Is Canadian Parenting a Thing?

You’ve heard how kids in France are gobbling up endive salad at daycare and that German parents let their Kindergarteners cut their own steaks with sharp knives. And we all know that Tiger Moms produce straight-A students and the Danes’ lives is basically non-stop comfort and ease. So what might Canadian parenting be. Is that a thing and, if so, what might that look like?

Being a parent anywhere in the world starts with changing diapers, leads to negotiating (“Put on your mittens!”), and always includes caring and comforting scraped knees. And raising someone who’s kind and curious is likely also a universal parenting goal. In Canada though, there are certain values, habits, and cultural touchstones that many parents share in wanting to instill. We want to raise well-behaved kids, certainly, and also citizens who can carry forward what many of us love about our country. Here’s what “Canadian parenting” might look like and some ideas you can try with your family.

What Is Canadian Parenting?

Kindness, Empathy, and Politeness Before All Else

Do we really say “sorry” too often? And if we do, is that really a bad thing? One of the first things many Canadians teach is manners… Saying “please,” “thank you,” and yes (of course) “sorry.” It’s seeing someone else’s point of view, holding the door, and helping to carry groceries. The desire to raise kids to notice others is deeply embedded. Helping neighbours, volunteering, and looking out for the vulnerable are ways many families live out empathy daily.

This is important. A UNICEF Canada report (the Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being) includes “belonging” and “respect” among the dimensions that most children care about. Kids value relationships and feeling heard and included. So parents modeling listening, caring, and sharing has real impact on their sense of well-being.

Fairness and Inclusion: Everyone Counts

Fair play matters, whether in sports or on the playground. Canadian values embrace inclusion and different cultures, faiths, backgrounds tend to be part of our daily lives in cities and even in smaller communities. Many parents encourage their children to see friends from different backgrounds, to respect differences, and to stand up when someone is excluded or bullied.

Canada is increasingly diverse, and family structures vary. The Vanier Institute’s 2024 “Family Change & Diversity in Canada” report shows that children are being raised in many different forms of families including single-parent homes, blended families, immigrant households, and Indigenous communities. That diversity is one of the defining features of childhood in Canada today.

Outdoors in All Seasons

If there’s something many Canadian parents share, it’s acceptance (even celebration) of our four seasons. Getting kids outside is a key priority in Canadian parenting. Walks around the neighbourhood, hikes in the woods, skating, sledding, and camping are more than fun. These activities build resilience, connect us to the land, and instill an appreciation for nature while improving our physical health and mental well-being.

According to StatsCan, in 2021, 78 per cent of Canadian households reported participating in outdoor activities close to home. Walking was by far the most common, followed by cycling, going to parks and playgrounds, and hiking.

However, the 2024 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children & Youth indicates that only 39% of kids aged 5-17 are meeting the recommendation of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day. There’s definitely room for improvement although this reminds us just how much emphasis parents across Canada place on being active outdoors.

Getting outside, layering up, and making sure the snowpants are dry are all key parental traditions in forming a quintessential Canadian childhood. And making sure the skates are sharp.

Sports, Teamwork & Healthy Competition

Hockey and skating. Skating and hockey. Yes, these are iconic Canadian sports and activities. But taking a broader look, Canadian parents often support team sports (or any sport) for instilling perseverance, for learning to win and lose, and for community. Many kids participate in organized sports, at least part of the year, which builds discipline, social connection, and confidence.

According to the Canadian Fitness & Lifestyle Research Institute, 68 per cent of children between ages 5-17 took part in some sport in 2022, which is a rebound from pandemic lows. The frequency, seasonality, competitiveness, and costs definitely vary although the reason behind the support for sports is often the same. We want our kids to experience being part of something bigger than themselves.

Multicultural Roots & Openness

One of the things that makes Canadian parenting most interesting is that you’re often raising kids not just in your own tradition, but in a blend. Maybe you speak another language at home, maybe you celebrate Diwali and Christmas, maybe you enjoy foods from all over with friends. Many Canadian parents see multiculturalism as something valuable.

And this means fostering curiosity of other cultures, of Indigenous histories, and of learning from our neighbours.

Food, Stories & Small Traditions

Food is often the thread that ties childhood memories together. Butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, tourtière, bannock. Car rides with Canadian playlists or audiobooks (Munsch, Atwood, Ondaatje) in the mix. Winter nature walks that conclude with hot chocolate or summer days that finish with s’mores. Summer cottage weekends, winter skating, and autumn apple picking are the small yet cherished moments that become lifelong memories and anchor our children’s sense of belonging and identity.

Growing Independence & Mutual Respect

Another Canadian parenting trend is encouraging children to safely develop independence and agency early. We’re letting our kids explore, make choices, and speak up while at the same time encouraging respect for themselves, for others, and for the land and environment. Guiding without controlling is a subtle balance.

Resources for newcomer or immigrant parents often highlight this. Many families say that being in Canada means adapting more traditional parenting styles to include the freedom for children to express opinions, choose their path, while still honoring cultural roots. 

Practice Makes Progress

No parenting culture is perfect, but raising kids “the Canadian way” is not necessarily ticking off an official checklist. Canadian parenting is about supporting values and habits like kindness, fairness, inclusion, love of nature, multicultural roots, Indigenous origins, independence, and respect. Through daily moments like just letting them play outside, exploring other cultures, and modelling empathy, we as parents help to build kids who don’t just grow up with an innate appreciation for Buffalo check and squeaky poutine. We raise Canadians who grow up contributing to what makes Canada Canada. We are uniquely warm, diverse, and welcoming.