- Review the steps of good decision-making with teens. Good decision-making requires characterizing the situation, itemizing what your options are and asking an adult to help predict the results of each option. Encourage teens to ask an adult for options the teens didn't think of and to be willing to re-evaluate any decisions they've previously made. When you think you have identified all the options, make a choice and follow through on your decision. This will be the hardest part, but will help teens build self-confidence. After they've followed through on their decision, instructed them to assess the results.
- Have the class work in groups. Give each group a situation to discuss that requires making a difficult decision. Have the group follow the good decision-making steps you've outlined previously. Ask the teens to write the options and predict the outcome of each possible choice. Then they should decide as a group what the best choice is. Some possible situations include deciding whether to try cigarettes, being friends with someone your parents don't approve of, or staying out past curfew.
- Each group should present its situation, the options its identified and what its thinks might happen. Write the options on the board. Let the other groups suggest other options then have the first group tell everyone what they picked as the best choice. Do this with all groups. Alternatively, instead of having each group reveal its choice, have the class vote on the best choice.
- Have the students find a partner who wasn't in their original group. The teens will take turns pressuring each other to go against their decision. The decider will practice saying no and explaining why she made that decision. The peer will try to convince her to change her mind in positive and negative ways. For instance, argue that going against the decision will be more fun. Let the peer paint a negative picture of the decider. Give the teen pointers on how to counter or end the argument.
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