YOUTH INJURY PREVENTION ELEMENTARY · GRADES 7–8
Continuing the Conversation
Conversation starters and resources for parents, caregivers and educators.
The Youth Injury Prevention Elementary Program (YIP-E) gives youth opportunities to explore safety, relationships, substance use health, mental wellness, risk recognition and help-seeking. Use the prompts below to continue these conversations before and after the program.
You don’t need to have all the answers.
The goal is to listen, stay curious and give youth space to talk about what they think and what they learned.
Before
What do you already know about this topic?
After
What is one thing that stood out to you?
A Helpful Approach
These prompts are not a quiz. Choose one or two questions that feel natural, listen without judgment and let the conversation develop from there. If a youth shares a concern or asks for help, use the resources provided to connect them with appropriate support.
Explore the YIP-E Rooms
Select a room below to review what youth explore, conversation starters for before and after YIP-E, practical ways to keep the discussion going and trusted resources related to the topic.
Ready, Set, Ride! Cycling & Recreational Vehicle Safety · Ministry of Transportation Ontario
Youth explore practical ways to reduce injury while cycling, riding recreational vehicles and participating in activities such as boating.
What Youth Explore
- ATV, dirt bike and snowmobile safety.
- Bike, e-bike and e-scooter safety.
- Boating and lifejacket safety.
- Protective equipment and preparation before riding.
- Age-appropriate rules and responsibilities.
- How everyday choices can reduce preventable injuries.
Before YIP-E
- When you’re biking, riding an ATV or snowmobile, or out on the water, what do you think keeps you safest?
- What safety rules do you already know for the activities you do?
- Why do you think people sometimes take risks even when they know something could be dangerous?
- If your friends weren’t wearing safety equipment, would that affect what you decided to do?
After YIP-E
- What was one safety rule you learned that you didn’t know before?
- Did anything surprise you about the rules for ATVs, snowmobiles, e-bikes or e-scooters?
- What safety equipment would you never want to ride without? Why?
- What could you say if a friend wanted you to do something that didn’t feel safe?
- Is there anything we should change about how we prepare before going riding or boating?
Try It Together
- Before your next family outing, let the youth lead a safety check.
- Check the equipment, protective gear, weather or trail conditions and your plan before leaving.
- Ask them to teach you one rule they remember from Ready, Set, Ride!
Know the Facts Substance Use Health · U-TURN
Youth explore substance use health in an age-appropriate way, including risk, prevention, addiction, behavioural addictions and where to seek help.
What Youth Explore
- What substances are and what substance use may look like.
- Risks associated with ongoing use.
- Addiction, dependence and withdrawal.
- Prevention and safer decision-making.
- Gambling and sports betting.
- Social media and behavioural addictions.
- How and where to seek help.
Before YIP-E
- What kinds of messages do youth hear about alcohol, cannabis, vaping or other substances?
- Where do you think people your age usually get information about substances?
- How can you tell whether information about a substance is reliable?
- Why might someone try something even when they know there could be risks?
- What do you think makes it difficult for someone to ask for help?
After YIP-E
- What is one thing you learned that you think other youth should know?
- Did anything you heard challenge something you previously thought was true?
- How can stress, friends, social media or wanting to fit in influence someone’s choices?
- What could you do if you were worried about a friend’s substance use?
- Who are some people or services someone could go to without worrying about being judged?
Keep the Conversation Going
- Ask what youth are seeing or hearing around them rather than beginning with “Are you using?”
- Reinforce that they can come to you if they or a friend ever need help.
- Focus on safety, support and connection rather than blame.
Choose Your Path Choose Your Own Adventure / Navigating Risk · Superior North EMS
Youth work through realistic scenarios and see how one decision can change what happens next.
What Youth Explore
- Risky behaviours and risk management.
- Peer pressure and decision-making under pressure.
- Alcohol, cannabis and nicotine-related situations.
- Recognizing poisoning, intoxication or overdose.
- The recovery position.
- Knowing when a situation has become an emergency.
Before YIP-E
- What does “risk” mean to you?
- Do you think all risks are bad?
- What can make it harder to make a good decision in the moment?
- How can friends influence the choices we make?
- Have you ever had a feeling that something wasn’t a good idea even when other people seemed okay with it?
After YIP-E
- What happened in the scenario your group worked through?
- Was there a point where one different decision could have changed what happened next?
- What makes it difficult to say no when other people are doing something?
- What are some ways you could leave a situation without making it a big deal?
- If a friend seemed intoxicated or very unwell, what would you do?
- What did you learn about the recovery position?
Try This Scenario
You’re with friends and something that started out fun suddenly doesn’t feel safe. Nobody else seems concerned. What are three options you have?
Let the youth generate the options first. The goal is to practise recognizing choices rather than immediately supplying the answer.
Stronger Together Empowerment & Healthy Relationships · Nokiiwin Tribal Council
Youth explore friendships, kindness, empowerment, bullying and the personal and community values that help create healthier relationships.
What Youth Explore
- Qualities of healthy friendships.
- Bullying, exclusion and peer relationships.
- Kindness, respect and empathy.
- Personal strengths and empowerment.
- Personal and community values.
- Ways to support others while respecting boundaries.
Before YIP-E
- What qualities make someone a good friend?
- What makes you feel respected by another person?
- What’s the difference between joking around and something that actually hurts someone?
- What does kindness look like when nobody else is watching?
- What can make it difficult to stand up for someone?
After YIP-E
- What does a healthy friendship look and feel like to you?
- What did you hear today that you think is important?
- How can you tell when a friendship isn’t making you feel good about yourself?
- What could someone do if they saw another person being excluded or bullied?
- How can you disagree with someone and still treat them respectfully?
- What are some strengths you see in yourself, your friends, family or community?
Try It Together
“Who are the people who help you feel like yourself?”
Then talk about what those people do that helps create safety, belonging and respect.
Helpful Resources
Connected and Aware Online Safety, Healthy Relationships & Exploitation Awareness · Dilico
Youth explore online and in-person safety, healthy boundaries, recognizing manipulation and exploitation, and how to get help when an interaction or relationship does not feel safe.
What Youth Explore
- Online and in-person safety.
- Healthy relationships and personal boundaries.
- Recognizing manipulation and grooming behaviours.
- Exploitation awareness.
- Safe and unsafe online interactions.
- Recognizing when something does not feel right.
- Identifying trusted adults.
- How and where to ask for help.
Before YIP-E
- What makes someone trustworthy?
- What are some signs that a person respects your boundaries?
- What does a healthy friendship or relationship look like?
- What kinds of information should stay private online?
- What are some examples of online behaviour that might make you uncomfortable?
- If something online made you uncomfortable, who could you talk to?
After YIP-E
- What are some ways someone might try to gain another person’s trust before asking them to do something that makes them uncomfortable?
- What are some warning signs that a relationship or online conversation may not be safe?
- Why might someone offer gifts, attention or promises to gain another person’s trust?
- Why might someone ask another person to keep a conversation, friendship or relationship secret?
- What could you do if an online conversation started making you uncomfortable?
- How can you support a friend who tells you something online or in a relationship doesn’t feel right?
- Who are three trusted adults you could go to if you or a friend needed help?
Keep the Conversation Going
- Keep conversations about online activity open and non-judgmental.
- Talk about privacy settings, location sharing, boundaries and trusted adults.
- Remind youth that people online are not always who they say they are.
- Let youth know they can ask for help even if they are worried they made a mistake.
- Reinforce that unsafe or exploitative behaviour is never the youth’s responsibility to manage alone.
Mind Matters Mental Wellness · TBRHSC CNS Mental Health
Youth explore mental wellness, healthy coping, recognizing distress and how to support themselves and others.
What Youth Explore
- Mental health and mental illness.
- Stress, anxiety and depression.
- Self-care and emotion regulation.
- Healthy coping strategies.
- Recognizing signs of distress.
- Supporting someone who may be struggling.
- Asking for help and identifying trusted supports.
- Bullying, conflict and de-escalation.
Before YIP-E
- What does “mental wellness” mean to you?
- What kinds of things help you feel better after a difficult day?
- How can you tell when you’re starting to feel stressed or overwhelmed?
- What makes someone feel safe to talk to?
- Why do you think asking for help can sometimes be difficult?
After YIP-E
- What is something you learned about mental health or mental wellness?
- What are some signs your body or mind gives you when you’re becoming overwhelmed?
- What coping strategies work well for you?
- How might you notice that a friend isn’t doing well?
- How could you check in with someone you’re worried about?
- Who are the adults you feel comfortable going to when something feels too big to manage alone?
- What is one thing you can do this week to look after your mental wellness?
Build a Personal Support Plan
- 3 people I can talk to.
- 2 things that help me cope.
- 1 place I can go when I need support.
The Recharge Room Wellness Room / Youth Support · Mental Health & Addictions School Nurses
The Recharge Room is available throughout YIP-E as a quiet, supportive space for youth who need a break, feel overwhelmed or would benefit from calming resources.
This Room Is Different
The Recharge Room is not a traditional presentation. Youth can access a quieter environment, supportive adults and calming resources such as fidgets, colouring, white noise, snacks, drinks and comfort items.
What Youth Can Experience
- A quiet place to step away from stimulation.
- Calming and grounding resources.
- Support from mental health and addictions school nurses.
- Permission to recognize when they need a break.
- Practical emotional-regulation strategies.
- A supportive response if a topic feels overwhelming.
Before YIP-E
- How do you know when you’re starting to feel overwhelmed?
- What helps you feel calmer when you need a break?
- Do you find it easy or difficult to tell someone when you need some space or support?
- What would make a quiet support space feel comfortable and useful to you?
After YIP-E
- Did you notice or use the Recharge Room during the program?
- What kinds of things help you regulate when you’re stressed?
- What signs does your body give you when you need a break?
- What could make it easier to ask for support at school or at home?
- Is there anything from the Recharge Room that you could use in your own coping toolkit?
Create Your Own Recharge Plan
- Identify one place where you can take a brief break.
- Choose two calming strategies that work for you.
- Identify one person you can tell when you need support.
- Remember that recognizing when you need a break can be a healthy self-regulation strategy.
Thank You for Continuing the Conversation
By talking, listening and supporting the youth in your care, you’re helping them build the confidence, knowledge and practical skills they need to make safer and healthier choices.
Questions About YIP-E?
Contact the TBRHSC Trauma Program Injury Prevention Leads.
Deanna Kroker, RN
Regional Injury Prevention Lead
Deanna.Kroker@tbh.net
Ashley Paglaro, RN
Regional Injury Prevention Lead
Ashley.Paglaro@tbh.net