November 13-19 is bullying awareness week in Canada, a reminder the issue remains a prominent one in schools across the country.

But a program which started in Greater Victoria in the late B次元官网网址�90s is teaching young children how to deal with bullies, and research shows itB次元官网网址檚 having a positive impact.

ItB次元官网网址檚 known as WITS (Walk Away, Ignore, Talk it out, Seek help), and itB次元官网网址檚 aimed at students from kindergarten to Grade 3. A sister program, called WITS Leads, targets students in Grades 4 to 6, teaching them how to help younger kids deal with bullying.

Researchers at the University of Victoria have conducted a pair of three-year evaluations since WITS was introduced. TheyB次元官网网址檝e found that incidents of peer victimization at schools that employ WITS have decreased since the program was introduced.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen how it can help kids learn to be a little more socially adept, and how to do some problem solving on their own and not just rely on parents and teachers to help them,B次元官网网址� said Dr. Josephine MacIntosh, a WITS research associate. B次元官网网址淚t also helps them recognize when they should seek help.B次元官网网址�

One of the key principles of WITS is that it takes a holistic approach to bullying.

B次元官网网址淲e bring in community leaders, emergency service personnel, athletes B次元官网网址� people kids will look up to,B次元官网网址� said MacIntosh. B次元官网网址淭his way they know that not only are their families there for them and their teachers are there for them, they know the community will look out for them as well.B次元官网网址�

In Greater Victoria, WITS is funded in part by the Rock Solid Foundation, which provides resources to participating schools. The organizationB次元官网网址檚 executive director has seen firsthand how the programB次元官网网址檚 impact can reach beyond the school environment.

B次元官网网址淲hen my daughters are having a spat, I say, B次元官网网址榊ou have to use your WITS,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Dorian Brown, whose kids attend Macaulay school in Esquimalt. B次元官网网址淭hat reminds them, B次元官网网址業 have to strategize here, what can I do? I can walk away, I can talk it out, I can ignore it.B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 a nice balance with the WITS strategy.B次元官网网址�

There are currently 37 schools on the South Island that are enrolled in the WITS program, which has expanded across Canada and even to the U.S., New Zealand and Saudi Arabia since it was first introduced.

For more information on the program, visit www.witsprogram.ca