals and teachers are sounding the alarm about a growing challenge in schools: escalating aggression, bullying, emotional dysregulation, and violence in classrooms. While educators remain deeply committed to inclusion, belonging, and student well-being, many are also reporting increased burnout, fear, and exhaustion as they navigate increasingly complex learning environments. Canadian research on bullying prevention emphasizes that successful approaches a
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Jun 42 min read
Why Most Kids Don’t Tell Their Parents They’re Being Bullied — And What You Can Do About It
Did you know that the majority of athletes who experience maltreatment never report it? R
Mathieu Constantin
May 14 min read
See Something, Say Something
The tragedy in Tumbler Ridge is almost impossible to comprehend. In February 2026, an 18-year-old former student carried out a mass shooting that left multiple people dead...
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Apr 82 min read
Understanding the Top 10 Threats to Childhood in Canada: A Generation at Risk
For 26 years, Dare to Care Bully Prevention and Life Skills has walked alongside schools, teams, and communities across Canada.
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Sep 7, 20254 min read
Activate the Caring Majority in Your School
Even if every teacher, administrator and staff member in your school is focused on preventing bullying behaviour, you face a difficult chall
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Jan 6, 20252 min read
Bringing K-2 Students an “Aha” Moment About Kindness
How do you explain to children of 5, 6 or 7 years old, that their unkind or bullying words can have long-term impact when “long-term” doesn’t really make sense to them yet? Aha Moment About Kindness for K-2 Students: The Dare to Care Broken Heart Activity is simple, but we’ve found it to be a powerful exercise that really connects with this age group. We start with a big, cut-out heart and invite students to give examples of unkind things they’ve heard said to others or have
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Nov 1, 20242 min read
Understanding the Effects of Bullying on Mental Health
Bullying, in all its forms, can exert a deep and lasting impact on an individual's mental health.
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Sep 23, 20242 min read
Dare to Care Summer Reading List
Ah, summertime. As you prepare for road trips, relaxing by the lake, stay-cations, and whatever else summer has in store for you, don’t forget to stock-up on your reading materials. The Dare to Care team has compiled a list with some of our favourite books that helped us grow as coaches, sports leaders, and people. This summer we encourage you not only to dive into the water for a refreshing swim, but also to dive into a great book. So, kick-back, relax and enjoy these amazin
Raine Paul
Jun 24, 20244 min read
Do you know what your children are Googling?
Readers of a certain age may recall the nightly television announcement: “It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?” For those who aren’t familiar, it was a reminder to parents to make sure their brood was tucked in and safe from the nighttime dangers lurking outside. Now, the question is "Do you know what your children are Googling?" Times sure have changed. Today, the concept of unscripted, relatively unsupervised play seems old-fashioned, even foreign. Parenting
Jessica Coomber
Jun 17, 20244 min read
25 Years of Fostering Kinder, Safer Communities
For 25 years, Dare to Care has facilitated systemic change that embraces diversity, inclusion and equity.
Lisa Dixon-Wells
May 1, 20243 min read
Transforming the Shape of Bullying
The Shape of Bullying is complex and multi-faceted. Whether they know it or not, every community member has an opportunity and...
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Apr 24, 20244 min read
Bullying cannot be resolved with typical discipline strategies
In recent years, educators have embraced restorative practices over zero tolerance policies to enhance school environments.
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Mar 20, 20244 min read
The Dare to Care YouTube Channel: A Valuable Resource
Dare to Care provides in-person and virtual bullying prevention programs for schools, as well as professional development for educators and youth program leaders and modules for parents. But did you know we have a YouTube channel? The Dare to Care YouTube Channel offers a wealth of resources for anyone who wants to know more about the Dare to Care approach? More than 20 videos are available. In recent months we have added an introduction to the Dare to Care Virtual Program a
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Feb 22, 20241 min read
From Pink Shirts to Open Hearts: Making an Impact Against Bullying 365 Days a Year
Bullying's impact on Canadian children is astounding: 1 in 3 face bullying, 20% experience cyberbullying. Urgent need for prevention program
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Feb 1, 20244 min read
Cyberbullying is 24/7 bullying, but we CAN do something about it
The following is an excerpt from the Cloudy with a Risk of Children podcast hosted by J. Edward Les, MD. It has been lightly edited for flow and clarity. Introduction by Dr. Ed Les: Like many of you, I am a huge fan of Ed Sheeran. He has so many great songs, like Photograph, Perfect, Shape of You. My personal favourite is Supermarket Flowers, it’s so powerful. It’s hard to imagine now, but when Ed Sheeran was in primary school his life was difficult. He had corrective glasse
Lisa Dixon-Wells
Dec 23, 20238 min read
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