SUGGESTIONS FOR BUILDING ASSETS

Asset # 35- Resistance Skills

(Young people can effectively say no to the things that might harm them)

To Build Asset # 35 Parents and Extended Family Can . . .

* Model a clean, sober life for your children. Practice saying "No" to things yourself, and talk with your kids about why you resist things and how you resist things when you need to.

* Help your kids figure out some useful "lines" if they ever need to use one. Example: "Maybe everyone else is doing it, but I still make up my own mind about things."

* Make peer pressure a comfortable topic to discuss, not a lecture. Share personal experiences. Talk about feelings. Let kids share their views and ask questions—especially about what is "normal."

* Discuss the difference between what someone does and what someone is. Then if kids see a friend doing something wrong, they can resist going along with the behavior just because it's a friend.

* Practice with your children how to resist peer pressure. Brothers, sisters, and cousins can practice together. Have them take turns coaching each other.

* Teach different ways of handling peer pressure, such as ignoring the person, laughing it off, leaving, using a line, and getting someone to help. Teach the definitions of "passive," "aggressive," and "assertive." Help children learn assertiveness skills

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37% of youth surveyed by Search Institute have this asset in their lives.*

*Based on Search Institute surveys of almost 100,000 6th to 12th grade youth throughout the United States

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Ways to Resist Negative Peer Pressure

• Walk away

• Ignore the person

• Say no and state a value or belief that's important to you ("No, I've decided not to have sex until I get married")

• Say no and use humor ("Forget it. I'd rather go play on the freeway; it's safer")

• Call another friend to help you

• Laugh

• Hang out with people who don't pressure you to do risky things