Developing positive decision-making skills helps prepare kids to meet life’s challenges. In group discussions, ask kids to imagine themselves in one or more of the following ten scenarios and talk about how they’d respond:
- You borrow your friend’s bike to go to the store because yours is in the shop. Someone takes the bike. How do you handle this?
- You and a friend are sitting next to the aisle at a movie. A short way into the film, a stranger slides over and sits right next to you. He’s so close that his arm touches yours. He keeps looking at you. You feel uncomfortable. How do you handle this?
- A kid in your class is HIV positive. Other kids are afraid to sit next to or hang out with him. You know people can’t get AIDS just by sitting next to someone with HIV. How do you handle this?
- When your teacher asks for your essay, you realize it’s still sitting on the table at home. This is your last chance to turn it in without losing any points. No one is home to bring it to you. How do you handle this?
- A classmate asks you to meet her at the park to hang out. But your parents specifically asked you not to socialize with her. Your parents both work. Chances are they’ll never find out if you go. What do you do?
- Your science teacher often makes subtle and sarcastic remarks about girls, and he hardly ever calls on them in class. It’s obvious he favors the boys. You know it’s not right. What can you do?
- You’re at a buddy’s apartment playing near the outdoor pool. Suddenly, you realize that his younger sister fell into the deep end of the pool. You know she can’t swim, and you can’t either. No one else is around. What do you do?
- Your little brother idolizes you and wants to spend all his time with you. You love him and don’t want to hurt his feelings, but you need your space. Your parents think it’s “sweet” that he follows you around. How do you handle this?
- A friend tells you that she’s thinking about hurting herself. You’re worried about her. What do you do?
- You’ve shared a personal secret with a close friend. A few days later, you discover everyone in the whole school knows. How do you handle this?
For more scenarios to get kids talking, check out Kids’ Daily Dilemmas In a Jar®: 101 Decisions to Think & Talk About.
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