Power of Parents ® Middle School Handbook
Chapter 5
Good Problem Solving Helping your child develop strong problem-solving skills is a critical part in preparing them for the challenges they will face in the future. By coaching them through the below theoretical scenario, your child will be more confident in making healthy, informed decisions when the time comes that they must make decisions on their own: Start with a scenario: Your child is sleeping over at a friend’s house, and they overhear someone suggesting sneaking alcohol from the liquor cabinet.
Step 1
What’s the situation?
What are the potential risks?
Notice the Problem
Step 2 Identify Possible Actions
Call you to come home.
Go along with it.
Try to talk their friends out of it.
Step 3
What are the risks of underage drinking?
How might they feel if their friends pressure them?
Gather Information
Step 4
What’s the best way to respond while not jeopardizing their friendships?
Which choice keeps them safe and aligns with their values?
Examine and Decide
Step 5 Follow Through
Reiterate your agreement to not use alcohol or other substances.
Encourage them to follow through with their decision in the real world.
34
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator