The ability to name and set reachable goals builds self-efficacy and a stronger sense of hope for the future. Early exposure to the basic elements of setting and reaching goals enhances the development and application of these skills through adolescence and into adulthood. Students who can, and do, set reachable goals have a stronger sense of self and make better decisions.
Adolescents who recognize how their emotions influence their decisions are better prepared to make thoughtful, rational choices. Emotional self-awareness creates internal capacity to understand and identify how one responds to internal and external influences. Emotional competency fosters the recognition and appreciation of the emotions of others promoting a greater capacity to build empathy, diffuse conflict, and build stronger relationships.
Effective communication skills enable adolescents to handle conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation. Adolescents who are effective communicators are better able to make decisions consistent with their goals and develop healthy relationships.
Adolescents often underestimate the risks associated with experimenting, even once, with inhalants or street drugs. Establishing a clear perception of harm about the negative health effects of the use of these drugs builds protection within the adolescent to mitigate the risk of abuse or experimentation. Effective substance use prevention programs teach information and skills, provide opportunities to practice the skills, reinforce the skills, and recognize students' participation.
Adolescents equipped with decision-making and problem-solving skills are better able to thoughtfully plan their actions and evaluate the choices they face in life. The ability to consider the positive and negative consequences of decisions mitigates impulsivity, keeping actions consistent with short-term and long-term personal goals.
Effective communication skills enable adolescents to handle conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation. Adolescents who are effective communicators are better able to make decisions consistent with their goals and develop healthy relationships.
Underage alcohol consumption has detrimental effects on the development of a healthy body and brain. Adolescent knowledge of the physical consequences of drinking alcohol lessens the propensity to consume alcohol; however, the protective effect of this knowledge can be overridden by social pressures and influences. Capacity to resist the internal and external pressures, influences, and expectations to consume alcohol builds protection within the adolescent to remain alcohol free.
Adolescents equipped with decision-making and problem-solving skills are better able to thoughtfully plan their actions and evaluate the choices they face in life. The ability to consider the positive and negative consequences of decisions mitigates impulsivity, keeping actions consistent with short-term and long-term goals.
Adolescents who understand and can manage risk are better able to predict the outcomes of their actions enabling them to make better, more responsible decisions. An effective course review reinforces skills and concepts, providing further opportunities to practice skills and recall information. The recognition of student participation and completion of the program builds self-efficacy.
The teenage brain is predisposed to impulsive behavior and risk-taking as the executive functions managed by the frontal lobe develop. Adolescents often underestimate the addictive nature and the dangerous effects of the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Establishing a clear perception of harm about these drugs builds protection within the adolescent to mitigate the risk of abuse.
Adolescents overestimate the percentage of their peers who use marijuana and underestimate the negative effects of the drug's use. Perception of harm is an important factor for mitigating risk. Normative education methods effectively correct misconceptions about behavior.
All forms of tobacco and tobacco-related products are harmful to the body. Tobacco products contain the highly addictive chemical, nicotine. Social image is one reason teenagers begin to use tobacco-related products. This lesson demonstrates that nicotine use projects a negative social image rather than a positive image implied in popular culture.
Underage consumption of alcohol has detrimental effects on the development of a healthy body and healthy brain. Student knowledge of the physical consequences of drinking alcohol lessens the propensity to consume alcohol; however, the protective effect of this knowledge can be overridden by social pressures and influences. Capacity to resist the internal and external pressures, influences, and expectations to consume alcohol builds protection within adolescent to remain alcohol free.
Effective communication skills enable adolescents to resolve conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation. Adolescents who are effective communicators are better able to make decisions consistent with their goals and develop healthy relationships.
