Session Objectives

To define what life skills are

To describe the importance of life skills
to overall health and development of
young people
To identify the different life skills that
young people should develop.
To discuss some actual situations that
require life skills
LIFE SKILLS - are abilities for
adaptive and positive behavior that
enable individuals to deal effectively with
the demands and challenges of everyday
life.
 Importance of Life Skills

enable adolescents to develop truth-based self-awareness

establish healthy relationships with others
make responsible decisions and take appropriate actions
allow adolescents to gain complete understanding of
themselves through self-assessment/reflections
enable adolescents to communicate with others and resolve
conflicts that may cause emotional disturbances
 Importance of Life Skills
Continued

enhance adolescents ability to control and manage

emotions and stress
enable adolescents to transform their knowledge, attitude
and values into concrete and constructive actions; and
empowers adolescents to assess and stand firm against
peer pressure, or social pressure.
ISSUE NO. 1
You feel attracted to your best friend's
girlfriend/boyfriend. You feel that he/she likes you too.
At a party, you have the opportunity to talk to him/her
about your feelings. Your best friend is not around.

SIDE A: Lay your cards on the table and tell the person
about your feelings
SIDE B: Hide your feelings and go on as before
ISSUE NO. 2
You found out that a good friend of yours is taking
shabu regularly. You know that he has a family
problems. When you confront him, he begs you to
keep your knowledge a secret.

SIDE A: Keep the secret but avoid the person. He is a

bad influence.
SIDE B: Tell his family or school authorities so he can
have appropriate help and or go to rehab if necessary
DECISION-MAKING is a process that we all go
through everyday. It may be simple or complex,
easy or difficult. One thing is sure: to make
sound decisions, you must SELECT and WISE
UP
DECISION-MAKING SKILLS - ability to
effectively use creative and critical thinking in
determining the options or courses of actions to follow.

It is the capability to:

Analyze the issues that need to be decided on
Weigh the pros and cons of each option
Choose the course or courses of action based on what
an individual believes to be the best of all the possible
choices
lothes
ousehold chores
utdoor activities
nvolvement in school affairs
ompanions
xpenses
chedules
ompanion for life
ealthy lifestyle
wn lifes goals
ntimate relationships
areer
ducation
exuality-related behaviors
step back from the situation & give yourself some time to think.

explore all angles of the situation.

look for alternatives. Identify as many alternatives as you can.

examine consequences, pros & cons of each alternative.

choose and decide on the best alternative.

take action. Outline a plan of action to implement your decision.

take responsibility. Own your decision, face the consequences.
devastated, like it is the end of the world! You feel ashamed.

outcast. You feel your family/friends and significant others

have abandoned you.

wallow In self pity. You feel miserable and continue to

blame yourself for your bad judgment.

negative about life and other people, antagonistic & hostile.

eview your decision to find out what went wrong. Look
for a lesson.

accept the consequences. It will help if you have

anticipated these negative consequences.

increase your resolve to do better in the future.

share your experience with others. They may learn from

your mistake.

encourage yourself. Look forward to the future.

 Adolescents need to learn how to
negotiate effectively.
To negotiate is to speak with another
person in order to come to an agreement
on something.
NEGOTIATING is putting together two
or more differing points of view or decisions
and coming up with one that is acceptable to
all.
NEGOTIATING IS NOT:
imposing or dictating what you want.
win-lose situation where one comes out a winner
and the other a loser.
about pulling rank, I am older or more powerful,
therefore what I say goes!.
 Effective Negotiation
B uild on commonalities.
A ttend to what is being said by the other.
R espect for each other and each others views.
G rant reasonable concessions.
A ccept that moods influence behavior, therefore
timing is important.
I nform each other of what they want, their
reasons, what they can give, what they cant.
N ote down agreements made.
It is not always easy to assert that you be allowed to decide
and do based on what you feel or think is RIGHT FOR
YOU or BEST FOR YOU.
NEGOTIATING SKILLS can help you handle difficult
situations, especially with your parents and peers.
If you negotiate effectively they will be able to understand
where are you coming from and why you have taken the
portion you have chosen.
EFFECTIVE NEGOTIATION is always a win-win situation.
Both parties will come out winners and feeling good about
the whole process.
While people need to be open to the ideas of
other, some of the decisions they make must
remain non-negotiable.
These non-negotiable decisions refer to:
Those related to your values and what you believe in.
Those that put out safety, health and personal well-
being at risk
In such instances, there is a need for you to say
NO or to refuse, particularly if it is likely to put
you in a RISKY SITUATION.
REFUSAL SKILLS - are the tools
you can use to communicate that you
do not wish to engage in a specific
activity. They are part of everyday
communication.
 Types of Refusal
1. Verbal refusal include:
The use of the word NO!.
The NO! message repeated as long as necessary.
The suggestion of an alternative activity -- Lets go to a movie
instead.
The use of strong words and tone of voice.

2. Non-Verbal refusal skills include cues

made with the body to say NO:
Pushing hands off; throwing hands in the air.
Stiffening of the body -- sitting up straight.
Serious facial expression -- direct eye contact, no giggling.
Body gestures that emphasize your intention to say NO!.
Some of the most important areas where teeners
need to use REFUSAL SKILLS

SEX and sex-related activities

OVERSPENDING, living beyond your means; buying things

on impulse

RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOR, i.e., drugs, alcohol, tobacco &

membership in gangs/dubious fraternities

REBELLION to parents or authority figures, i.e., cutting

classes, leaving the house without permission, etc.

YOUTHFUL excesses,i.e., video games, computers (chatting,

internet), violent activities (hazing), etc.
Life Skills enables someone to:

I - interpersonal relationships

C - critical and creative thinking

A - ability to manage emotions and ability to cope with stress
N - negotiating skills
S - elf awareness and Sound decision making
E - empathy
E - effective communication