1. Making Good Decisions Home Base October 1, 2014

2. Decisions, Decisions Wake up or or Sleep in? Coco Puffs or Fruit Loops? White milk or Chocolate milk? Tennis shoes or flip flops? Jeans or shorts?

3. Everyday you make a lot of decisions. Some are small, some large. Some are easy to make and some are difficult to make. But, every decision has consequences. Sometimes the consequences are positive and sometimes they are negative. Knowing how to make good decisions helps to keep you out of trouble and avoid having to deal with so many negative consequences.

4. “Survey Says?” Give a thumbs up if you have ever made a poor decision? Do you think you will ever make a poor decision in the future? Why do you sometimes make poor decisions? Was your poor decision worth it?

5. Steps to Making Good Decisions 1. STOP! Take a few seconds, if you can, before you decide. Take a few breaths to get your brain thinking.

6. Steps to Making Good Decisions 2. Think Before You Act “Why do I want to do this?” “Are my friends pressuring me to do this?” “Is this the right thing to do?”

7. Steps to Making Good Decisions There may be several choices. For example: Your friend wants you to steal candy from the store with him/her. Take the candy Don’t take the candy and ignore that your friend is stealing Try to convince your friend that stealing is wrong Leave immediately 3. What are my options?

8. Steps to Making Good Decisions 4. What are the consequences? How much trouble are you likely to get into? (Risks) What are the good things that might happen if you make a better choice? (Rewards)

9. Steps to Making Good Decisions How will my decision affect others? Who else may have to deal with this decision? Parents, teachers, my friends, police, neighbors, etc.?

10. Finally! BEST Ask your self: “Is this decision the BEST thing for me? You might get what you want for now but, is it going to affect your future?

11. Vending Machine Fail