Throughout a student's time in the school system, they will be in situations where their values may be challenged. Developing appropriate and effective refusal skills will equip them to vocalize their personal beliefs. Realistic strategies that can be used in everyday experiences include assertiveness, excuses, cold shoulder or the broken record. In this activity, students will create or complete a scenario that demonstrates various ways to refuse peer pressure
Assertiveness has a few key skills, including being clear and firm, but at the same time, not aggressive. Some ways to get your message across clearly is by matching body language with your responses. Responding rapidly without hesitating or without using phrases like ‘uhh’ or ‘um’ will also help with clarity.
The excuses strategy involves being prepared to respond with an already loaded reason prior to the situation if pressured by a peer. If someone is expected to be pressured and is nervous about it, they can pre-plan a excuse that will help them say no while keeping the aggressor satisfied.
Cold shoulder is a technique where someone needs to get out of a situation entirely or the accuser will not stop pressuring the victim with them present. The target of the peer pressure just walks away.
The broken record strategy involves responding with the same assertive response repeatedly to further back up your values. This is when the aggressor is trying to get the victim to cave simply by asking the question again.
Lower level activity: Use the example storyboard as the assignment template but delete the conversations and ask the student to add text to the speech bubbles.
Middle level difficulty: Use the example storyboard as the assignment template but delete the conversations and descriptions. Have the students fill in both the speech bubbles and the descriptions.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that gives three examples of refusal strategies.
Foster a culture of respect and empathy by setting clear ground rules and modeling positive interactions. Students are less likely to pressure peers in a classroom where they feel valued and heard.
Invite students to share experiences in a safe setting. Discussing real-life peer pressure scenarios helps students understand they are not alone and builds group trust.
Use skits or role-play exercises to practice refusal strategies. Hands-on practice builds students' confidence to say no when it matters most.
Recognize and praise students when they demonstrate assertiveness or help others resist pressure. This encourages ongoing use of healthy refusal skills.
Share counseling resources and trusted adult contacts so students know where to turn if they feel overwhelmed by peer pressure. Access to support systems increases resilience and safety.
Effective refusal strategies for peer pressure include assertiveness (being firm but not aggressive), using excuses to say no, giving someone the cold shoulder by walking away, and the broken record technique—repeating your refusal until the pressure stops.
Students can practice saying no by role-playing scenarios, creating storyboards that show refusal strategies, and preparing responses in advance. Practicing assertive body language and clear communication also builds confidence in real-life situations.
The broken record technique means repeating the same clear, assertive response every time someone pressures you. This shows you are firm in your decision and helps reinforce your boundaries without becoming aggressive.
Examples of excuses include: "I have to get home soon," "My parents wouldn’t approve," or "I have a big test tomorrow." Having a ready excuse helps students say no comfortably while avoiding confrontation.
Assertiveness involves standing up for your values in a clear and respectful way, while aggression can come off as hostile or rude. Assertive refusal is firm but polite, making it more effective in peer-pressure situations.