Here are some of our favorite, most compelling new strategies
for the new year.

1. For youngsters who say that they will quit school and go on welfare,
ask them to name the states where welfare is still readily available on
an on-going basis, as was common years ago. Answer: There are no states
that fit that description, however they could consider moving to Guam,
the only state/territory in the U.S. that did not dramatically slice aid
in recent years. The average state cut welfare by a staggering 53%!

2. This intervention is very odd, but people just adore it. It is
perfect to give to parents of normally courteous teens who are in
the "mean and surly" phase that so many adolescents go through.
This intervention was actually a staple at my house for several years.
This intervention only works if you have a pet; we had a beloved dog.
When my teen-age son would interact with a parent in a surly or
condescending manner, that parent would ask him to treat us as good
he treats the dog. It became a family joke, that if you wouldn't talk
"that way" to Max (the dog), then you couldn't talk that way to Mom or
Dad either. Simply saying: "Please treat me at least as good as the dog"
was a reliable way to get a smile (and more courtesy) even in the midst
of the most difficult or tense interaction.

3. Here is an intervention from a participant in our workshop. It is
unusual, but effective. It is for use with students who think that
school is a waste, or that it's "not cool" to do well in school. As if
telling a joke, say to the youngster: "What do you call an 'A' student?"
Answer: "Boss."

4. Show youngsters how impossible life in the 2000's may be without
education. To capture the frustration and inconvenience that can
occur on a minute-to-minute basis if you lack a complete education,
ask your students to just order lunch. Have them choose from
"gegrilde lamskoteletten" or "hartige maaltijdseop". When students complain,
that they have no idea what any of those words mean, let them know
that this will be a common complaint for people who forgo education
in our high tech times. (The menu choices are written in Dutch and mean
grilled lamb chops and soup.) Discuss how people who lack education
may feel like foreigners in their own land.

5. For students who say that their parents have gotten by without a
diploma, it is key to capture how inhospitable the world is becoming to
people who lack that degree. Teach your students that their degree is
their "Ticket to the New Millennium." Here are "4 Frightening Facts for
Dropouts": (1) The income of dropouts has plunged 70% in the last 20 years.
(2) Dropouts are more likely to land in prison. (3) Dropouts are more
likely to rely on public assistance (4) Dropouts tend to earn about $15,000
per year vs. $29,000 per year for those who get that high school degree.
You may choose to change the phrasing on these four points to become
"4 Fantastic Facts for Graduates." (Data source: USA Today.)

6. This is one of my personal favorite interventions. It is perfect for this
time of year. It is for use with students who may not have many goals, or
may fail to work very hard towards goals. Say to your students: Martin
Luther King Jr. died for his dreams. What are you willing to do to live
your dreams? January 21, 2002 is MLK Day in the U.S. If necessary,
preface this intervention by exposing your students to Dr. King's
accomplishments, and include at least a portion of his powerful "I Have
a Dream" speech.

7. When students complain that their counselor or teacher treats them
unfairly. Have them write that counselor or teacher a letter detailing
their complaints. Some students may be able to vent their anger just
by putting their complaints on paper. Others may actually decide to
send the letter if that might be helpful to remedy the problems.
Teachers and counselors often relay concerns to students; students
are not always given the chance to communicate their concerns to adults.
Students can be given fill-in-the-blank forms to use instead of writing
letters. For example, "The one thing I like about your class is..." and
"The one thing I wish you would do differently is..." Students tend to
really admire the courage and dedication of adults who care so much
about doing a good job, that they are willing to be open to evaluation
from young people.

8. A workshop participant offers this answer when students say "that's
not part of your job!" or hassle him about his role with them. He responds
like this: "My job is to get you do what you don't want to do so you can
become what you do want to become."

9. Here's a popular intervention for students who repeatedly nag, beg or
ask again for what they want after hearing "no." You can say to the
youngster: "Ask once, you're assertive. Ask more than twice, you're
aggressive." A light, humorous variation on this answer is: "What part
of 'no' didn't you understand?"

10. This list of strategies is just a list. To effectively teach or counsel
children, you can't just rely on catchy strategies. You have to have the
full picture of the child. So, no annual Top 10 List of Interventions
should go out without a reminder that children and youth almost
never step up and nice and neatly announce their distress.

Children seldom politely request an extension on their homework
because "science seems terribly irrelevant because I was raped
last night." Your job must include spotting and responding to troubles
and trauma that aren't necessarily clear or apparent. No list of
strategies can help you do that, but please add one item to your own
personal list: to update or expand your skills to ensure that you are
highly prepared to identify and aid the damaged children you will
serve in this new year.

The past year was a year of special pain for many, including many children.
2001 was a year when the world became a more dangerous place for many,
including many children. As you begin 2002, and renew your commitment
to your children and your work, please consider these words spotted on
a banner: "The world is dangerous not because of those who
do harm, but because of those who look at it without doing anything."
Please do something in 2002 to make the world better for troubled
children living in our troubled times.

Get free sample materials, 100s of free interventions,
and our free Problem Student Problem-Solver magazine at
our site, http://www.youthchg.com. Plus, you can find your
solution to your worst student problems. We also have
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ebooks, audio books, workshops and free Live Expert
Help. For further information on this article or Youth
Change's top-rated resources, call 1-800-545-5736.

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