Teens - Actions, Consequences, Rewards: Activities for Groups and Individuals

by Ester R.A. Leutenberg, Carol Butler MS Ed RN C

Facilitator Reproducible Activities for Groups and Individuals

This workbook was written to encourage teens to stop and think before they act, consider the consequences of their actions, and to capitalize on the rewards of positive actions.

Often teens turn a deaf ear to warnings about consequences.  Their sense of invincibility says, “It won’t happen to me.”  When you add to the mix adolescent hormones, the quest for excitement, the chemistry of romance, and self-esteems issues, forethought goes out the window.

So what will encourage teens to stop and think? Perhaps knowing that self-directed thoughts, decisions, and actions will lead to real rewards.

The activities in this workbook will help teens consider the following goals before acting:

• Make decisions based on probably outcomes versus immediate gratification
• Uncover hidden consequences and rewards
• Discover healthy vs. unhealthy risks
• Define safe risks
• Avoid preventable dangers
• Handle difficult circumstances
• Work toward authentic rewards

The first activity in the workbook asks teens to create a My Actions Book – a 3-ring binder to organize their handouts, art work, journaling and other creations. It’s a great way to keep track of their progress and later review what they’ve learned.

The seven chapters include the following:

1. Healthy and Unhealthy Risks
2. Decisions
3. Types of Consequences and Rewards
4. Danger
5. Attributes
6. Circumstances
7. Rewards