Say NO to Negative Peer Pressure

Gr 3–5—This three-part video focuses on two scenarios involving risky behavior. The first centers on when to say no. In one scenario, a boy is pressured by friends to perform a skateboarding trick that he doesn't feel ready to do. The other story line presents a boy stumbling upon his older sister and her friend drinking alcohol; the sister threatens her brother not to tell on her. The teen narrators outline the types of pressure that the young protagonists are dealing with, which involve put downs, threats of rejection, and bullying. Viewers are instructed to trust their guts to figure out when to say no. In part two, kids learn how to say no and about assertiveness techniques using body language, eye contact, and "I" statements. Part three discusses what to do after saying no. In the skateboarding scenario, Tommy suggests an alternate activity for him and his friends, and they agree. Miguel's decision to tell his parents about his sister's drinking is justified, because the behavior is potentially dangerous. The main characters are from diverse backgrounds and relatable, the situations are age-appropriate, and the teen narrators are upbeat and professional. The pauses between sections allow breaks for constructive class discussions.