LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 19
ACTIVITY FIVE
Saying “No” and Meaning It (Including Saying “No” to Persuasion)
Group check in- Discuss with the children why it is important to just say “no” if you are in a risky situation.
Discuss what these risky situations could be. Ask the children to give you a list of the situations
or acts where it is important to say no.
The list may look like this:- Stealing;
- Saying no to sex;
- Cheating on an exam;
- Taking drugs;
- Going out with a stranger or an adult you know but do not feel comfortable with; and/or
- Keeping stolen goods.
- Ask the children what they or their friends do in such situations. Do they say “no?” If so, ask
them how they say it. - Explain that in these situations it is best to say “no” firmly and if necessary leave the place.
- Make a circle and tell the group to practice saying no. Each person must use the appropriate
voice, body language and expression and say “no” assertively. The group should repeat the
exercise several times. Children have a great time doing this and as they practice a few times,
they become more confident of themselves and of being able to say “no”. Remind them how
they started and how they are saying “no” now. - Call upon individual children randomly. Ask them to get up and say “no” using the appropriate
voice, tone and body language.
Experience from the field
Younger children listed simpler “problem” situations such as stealing, saying bad things about someone, using
abusive words, being adamant or teasing others by calling them names. The children learnt to say “no” and
then enacted role plays of the difficult situations that they had listed. (Positive Living Project, Namakkal)Review
Ask the children how they felt saying “no:”- Was it difficult? Why?
- Are they or anyone they know used to saying “no?”
- What was the reaction to their saying “no?”
- Did it help them? Why and why not?
Remind the group that “no” is used only in risky situations and not in every situation.
- Ask the children if there are times when they do not want to do something but are forced to do
so. This forcing of behavior may come from their friends, an older boy or girl who may bully or an
adult who may try to persuade them. Discuss the situations for a few minutes. How do the
children generally react to such situations?