Essential Question: How can taking risks help us or harm us? Do it now: 1.Take out any Goal setting papers that were corrected 2.Take out your HW paper on Health Today questios What will we do today? 1.Correct Homework 2.Define risk taking and why teens take unnecessary risks. 3.Take the Pixie Stick Challenge. 4.Fill in a guided note page 5.Risk activity 6.Pixie Stick challenge part 2

What is risk? An exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance Risks can be healthy or unhealthy. Healthy risk promotes brain development and enhances decision making skills. Negative risk endangers the risk takers life and longevity.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Risks Sports, volunteer activities, holding a job, joining a club, trying a new sport, playing a new instrument, being involved in theatre. Driving too fast, texting or talking on the phone while driving, engaging in unsafe sexual practices, smoking and drinking alcohol to excess.

Stand up if your parent(s) would: Drive 100 mph in a 60mph lane? Smoke weed? Eat donuts every morning for breakfast? Skip work just for the heck of it ? Walk out of a restaurant without paying? Play chicken with jet skis? Take an OTC without reading the directions? Then why would teens?

Why are teens more likely to take risks than non-teens? 1.Brain development – Teens have an underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex that has trouble controlling impulsivity and consequences of actions. Are you ready to take the pixie stick challenge?.

2. Peer pressure/acceptance –teens have a desire to belong. This need encourages risk taking Examples: drinking, drugs, speeding, distracted driving, lying to parents, breaking curfews, sex, cheating, fighting etc…

3. Identity development – As teens become “smarter” they see themselves as unique individuals and take risks to express their new self. 4. Adult influence – Poor role models can increase the impact of the risk.

5.Processing of reward signals in the brain- Teens brains are more sensitive to rewards. When the pay off for the risk is high, teens tend to repeat the risk. Who is a risk taker? Do you like rats?.

6. Feeling of invincibility (not an accepted theory by all) teens have a feeling that they are immortal and that harm will not affect them, rather others

Risk is exciting….how can I be safer? Knowledge is power. Making an informed decision based on true information will help protect you from the dangers of risk. Get involved in healthy risk taking Make friends with positive role models

Parents are just doing their job…they are not trying to stifle you. Teens will…Adults can… Push limits Set limits. Talk about rules and allow more freedom as teens show more responsibility. Make mistakes Expect mistakes and think of them as one way to learn. Have consequences when rules are broken. Seek thrills and take risks Give teens the chance to try new things and take smart risks but not dangerous risks. Develop identity Let teens take on responsibilities. It builds confidence and shows that you trust them.