HIGH FIVE® is Canada’s quality standard for children’s recreation, culture, and sports programs, ensuring programs are safe, inclusive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate for children ages 4–12.
Children’s programs play an important role in physical, social, and emotional development, and HIGH FIVE® helps ensure that every child has a consistently positive experience.
This standard provides professionals with quality training and organizations with tools and resources to operate successful programs.
The City of Mississauga is proud to be a HIGH FIVE® Accredited Organization, demonstrating our commitment to providing high‑quality programs that support the healthy development of children. Grounded in research on healthy child development, HIGH FIVE® focuses on the experiences children have in programs—not just the activities themselves—and is reflected in how programs are planned, how staff are trained, and how quality is monitored across all locations.
What does it mean to be a HIGH FIVE® accredited organization?
HIGH FIVE® Accreditation is the highest level of recognition in the HIGH FIVE® quality assurance program. Accreditation means the City meets national standards for safe, high-quality children’s programs.
Being accredited means we demonstrate:
- Consistent application of the Principles of Healthy Child Development (PHCD)
- Comprehensive staff training and certification
- Ongoing program evaluations and quality checks
- Policies and procedures that prioritize safety, inclusion, and positive experiences
Accreditation also means accountability. We use a structured quality framework to monitor outcomes and continuously improve children’s experiences across our programs.
How HIGH FIVE® is reflected in our programs
HIGH FIVE® is embedded in how City of Mississauga programs are designed and delivered. All programs reflect the five Principles of Healthy Child Development:
Caring Leader
Programs are led by trained staff who build positive relationships and support each child’s needs—helping children feel safe and confident.
Friends
Programs create opportunities for children to connect with peers through inclusive activities that encourage cooperation, communication, and belonging.
Play
Children learn best through play and when they are having fun! Programs include active, hands-on experiences that offer a variety of activities suiting the developmental stage of children.
Mastery
Activities are designed with “just right” challenges so children can practice skills, experience success, and see their own progress.
Participation
Children are encouraged to have a voice. Program Leaders adapt activities and provide choices so every child can meaningfully take part.
Staff trained to lead with care
Behind every great program is a trained leader. All City of Mississauga staff who work directly with children are trained in the HIGH FIVE® Principles of Healthy Child Development (PHCD).
Training is just the first step. Through ongoing observation, coaching, and evaluation using HIGH FIVE® tools, staff are supported in continuously developing their skills and delivering quality programs. This commitment helps ensure consistent experiences for children across all locations.
Visit Active Mississauga to register for courses and obtain our internally offered HIGH FIVE® PHCD certification.
