INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 6Poem: “Teens in Action, You’re Welcome Here” ...................................................... 6What’s a “Teen Action Report”? .............................................................................. 11If You Are in a Teens in Action or Families in Action Group ..................................... 13

CHAPTER 1TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE ............................................................... 16Why it’s Tough to Be a Teen ................................................................................... 17School Success ........................................................................................................ 20 Profile of a Successful Student ................................................................................ 22What’s in Your Character? ....................................................................................... 23Graphic Story: Remember the Wasa (1628-1628) .................................................... 24Top 5 QOC’s ......................................................................................................... 27 Respect: It’s Mutual ................................................................................................ 28Showing Respect .................................................................................................... 29My Choices Matter ................................................................................................. 29Decisions, Decisions... ............................................................................................ 30Challenges Teens Face Today ................................................................................... 31People Who Can Help ............................................................................................ 34What about parents? ............................................................................................... 35Graphic Story: Tough Love Labors Lost .................................................................... 38 Family Enrichment Activity: Taking Time for Fun .................................................. 41Home Activities ...................................................................................................... 42Teen Action Report ................................................................................................. 42

CHAPTER 2COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION .............................. 44Teens and Self-Esteem ............................................................................................ 47Finding the Evidence .............................................................................................. 49Communication: The Road to Cooperation ........................................................... 53

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Avoiding Communication Blocks ........................................................................... 55Active Communication .......................................................................................... 59Video Practice: Responding to Feelings ................................................................... 64Graphic Story: Active Communication in Zombieworld ............................................ 67Active Communication Role Plays .......................................................................... 71Family Enrichment Activity: Getting to Know Your Parents Better ......................... 73Home Activities....................................................................................................... 76Teen Action Report ................................................................................................. 76

CHAPTER 3RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCIPLINE .......................................... 78What is Responsibility? ........................................................................................... 80The Excuses Game .................................................................................................. 84Graphic Story: A Teenage Werewolf Plays the Blame Game ........................................ 85Discipline: Learn to Love It .................................................................................... 89“I” Message Practice ............................................................................................... 93Basic Discipline Practice ......................................................................................... 94Graphic Story: Lessons from the Titanic ................................................................... 95Consequences ......................................................................................................... 97Using Logical Consequences ................................................................................... 102Ideas for Logical Consequences .............................................................................. 103Family Enrichment Activity: Positive “I” Messages ................................................. 105Home Activities ...................................................................................................... 106Teen Action Report ................................................................................................ 106

CHAPTER 4BUILDING COURAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM ......................... 108Courage: One From the Heart ................................................................................ 110Poem: “Courage and Fear” ...................................................................................... 111Self-Esteem: One From the Mind ........................................................................... 112Graphic Story: Interview with the Vampire with Low Self-Esteem .............................. 114Round and Round: The Think-Feel-Do Cycle ........................................................ 117Failure and Success Cycles ....................................................................................... 121Success or Failure? The Choice is Yours ................................................................... 122Turning Discouragement Into Encouragement ....................................................... 127Encouragement Profile ........................................................................................... 133

Encouraging Each Other ........................................................................................ 134Encouragement Yourself ......................................................................................... 135Don’t Fight. Negotiate ............................................................................................ 136Power Through Negotiation .................................................................................... 139Handling Anger ...................................................................................................... 140Family Enrichment Activity: Problem-Prevention Talks .......................................... 141Home Activities ...................................................................................................... 142Teen Action Report ................................................................................................ 142

CHAPTER 5DRUGS, SEXUALITY, AND VIOLENCE: REDUCING THE RISKS, PART 1 .................................................. 148Drugs, Sexuality, and Violence: The Think-Feel-Do Cycle ....................................... 150Teen Depression ...................................................................................................... 151Ten Risk-Prevention Strategies for Teens ................................................................. 153Strategy #1: Find positive role models. .................................................................... 153Graphic Story: Revenge of the Puppet Master ............................................................. 157How do YOU measure up as a role model? .............................................................. 158Strategy #2: Educate yourself about the risks of drugs, sexuality, and violence. ........ 161The Case for Waiting ............................................................................................... 164Strategy #3: Filter out negative influences and in positive ones. ............................... 165Going Online .......................................................................................................... 168Strategy #4: Establish clear guidelines for behavior. ................................................ 170Family Enrichment Activity: Expressing Love .......................................................... 172Expressing Love (Guide Sheet) ................................................................................ 173Home Activities....................................................................................................... 174Teen Action Report ................................................................................................. 174

CHAPTER 6DRUGS, SEXUALITY, AND VIOLENCE: REDUCING THE RISKS, PART 2 ................................................. 176A Few Things We Know About Addiction ............................................................... 178Addiction and the Tree of Life ................................................................................ 180Graphic Story: The Brain and Addiction: A Conversation .......................................... 182Ten Risk-Prevention Strategies for Teens, continued ................................................ 186Strategy #5: Make sure there’s adult supervision. ..................................................... 186Strategy #6: Work with other teens and parents. ...................................................... 188

Strategy #7: Find healthy opportunities for challenge. ............................................. 188Strategy #8: Learn to resist peer pressure. ................................................................ 190Peer Pressure Defense ............................................................................................. 195About Bullying ........................................................................................................ 197Graphic Story: Bullies from Space ............................................................................. 199 Strategy #9: Identify and confront high-risk behavior. ............................................ 202Gangs: Separating Fantasy from Reality ................................................................... 205 Strategy #10: Calmly manage a crisis. ..................................................................... 207Ten Risk Prevention Strategies for Teens (mini-poster) ............................................ 208Family Enrichment Activity: In Our Family ............................................................ 209Goals for Moving Your Life Forward ....................................................................... 209You Can Do It! Reaching Your Personal Goals ......................................................... 210Bon Voyage ............................................................................................................ 211Poem: “Final Gifts from Parent to Teen” .................................................................. 212Teen Action Report ................................................................................................. 213Resources for Teens ................................................................................................. 215About the Authors ................................................................................................... 215