5.3 Refusal Skills

Notes

Refusal skills are ways to say no to something that is unsafe, unhealthy or against your values. They help you handle peer pressure, which is influence from people your age.

• Peer pressure can be positive (a friend encourages you to study) or negative (pressure to skip class or try something harmful).
• Strategies: say no clearly and firmly, give a reason if you want, suggest an alternative, use confident body language, leave the situation, or blame a rule or a parent ("My mom would check my location").
• You can repeat your no without a long explanation.
• Real friends respect your decisions.
• Plan ahead by thinking about situations you might face and practicing what to say.
• Example: "No thanks, I'm not into that. Want to shoot hoops instead?"