Ontario’s new Health and Physical Education curriculum for Grades 1-8 includes mental health

Ontario’s new Health and Physical Education curriculum for Grades 1-8 includes mental health

in News, policy and advocacy |

Here is what we know about mental health and addictions content in the new Health and Physical Education curriculum for Grades 1-8.



Mental health (Grades 1 to 8, in addition to existing learning)

The enhanced HPE curriculum takes a comprehensive approach to learning about mental health. This includes:

  • developing social-emotional learning skills
  • building mental health literacy, knowledge and skills
  • understanding connections between physical and mental health

This approach contributes to students’ overall health and well-being, positive mental health and the ability to learn, build resilience and thrive.

New mandatory learning has been introduced on certain topics including:

Bullying

  • Grades 3 and 8 (in addition to existing learning in Grades 1, 2 and 7)

Cannabis

  • Grades 5, 7 and 8 (in addition to existing learning in Grade 6)

Healthy body image

  • Grades 1 to 3 (in addition to existing learning in Grades 4 and 7)



What are your thoughts on this new curriculum? Seems like these are important topics to cover, especially at such a young age!

Source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/he...on-ontario#section-1


User profile image Lia (KFLAPH) - EENet Yoda Master

That's great! It's very much in line with Public Health's mandate around school health and mental health promotion. It will also support the uptake of School Mental Health Ontario's resources (such as the Everyday Mental Health Resource) among elementary teachers and school leaders.

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User profile image Emma Firsten-Kaufman - EENet Super Ninja

I think it could be perceived as problematic (and not great for children's mental and social health) that 1) concepts of gender identity won't be introduced until Grade 8,  and 2) there will be policies and procedures "allowing parents to exempt their child from instruction of the human development and sexual health education component" of the curriculum. What do others think? 

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