Tim Brooks

Length: 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Setting: Local community.

Supplies: Telephone book/community resource guide

Objective: To help teenagers expand their ideas about what types of activities make them feel good. To enhance a teenager's self-image.

Activity: Let the teenager you are working with know that they will be participating in a volunteer activity (either a one-time deal or, preferably, on an ongoing basis). Give them a choice about what that activity should be and help them sort out the options. Local newspapers and organizations such as the United Way often have a listing of volunteer opportunities. Talk with the teen about what their interests are to help them choose an activity. For instance, if they are interested in animals, have them call the local animal shelter. If they have trouble narrowing down to a couple of choices, the local soup kitchen is often a good place to start.

Notes: These types of activities can be eye-openers for teens and eventually move their interest away from more problematic behavior. However, this can take time, and you may experience what seems to be a paradox: the sweet, caring teen in setting and the oppositional, non-compliant teen in another setting. If this occurs, continue to give positive reinforcement regarding the good work they are doing, and don't use termination of the volunteer work as punishment. Eventually, the hope is that enough positive activities will occur that they overwhelm the negative behaviors, eventually causing them to stop altogether.

If you volunteer at a place that serves people in difficult situations, it might be worth asking a series of questions of the teen regarding their thoughts on their opinions of the people they are helping, and how they think people get in those situations. Try to avoid preaching in this situation, even though as adults that can difficult. Teens need to come to answers themselves, and will give you clues when they want your guidance.