Transitions: The Rights. Respect. Responsibility.^® Campaign
Volume 14, No. 1, October 2001

This Transitions is also available in [PDF] format.

Purpose: To remind adults of the pressures that teens may be facing

Materials: A blindfold, masking tape, several pieces of newspaper, index cards, newsprint and markers

Time: 20 to 25 minutes

Planning Notes: Prepare index cards with suggested character roles (as provided immediately below). Depending on the size of your group, use as many or few of the characters as appropriate. Be sure that one person gets the "Young Person" role.

1. Young Person—Listen to all those who are trying to guide you down the river.
2. Parent/Foster Parent—You know best. Tell the Young Person what to do, keeping his/her best interests in mind. Use phrases like, "When I was your age …" Feel free to be creative in your role!
3. Grandparent—You know best. Tell the Young Person what to do, keeping his/her best interests in mind. Use phrases like, "When I was your age …" Feel free to be creative in your role!
4. Minister—You are the moral guide for the Young Person. Feel free to be creative in your role!
5. Friend—You are the "good" friend. You truly care about the Young Person. Feel free to be creative in your role!
6. Teacher—Stress the importance of school. Give guidance where you see fit. Feel free to be creative in your role!
7. Social Worker—Give advice to the Young Person around issues such as drug use, sex, family, school, etc. Feel free to be creative in your role!
8. Media—Think of all the influences in the media (TV, movies, magazines, etc.) Some examples of media messages may include sex, violence, money, etc. Feel free to be creative in your role!
9. Friend—You are the "bad" friend. You are a bad influence on the Young Person. Feel free to be creative in your role!
10. Health Care Provider—Give advice to the Young Person regarding his/her health and general well-being. Some examples: talking about smoking, sex, nutrition, weight. Feel free to be creative in your role!

Procedure:

1. Explain that too often, as adults, we forget what it is like to be a teenager with competing pressures and influences in our lives. This exercise is an effective way to understand some of the pressures that teens face.
2. Set up "the river," laying out two long pieces of masking tape to form it.
3. Ball up several pieces of newspaper and scatter them throughout "the river" to form barriers. Be creative, calling them alligators, lava, white water, etc.
4. Ask for volunteers for the roleplay. Select up to 10 volunteers and distribute an index card with a character role to each participant.
5. Give volunteers about two minutes to think about their roles.
6. Explain that there are many conflicting influences in the lives of youth, today more than ever. These influences may affect the decisions that young people make, including decisions about sexuality.
7. Ask all of the volunteers to come up to the front of the room and stand on either side of "the river."
8. Ask the Young Person to come forward and blindfold him/her.
9. Explain that the various characters must guide the Young Person down "the river," helping her/him to avoid the danger spots (alligators, lava, white water, etc.). Give the other characters about 10 minutes to guide the Young Person down "the river."
10. Conclude the activity using the discussion points.

Discussion Points:

1. What did you think of this exercise? Was it realistic? Why? Why not?
2. How did it feel to be the Young Person?
3. Were you faced with similar pressures and influences when you were a teen?
4. How do these influences affect a teen's ability to make decisions?

Next Chapter: Resources
Return to the Table of Contents

Transitions (ISSN 1097-1254) © 2001, is a quarterly publication of Advocates for Youth—Helping young people make safe and responsible decisions about sex. For permission to reprint, contact Transitions' editor at 202.419.3420.

Editor: Sue Alford