Activities for a Peer Pressure Retreat for Teens

Role Play Scenarios

• One of the best strategies to teach teens the dangers of peer pressure is to provide a real-life scenario. Ask teens to divide into two groups and determine a positive peer pressure situation, such as a friend pressuring you to complete homework and a negative peer pressure situation, such as a peer pressuring you to drink alcohol. Ask each group to role play the situation and act out two different responses to the pressure. By prompting teens to brainstorm the options, they will be much more prepared to recognize that there are alternatives when faced with peer pressure.

Question and Answer Session

• A teen̵7;s ability to make positive decisions often stems from the family and adult influences within her life. Teenagers who have strong communication with positive adult role models are less likely to dive into risky behaviors, according to a study by the American Medical Association, as reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  Help teen participants build more trust in their communication skills by asking them to anonymously write questions about peer pressure on a piece of paper. The questions may range from ̶0;how do I refuse to cheat on a test when a friend asks me to share answers?̶1; and ̶0;what are some ways to refuse drugs without getting made fun of?̶1; Have a panel of adults, consisting of teachers, parents, counselors and social workers respond to each question during a group discussion. Make the discussion interactive so that teens can provide options to each question and scenario as well. Often times, teens learn more from each other because they can relate to the challenges faced daily.

Create Goals

• A teen̵7;s academic success is often a strong predictor of a socially-sound and healthy future, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Show the connection from academic achievement to future success by asking teens to make a list of goals. The goals may involve occupations, financial achievement, marriage, children or emotional health. Once goals are established, ask teens to get in groups and write down behaviors that would prevent them from completing these goals. For example, drinking alcohol with friends the night before a big test will impact a teen̵7;s ability to focus and achieve a desired grade. Breaking curfew could result in a missed opportunity on an athletic team. Giving in to the pressure to steal something may even land a teen in jail. The objective is to show teens how their present actions can affect their future goals.

Pair Up

• When faced with peer pressure, teens often feel trapped. It̵7;s similar to a crab trying to climb out of a boiling pot of water. Supplying teens with the means and tools to climb away from peer pressure safely reinforces the idea that it is always possible to swim versus sink. Launch an activity on teamwork to show that it takes real friends and allies to climb away from peer pressure situations. Ask participants to conquer physical challenges, such as an obstacle course or a rock-climbing wall, but stipulate that they cannot complete the challenge alone. With a partner, they have to work together to provide a support system to reach the top of the wall or cross the finish line, just as teens need support when battling peer pressure.