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Local OPP teaches students important life skills with seven week KIDS program

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Constable Martin has given up a few hours of his Wednesday mornings for the next seven weeks to sit down with about 70 grade six students at Huron Heights Public School and teach them important life skills through the OPP program “K.I.D.S”.

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K.I.D.S. stands for Knowledge: What do I need to know? Issues: What do I need to talk about? Decisions: How do I make smart choices? And Supports: Where do I go for help? The KIDS program aims to help children feel good about themselves, create a positive impression, make good choices, understand peer pressure, stand up for themselves, be aware of the laws and values of society, respect themselves, others and the environment, know the consequences of their actions, choose the right friends and be a good role model.

Martin began leading the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in 2008, and began teaching the K.I.D.S. program when the OPP made the switch in 2012. The K.I.D.S. program focuses on “Youth and the Law”, “Peer to Peer relationships”, “Online and social media awareness”, and “Drug awareness”. The program is highly interactive with plenty of time to share stories and ask questions, while following along with a book full of puzzles and areas to keep organized notes.

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“My biggest group was probably about 70 students all at once,” Martin recalled. “I found the children less eager to share stories in front of a big group, so I’m glad that we’ve got two smaller groups this year. I love the interaction in smaller groups.”

“The issues that we are teaching students about may be issues they won’t see for a few more years,” said Martin. “But we’re intervening at the optimal time, when these children’s brains are still developing, so that they can learn these values now to prepare them for the future.”

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