Protecting children’s information doesn’t require an IT team. It mostly comes down to a few habits any daycare or CPE can adopt, whatever tools are in place.
This article is informational and not legal advice.
Collect the minimum
The best data to protect is the data you never collected. In general, it pays to ask only for what the service needs, and to avoid hoarding information “just in case.” It simplifies everything else.
Limit access by role
An educator sees their group; a parent sees their child; the director runs the centre. The idea is that each person accesses only what’s necessary. That’s data minimization, applied daily.
Manage consent
Consent — especially for photos and sensitive information — should be clear and revocable. Keeping a record of what was consented to helps you respond to family requests. Photos deserve their own reflexes — see sharing daycare photos.
Be cautious with consumer tools
Text groups, shared spreadsheets, and social media weren’t built for children’s information. They tend to scatter data and slip out of control. Dedicated tools, by contrast, can manage access and retention.
Choose vendors carefully
In general, favour tools that aim for Canadian data residency, are willing to sign a data-processing agreement, and document their privacy posture. Our Law 25 compliance checklist details what to ask them.
Keep, then delete
Keeping information longer than necessary raises risk with no benefit. Planning what happens when a child leaves is part of good data hygiene.
In practice
Protecting children mostly means collecting little, limiting access, managing consent, and choosing the right tools. These principles guide how MonGardy is built for Quebec daycares. Learn more or register.
