Parenting in Canada

Parental rights and responsibilities in Canada

Rights of parents:

1. Raising your child with your own values and beliefs.
2. Raising and disciplining your child without government involvement (unless the child is unsafe).
3. Deciding for the child about religion, school, discipline, medical treatment, and where to live.

(What are my rights and responsibilities as a parent? General Child and Family Services Authority)

Responsibilities of parents:

1. Loving and caring for your children.
2. Ensuring their protection and safety.
3. Providing food, clothing, and shelter.
4. Provide supervision and control.
5. Providing education and medical care.
6. Providing time for play.
7. Exposing them to cultural and artistic activities.

Parenting Laws

1. No child under 12 years old should be left alone at home.
2. Corporal punishment is not encouraged.

• It is physical punishment with intention to cause pain.
• Example: spanking, hitting, slapping.
3. Manitoba has a child-centered public policy.
4. It follows the United Nations’ Rights of the Child.
5. Family Law promotes the child’s best interests.
6. Manitoba’s Healthy Child Manitoba (HCM) Strategy:

• It has support programs for children, youth and families.
• It has a website for programs you can avail.
• The Manitoba Parent Zone is a guide for parenting.

The Child & Family Services (CFS)

1. The CFS promotes child safety and security.
2. They keep children safe and protected.
3. They help families affected by violence and disruption. They help with:
• finding child care
• emergency food and housing
• counselling

Parenting styles

1. Your style may be based on your values and culture.
2. Decide what to adopt for the best interest of your children.
3. Parenting styles should adapt to the law.
4. Tip: Balance practices in your culture and parenting styles in Canada.

Parenting programs in Manitoba:

1. The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
2. Positive Discipline promoted by MOSAIC Newcomer Family Resource Network.

Where to get support:

• Nobody’s Perfect is a support program for parents with kids from birth to age five.
• Sexuality Education Resource Centre MB (SERC) has programs and services for newcomers.
• A list of Winnipeg-based Parenting Programs from the Adolescent Parent Interagency Network.