LEISURE TIME

Leisure- means the period which one spends doing other things rather than routine
work.
Leisure time refers to the time available to ease and relax.
Leisure free time that we have to do what we enjoy.
 Its a break from a normal work
 It provides both mental and physical relaxation from daily routine
 It involves spending ones free time in a meaningful creative manner. Its
beneficial to our health that is mental, physical social and spiritual.

FORMS
i. Active leisure refers to leisure activities that are meant to de-stress a person and
carry the attention away from work. This could mean type of recreational activity.
The primary aim is to give one sense of self
ii. Passive leisure refers to leisure to an individual who cannot make a decision for
themselves. These people who are easily influenced to use leisure time un
constructively.

EFFECTS OF MISUSES OF LEISURE TIME

1. Drugs and substance use
2. HIV/AIDS infection
3. Criminal activities such as stealing

USE OF LEISURE TIME

1. Entertainment -story telling
- dance are from entertainment people engage in during leisure time
2. Religious services - charity work of mercy like visiting prisoners sick and the old
3. Socialization - activities which bring people together for sharing entertainment and
education

Importance of leisure time

1. Helps people discover their hidden talents and develop them for useful
purpose in use
 Musician
 Painter
 Web designer
 Hair dresser
2. Helps relax the mind
 Leisure provides us with the opportunity to re organize one self for the next face
of work eg - take a break, take a work, listen to music, work out
3. Leisure time helps to release tension depression and anxiety
 We involve our mind in positive thinking and in fulfilling our activities
4. Create an opportunity to serve the community in giving back to the
community
 Visiting the sick/prisoner/old/vulnerable
5. Give time to connect with the supreme being
 For spiritual renewal
 Time to pray and thank God
6. Help people enjoy their freedom
 Being free from established routines

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EFFECTS OFMISUSE OF LEISURE TIME
1. People who mistake passive leisure for idleness kill creativity
 Make individual a burden to other community
 Some leisure activities require money such as gambling. Those who don’t have
the money may be tempted to steal in order to have access to these activities
 Some of the programs we listen to or watch in TV or internet could influence us
negatively if they promote sexual immorality and other vices
 Some people may use leisure time to tempt others and lead them astray. People
become drug addicts through influence of others especially their peers
 If a person spend all the income on leisure activities such as drinking and
gambling. A person may also spend all the time outside family leaving no time
for the family.
 Leisure activities that cause physical harm to the body are among alcoholism.
When a person is drunk the weak less and can engage in risk sexual behaviour
which can lead to STIs HIV/AIDS and unplanned pregnancies. In addition one
can engage in criminal activities such as addiction dependent that you cant do
without
 Leisure activities that result in regrets both now and in the future is wrong and
should be avoided.
 Disease that are caused by smoking and drinking alcohol or drug abuse which can
include mental problem.

POSITIVE LEISURE ACTIVITIES

i. Ball games activities
ii. Reading
iii. Mountain climbing
iv. Swimming
v. Hunting
vi. Painting
vii. Going for walks
viii. Crocheting
ix. Diy
x. decorations

Life skills for positive use of leisure time

Explain why we need these values when it comes to leisure time
1. Empathy
 We can use free time to show empathy by visiting the sick, helping in
hospitals/feeding the aged
2. Creative thinking (skill and value)
 Being a creative person by involving in activities that do not need money like
writing, tracking and drawing
3. Critical thinking
 We use this skill to evaluate leisure activities before engaging in them.
4. Negotiation

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 You can discuss with your pair about leisure activities that are not productive and
should be avoided
5. Assertiveness
 We should not allow ourselves to be led into wrong ways of using our free time.
We should express ourselves in a firm but respective way

VALUES ASSOCIATED
1. Freedom - able to choose leisure activities without being interfered or
excessively influenced by others
2. Honest - telling the truth and about the advantages and the disadvantages of
various leisure activities
3. Humility - we consider others to be as equally important as we are, we will avoid
hurting/disregarding others when choosing leisure activities
4. Tolerance - accepting others even though they hold different views beliefs and
practices from our own.

Revision questions
1) Explain the effects of wrong use/ misuse of leisure time
2) Highlight various activities for leisure time
3) Identify and explain four skills for leisure time
4) List values associated with leisure time

GENDER EDUCATION
Gender - social cultural and psychological characteristic that identify one as a male
or female in a given society.
They are biological difference that define a man or woman

Agents that perpetuate gender discrimination

 Culture
 Stereotyping
 Poverty
 Illiteracy

Gender stereotyping
Stereotyping- a set of beliefs and attitude not based on reality they may include
Female stereotype
 Gentle
 Caring

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 Physically weak
 Less intellectual
 Submissive
 don’t lead cant become a leader
 Housewife/household
 Gossip
 Cant make decisions
Male stereotype
 Rough
 Individualistic
 Physically strong
 More intellectual
 Assertive
 Are leaders
 Heads of household
 Discuss issues
 Decision maker
Other stereotype may include
Masculine should be
 Be in control
 Appear unemotional
 Be dominant
 Be sexually active
 Have many partners
 head the family
 Be the bread winner
 Avoid house chores
 Be strong(resolve conflicts and violence)

Feminine should be
 Emotionally sensitive
 Submit to wishes by men
 Be dependent/sexually weak
 Meet the needs of others before their own
 Be physically attractive
 Be tolerant
 Avoid career in mathematics and science
 Have children at the command of men
Effects of gender stereotype on an on individual life
1. Poor self concept
2. Discrimination
3. Indecisiveness
4. Illiteracy
5. Low self esteem

Effects of stereotype in relationship/career

1. Violence when women refuse to be submissive or take decisions
2. Resentment when woman earns and the man is not or when or when woman is
earning more than the man
3. Discrimination

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4. Harassment

STRATGIES TO ELIMINATE GENDER DISCRIMINATION

1. To treat individuals irrespective of their gender. Creating a gender friendly
environment
2. Provide gender friendly facilities career - learner should be encouraged to work
hard in all subjects and to pursue any
3. Encourage games and leisure for all learners without discrimination
4. Assigning equal duties and responsibilities to all learners irrespective of of the
gender
5. Guidance and counselling to all the learners or responsible sexual behaviour
HIV/AIDS drugs misuse and abuse and responsible adulthood and other aspects of
learning
6. Analyzing, examination, repetition and drop out in terms of gender to detect gender
bias
7. Encouraging the parent and community to have positive attitude towards girls and
boys education
8. Encouraging girls who become pregnant to resume school after delivering

Virtues associated to gender partly

i. Tolerance
ii. Simplicity
iii. Respect
iv. Love
v. Unity
vi. Humility
vii. Honesty

Revision questions
1. Define the term life skill education
2. You have been admitted to a technical training institute. The head of department
has informed you that part of your course will include the study of life skill, using
your own words discuss at least 3 benefits of the study of life skill as a subject.
3. Explain three categories of life skill
4. Define the following terms
i. Conflicts
ii. Leisure time
iii. Decision making
iv. Goal
v. Self-esteem
5. Explain any two causes of conflicts
b. In your own words explain the following ways of resolving conflicts
i. Mediation
ii. Adjudication
iii. Negotiation
6. Differentiate between creative and critical thinking
a. Explain three benefits of leisure time

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7. Highlight four effects of misuse of leisure time.
8. State any four activities for positive use of leisure time

TIME MANAGEMENT
Objectives
i. Define the term time management
ii. Work schedule
iii. Time management chart
iv. Importance of time management
v. Time robbers
vi. Values associated with life skills

 Time is the most valuable resource, by analyzing time usage on a regular basis its
possible to understand the most efficient way to use time
Time managementRefers to making the best use of time to achieve maximum output
in the time available
 Process of exercising control over the amount of time spent on specific activities
especially to increase efficiency

Work schedule
 This is a temporary organized plan to be attended to. Planning for times essentials
for any individual.If one plans well he or she will improve their productivity
 Planningmeans;bridging the gap between what one is and what she or he want to
be in future in planing one has to evaluate the work before hand and see weather
it can be accomplished in the available time and resources available
 It advisable to make a daily mark schedule or a time table .records it informed of
diary and it possible to try to live according to its prescription because
 The work schedule should not be very rigid change can be affected to suit ones
needs
 Daily work schedule need not to be same for different people even if they are
involved in the same task
 One should try to stick to the time allocated on his/her work schedule.

Time management chart

1. Schedule items to be included in the chart
 Class time
 Meal time
 Exercise and games
 Studying revision time
 Cleaning time
 Leisure time
2. At the end of the day write what you actually did in column to of the day so that
you get a clear picture of what you did and how you manage your time

Importance of time management

1. Helps to focus on priorities
 Able to identify on priorities and direct our efforts towards achieving the
priorities to make the best use of time you begin toy our priorities
2. Helps attain set goals

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 When you mange your time well you will be able to reach your goals. You are in
control of your life and not always behind schedule
3. It gives a sense of direction
 You will not be destructed by other activities that end up wasting your time
4. Reduce stress
 When you are in control of time you will not be overwhelmed and this results in
reduced stress you will know how to deal
5. Client satisfaction or customer satisfaction
 You will get important satisfaction done on time and you will be more effective
and productive this ensures customer satisfaction

TIME ROBBER
1. Procrastination
 Avoidance of doing a task which needs to be accomplished
2. Talking for too long
 Chatting with friends for too long can eat up our time
3. Day dreaming and overthinking about non work matters. Losing or falling asleep
when we should be working or reading
4. Disorganization
 You cant find find information or the things you need in order to begin a task
5. Indecisiveness
 Not knowing which of the several tasks to work on and ending up not working on
any of them. You waste time that is meant for other activities
6. Interruption by people without appointment
7. Poor/lack of delegation
8. Lack of setting priorities
9. Reading junk internet
10. Quarreling and fighting

STARTEGIES OF TIME MANAGEMENT

1. Identify specific goals that is what do you want to accomplish
2. Establish clear lines and keeping a schedule of activities
3. don’t do everything select priorities
 Work in blocks of time- keep most effective time for hard task
4. Be action oriented that is on the specific course
5. Plan in detail for tomorrow
 Learn from your experiences that is determined which activities where productive
and which one were not and avoid those
 Question your time e.g do I set priorities when deciding which activities to do
 Am I able to concentrate on one activity at a time

Values associated to time

1. Responsibility
 It will make you more answerable for your action and what is required for us
without being asked hence manage our homes well
2. Honest
 will tell ourselves the truth of how we use our time
3. Simplicity
 KEEP IT SIMPLE AND SMART (kiss)
 We will be uncomplicated and use our time well

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Revision question
1. State 4 reasons for poor time management

DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance is considered abused if it is deliberately used to induce physiological or
psychological effect or both. For the purposes other than therapy ones and when it is
used contributes to health risks the disruption of psychological functioning , adverse
social consequences or combination
A drug a substance which may be chemical, synthetic or natural which when taken in
by a living organism may modify or affect one or more of its functions.
Drug misuse/ abuse considered to be the misuse of medicine and incorrect use of
drugs or medicine with the intention of causing body changes. It can also be said to be
taking of medicine /drugs without the doctor’s prescription.

Commonly abused drugs

1. Alcohol
 Wine spirit beer busaa,muratina,mnazi,changaa among others such as
kumikumimachozi
 Alcohol is considered as a depressant which slows and lowers the functioning of
the brain e.g thinking, concentration and recognition, making decisions and
initiating reasoned action.
 The effect of alcohol on the brain make people feel relaxed, stop worrying what
other people think of them and have a good time.
 The initial effect of alcohol makes one feel stimulated, become a chatter box
more active as some continue making more alcohol mood and social behavior
changes some people become depressed and remorseful, others become
belligerent (become abusive or violent). depressive drinks may slow down,
stumble loudly confess their sins and failure and slur in words. The amoral
drunks pick up quarrel and fight and other reckless behaviour. When they fall
asleep they wake up with a hungover which include fatigue headache and nausea.
They may also feel restless during the day and this can affect their productivity.
2. Tobacco
 Tobacco contains 4,000 different chemical many of which are harmful:
nicotine,carbon monoxide and tar and three main chemical that affect the human
body and cause disease . tobacco can be smoked,snorted or chewed
EFFECTS OF TOBACCO
 The tar in the cigarette is deposited in the lungs causing lung damage and even
lung cancer. Carbon monoxide present in cigarette also affects the chemical
activity of the heart which encourages deposits on the wall of the arteries leading
to blockage that may cause blood circulation problems.
 For pregnant women this reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the baby during
pregnancy. Smoking can also cause spontaneous abortion and other
complications during pregnancy, low birth weight babies and still- births as well
as parental mortality in women
 Smoking also leads to increased incidents of severe coughing sneezing and
shortness of breath on exertion. Peptic ulcers in the stomach and duodenum,
cancer of the mouth,nose,throat mouth esophagus pancreas bladder cervix and
leukemia are other diseases caused by smoking

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 Economically although smoking contributes to a country revenue, it eats into the
family budget. Its also very costly in the treatment of the disease associated with
smoking
3. Cannabis sativa
 Also known as bhang, marijuana,(street name) grass weed,pot,rector and ganja.
The drug is rolled out into cigarette and smoked and can also be chewed. It can
also be processed into more potent form called hashish.
EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA
i. Problem with memory and learning
ii. Trouble in thinking and problem solving
iii. Loss of coordination
iv. Increased heartbeat anxiety and panic attacks
v. Poor decision making or mistakes at place of work
vi. Leads to unsafe intercourse and spread of HIV/AIDS
vii. Leads to poor immunity system which lead to a person prone to all forms of
illness
viii. It may become a highway for other illicit drugs like cocaine
ix. Leads to confused psychotic behaviour

4. Glue
Health risks
i. Nausea, vomiting blackouts and heart problems that can be fatal
ii. Squirting gas products down the throat may cause the body to produce fluid that
floods the lungs causing instant deaths
iii. Risks of suffocation if the substance inhaled from a plastic bag over the head.
iv. Long use of glue can damage brain liver and kidney

Effects of glue
i. Users feel thick headed dizzy and dreamy
ii. User may hallucinate
iii. Users remain intoxicated due to frequent use
Causes of drug and substance abuse
i. Pressure to perform well
ii. Work or academic overload
iii. Family problems e.g rejection and a shaky family background
iv. Poverty
v. Curiosity
vi. To escape from problems at home or workplace
vii. Poor leisure activity management
viii. Poor parenting styles e.g modeling as well as laxity among parents
ix. Media influence
x. Failure to develop prosocial values in early life
xi. Religious and cultural influence e.g Rastafarian
xii. Desire to have another sense
xiii. Availability of drugs
xiv. Excess pocket money

Signs and symptoms of drug and substance abuse

1. Physical signs

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 Slurred speech, staggering, double vision, blood shot eyes,watery eyes and
drowsiness, unusual rashes and sores around the moth or face
 Sudden change in eating habits such as loss of appetite, burnt clothes and
injection marks
 General poor health- dry mouth or constant licking of lips and persistent cough
 Emergence of gangster-ism with some mannerism for example haircut, untidiness
 gathering in groups in isolated places or dejected buildings
2. Psychological signs
 Withdrawn from family members and friends being involved with other company
with the suspected behaviour
 Mood swings victims may sometime,es become violent excessively excited or
argumentative
 Confused conversation, impaired judgement and lack of proper concentration
given tasks
 Behavior change where some may present extreme changes in behaviour and
personality e.g being untidy or very neat all of a sudden
 Others may present blank or dreamy expression fear of lack of sleep tauncy and
refusal to attend school
 Despair and lose of interest in life which may lead to depression
 Mental sickness may set in- victim may experience hallucination and delirium
such as seeing things that are not real
 Drugs could also lead to suicide compulsive drugs seeing
EFFECTS OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
A drug abuser undergoes several stages, whereby each stage whereby each stage has
effects on the user
STAGE 1: TOLERANCE STAGE
A person starts abusing drugs for the first time and more into habitual use where the
drug takes the central stage of his or her life. This repeated use leads to change the
brain and nervous system so that the user need more of the drug to get the expected
effect

STAGE 2: DEPENDENCE
The body demands the user to take more drugs. The abuser is now in the stage of
psychic or physical compulsive desire to continually use the drug either to experience
the desired effect or avoid the consequences of withdrawal. The suffering from
withdraw is like an emotional prison trapping the drug abuser
STAGE 3: ADDICTION
The user is now a victim of drugs and cannot help himself or herself. He/she has now
developed physical and psychological need for drug for the body to function
normally. This may lead to damage of vital organs in the body such as lungs liver
central nervous system and work output deteriorate. The user lives in denial and has
little concern of the future. The user may manipulate other people to get what he/she
want so as to maintain the habit.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND

HIV/AIDS
i. Sharing of needles by substance abuser can lead to HIV and and infection of aids
ii. When under drugs and substance you have no control thus you stand a high risk
of getting or spreading HIV/AIDS through sexual affairs

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iii. Users develop impairs persons judgment and for this reason a person may expose
him/herself to virus
iv. The uncontrollable properties of psychoactive substance lead to sexual and other
behavior that individual might otherwise avoid

MANAGEMENT OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

1. Detoxification process
 This is getting the already intoxicated drug or substance out of the persons system
and seeing him or her through the withdraw system where drugs dependency
starts
2. Counselling
Characteristics of clients who are motivated to change
 Accept diagnosis given
 Uncomfortable about behavior
 Talk about change willingly
 Agree with the counsellor
 Follow the course of action
 They will start continue and try to sustain changes
N/B the counselors role is to motivate the client and to affirm any small n
achievements

3. Effective motivation strategy

 Motivation is a stage or readiness or eagerness to change which may fluctuate one
time situation to another. This stage is one that can be influenced prochaska and
diclemente developed a wheel of change model that show the stages through
which clients pass in course of changing a problem. They include:
i. Pre Contemplation
A person is not considering change has not contemplated having a problem or needing
to make a change. People are very defensive here.

People seldom present themselves for treatment but are under coercion

They need information and feedback to raise awareness about the person and the
possibility of change

ii. Contemplation
Awareness is already raised but the client considers change and rejects it. They are
embarrassed when they talk about self they go back and forth between reason for
concern and justification for unconcern (caused by pathological personal traits or
defense mechanism)
The counsellor task at this stage is to help tip the balance in favour for change
People come for consultation in the contemplation stage. As a counsellor practice
motivational interviewing.

4. Determination stage
This is a window of opportunity. The counsellor helps the client to match ie helping
the client to find a change strategy that is acceptable and vasessible appropriate and
effective

5. Action stage

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This is what most people think is therapy
The person engage in particular actions intended to bring about change
These changes may or may not be assisted by formal counselling. The goal during this
stage during this stage is to produce change in the area

6. Maintenance stage
The challenge is to sustain the change accomplished by previous action to prevent
relapse
Maintaining change may require a set of skills and strategies eg quitting a drug
reducing drinking or loosing weight is an initial step followed by the challenge of
maintaining assistance or moderation.

7. Relapse
Help the client to review the process of contemplation determination and action stage
without becoming stuck or demoralized because of relapse.

8. Motivational interview
This is the probability that the person will enter into, continue and adhere to specific
change strategy
Its the counsellor s responsibility not only to dispense advice but also to motivate, to
increase likelihood that the client will follow a recommended course of action to
change.
A counsellor is like a sales man and motivation is inherent and central part of the
professional task.

PRINCIPLES OF MOTIVATION INTERVIEWING

 some people need this once unstuck, no longer immobilized by conflicting

motivations they have the skill and resource they need in order to make a lasting
change
 Important to people who are reluctant to change and endure ambivalent in
changing
 For others motivation interviews is a prelude to treatment
 It5 creates openness to change which paves way for other therapeutic work.
Responsibility for change relies on the individual
 This does not denote the therapist are powerless or helpless they exert a lot of
influence
 The strategies are more persuasive than coercive more supportive than
argumentative the therapist creates a conducive environment for change
 The therapist is increasing the clients intrinsic motivation so that change arises
from within rather than being imposed from without
 Done properly clients present the argument for change rather than therapist
 Motivation interviewing employs a variety of strategies especially derived from
person centered therapy
 Counsellor may appear relatively active but the motivational interview proceeds
with a sense of of purpose clear strategies and skills for pursuing that purpose and
a sense of timing to intervene in particular ways of particular moments.
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEW APPROACH

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 Systematically direct the client towards motivation of change after the counselors
own own feedback and advice where appropriate empathetic reflections is used
selectively to reinforce certain processes
 Seek to create and amplify the clients discrepancy in order to enhance motivation
for change
 DE-emphasis on basis of labels; acceptance of “alcoholism” or other labels seen
as unnecessary for change
 Emphasis on personal choice and responsibility for deciding future behaviour.
Therapist conduct the objective evaluation but focuses on the clients personal
concern
 Resistance is seen as interpersonal behaviour pattern influenced by therapist
behavior
 Resistance is met with reflection
 Treatment goals and charge strategies are negotiated between the client the
therapist based on data and acceptability. Clients involvement in the process and
acceptance of goal are vital

TREATMENT APPROACHES
1. individual approach
2. in patient counselling
3. participation in AA (alcohol anonymous) group
4. change can be enhanced by cognitive approaches behavioral modifications person
centered therapy solution focused and brief therapy.
RE- INTEGRATION
Counselling dysfunctional families and children suffer from shame anger distorted
thinking
The client need to be appreciated and accepted by the community to help them
become productive members of the society

PREVENTION MEASURES TO DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

1. Proper education on factors that contribute to the problem and deal with them, there
is need to educate the public on the proper use of legal drugs
2. Create awareness in the community, at work place, in schools and in places of
worship, educating people on drugs to remove ignorance
3. Media campaigns to highlight negative effects of drug use
4. Effective parenting helps to raise a drug free child. Functional families nature a
normal child
5. Occupational therapist to train workers on how to cope with stress at work place.
Teach life-skills and other related other skills like interpersonal skills and
assertiveness
6. To detect the drug user and to help them through drug counselling treatment and
rehabilitation
7. Effective government policies on drug trafficking

LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY IN PREVENTION OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE

ABUSE
1. Assertiveness
2. Self- awareness
3. Self esteem
4. Effective communication

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5. Decision making
VALUES NECESSARY IN THE PREVENTION OF DRUG AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE
1. Integrity
2. Love
3. Freedom
4. Responsibility

DECISION MAKING SKILLS

Decision making: this means picking one option from among many other options
We are often confronted with may situations that require us to make decisions
Decision making model can also be referred to as a step by step description of the
sequence of steps that are followed in making a decision

MODEL 1: PROCESS OF DECISION MAKING

In making a decision there are several steps that we follow:
1. Identify and define the problem
2. Reflect on the problem
3. Consult
4. Reflect on the advice
5. Weigh the options
6. Consider consequences
7. Take the best option
8. Make a decision
9. Implement the decision

EXPLANATION ON MODEL/PROCESS OF DECISION MAKING

1. Identify and define the problem
This involves determining the real problem rather than dancing with symptoms of the
problem e.g you may have noticed that your performo9ng poorly in class. As yourself
is really the problem or it could be the poor performance is as a result of poor time
management which is the real problem
2. Reflect on the real problem
It entails keen exploration of the problem to determine details such as how it began
who was involved the extent and magnitude of the problem and the urgency or
seriousness of the problem
3. Consult
Consulting offers various points of view on the problem. It provides you with a
chance to gather a lot of information that will be helpful as you come up with various
information's you can consult andtalking to atrusted person or people who had similar
experiences. Some of people you can consult include: guidance and counselling
parents religious leaders and trusted friend and relatives

4. Reflect the advice

Having consulted and gathered as much information as possible, do not hurry to make
a decision based on the advice given. Stop and think about the advice given and
information gathered. Compare against the the advice and weigh against your value
system.
5. Weigh options

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This involves assessing options that you have and getting rid of those that are too
weak or those that cant match your values
6. Consider the possible consequences on oneself
Ou may ask yourself the following questions such as “how will it be of benefit to
me”? what are some of the negative ways in which I may be affected if I take this
option
How will this option affect my health
N/B in each option note the positive and negative consequences that it will have on
you.
7. Consider the effect of action on others
In this stage you consider how each option you have will affect people around you
(friends relatives teachers and relatives)
You can ask yourself the following
 Will they be pleased or angry
 Will they appreciate me or will they disassociate with me
 Will they approve this action and support me or will they be unhappy with me
 Is this option going to harm other people in any way
8. Take the best option
After considering each option pick the best. This should be the option that has more
benefits and positive consequences.
9. Make a decision
Once you have identified the best option go on and pick it that is make it your
decision. This is considered the most critical step in decision making because it is
only from here that you proceed to implement your decision
10. Implement the decision
Implement means putting into action. In implementing a decision its necessary to
prepare a plan of action. In the plan of action you can plan to seek to outline the
following:
 What resources you will need
 What kind of support you will need and from who
 The time within which you will implement the decision, spelling out exactly what
you do at a given time.
CHALLENGING SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE DECISION MAKING
1. SUBJECT AND CARREER CHOICES
Before making any decision you have to consider the following:
i. Your own career aspiration
ii. Subjects you enjoy the most
iii. The expectation of family members and the larger society thus decision making
skills enable you to make the right choice.
2. CHOOSING TO LIVE A DRUG FREE LIFE
Young people are at risk of getting involved in drug abuse this is due to immense peer
pressure you face. In choosing to live drug free life you need to understand the
following:
 Effects of drug abuse on yourself and other aspects of life
 The consequences of drug abuse In your relationship with other people
 The quinces of drug abuse in relationship to the law
 The ways in which to avoid the temptation of indulging in drug abuse
3. HARMFUL CALTURAL PRACTICES
Some withdrawal practices are against human rights thus they become harmful. We
need to make decisions in this matter because of pressure from peers

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4. DEALING WITH PEER PRESSURE/INFLUENCE
Some young people face pressure from their peers to act or behave in a given way. It
therefore becomes necessary that we analyse what is influential in order to properly
decide.
5. NEGATIVE MASS MEDIA INFLUENCE
Negative median influence may lead to immorality and drug abuse which may in
return affect your relationship with other people. In most cases the inluence is subtle
and you may end up noticing it when it has already begun caiusing harm. For
example you may begin watching raunchy music videos and before you know it you
are hooked to pornographic material
6. USE OF LEISURE TIME
Leisure time is sim,ply a period when you are free from schoolwork or any other work
that may be given to you by parents or teachers
You require decision making skills to decide on what to do in order to make effective
use of this time. In order to make good decision on how to use leisure time you need
to know the following:
i. Amount of time you have
ii. Possible activities and their consequences
iii. Available of resources to carry out the activities
iv. How beneficial the activities will be
7. CHOICE OF RELIGION
For many people religion influences their choices action and behaviour. There are
many religion denomination of each religion that exist. Each religion has its unique
teaching practices while some religions have positive teaching and health practices
others have negative teaching that may be harmful, therefore decision making skills
are needed in order to choose which religion to follow. Some of the consideration
include:
 Does the religion have any practices that you consider harmful
 Is the religion practices legal
 Are the teachings of the religion agreeable to your values

8. CHOICE OF FRIENDS
Friends are important in or lives, we depend on them for many things and they
influence us in many things therefore it becomes necessary to apply decision making
in order to choose right friends by applying decision making skills we are able to
avoid bad friends. We consider the following:
 Character
 Strengths and weaknesses
 Opinions of others about the person
9. PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Physical and emotional abuse may lead to low self esteem which in return lead to
poor performance in all areas. Physical abuse may lead to physical impairment or
even death
Emotional abuse may lead to self blame or self pitty this may result in not accepting
yourself thus it is important to consider using decision making skill to deal with such
environment
Victims of abuses should consider or have the following choices:
 Do nothing and suffer in silence

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 Confront the abuser
 Seek help or revenge
Decision making will enable these people to make the most appropriate decision
depending on the situation in which they find themselves in.
10. CHOOSING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
A healthy lifestyle involves personal hygiene,eatingbehaviour,exercising having
adequate rest and avoiding any harmful activity on your health. A poor healthy living
may cause great discomfort and hindrance in performance of day to day activities it is
therefore important that you decide to lead a healthy lifestyle thus after decision you
need to ensure what to eat and what not to eat.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DECISION MAKING

1. INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT MATTER
Having the right information on the subject matter will help to handle it in a most
appropriate way.
2. PERSONALITY TYPE
Extroverts are outgoing and find it easy to consult and make decision while introverts
may keep to themselves and take long time to make a decision. Some of us are
cautious and will take long time to weigh options before making a decision others are
impulsive and will not take very long trying to arrive at a decision.
3. SOCIOCULTURAL FACTROS
This include such values beliefs and practice.as we make a decision we are bound to
weigh them against these sociocultural factors. In some societies certain groups are
not highly exposed to decision making of important matters and they may therefore
find it difficult to make a decision
4. PERSONAL AND OTHER PEOPLES EXPECTATIONS
Our expectations and these of others close to us dictate the kind of option we end up
coming up with and the final option we take. They also dictate ow fast we make
decision and whether we make and implement.

5. PEER PRESSURE
Our peers tend to put pressure on us to make our decisions. In a given way this
pressure may influence the final decision that we make. The pressure they put on you
may also force you to make hast decision in the end you do not give the problem
adequate consideration.
6. DEGREE OF CHALLENGE
Some challenges require one to make decisions that are critical and irreversible. Such
decisions require a lot of attention.
7. PERSONAL GOAL AND AMBITION
This influence greatly on your decision for example if you aspire to be an editor you
will make decisions that will help you improve your grammar and gain knowledge
about various subjects

CONSEQUENCES OF MAKING WRONG DECISION

Each decision we makehas its consequences. Wrong decisions have negative
consequences on various aspects of our lives.
i. HEALTH- wrong decision may have negative consequences o ones life eg
choosing to abuse drugs it can interfere with the normal body functioning on

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 various organs leading to sickness. Failing to exercise uphold personal hygiene or
adhere to healthy diet or seek medical care may cause health complications
ii. SOCIAL- wrong decisions on our social well being may include strained or
broken friendship, difficulty in friendship formation eg choosing to engage in
premarital affairs result in early pregnancies or marriage.
iii. ECONOMIC- wrong decisions mad in matters on expenditure of money may
lead to debts or unable to meet your needs e.g if you practice impulse buying you
may fail to buy the basic things due to wrong decisions on money expenditure.
Making wrong decision on money expenditure may make one fail to invest
iv. EDUCATION- many students have made wrong decisions such as participating
in school strikes sneaking out of school and abusing drugs. These destruction's
may lead to poor performance dropping out of school suspension and expulsion
from school in addition wrong decisions on revision study time and choices of
subjects may lead to failure in examination.
v. MORAL- society aspect individual to uphold certain morals. When an individual
makes wrong decision that go against the moral they get into conflict with other
members of the society engaging in theft may result in death e.g mob justice or
arrested by the police
vi. POLITICAL- wrong choice of leaders result in poor leadership and governance.
These bad leaders may incite violence which leads to loss of people or property
or both e.g in a school set up wrong choice of school prefects may result in
school unrest.
vii. PSYCHOLOGICAL- wrong decision may lead to guilt. They also lead to
anxiety, frustrations and anger towards oneself. These feelings lead to
psychological problems such as stress, depression and lack of concentration

IMPORTANCE OF LIVING VALUES IN DECISION MAKING

The following living values are of particular importance in decision making:
1. RESPONSIBILITY- having this value will be important because:
 It ensures that you make decision rather try to pass this responsibility to someone
else
 you make decision that have minimal negative effect on you and other people.
 You make decisions because you know you will be held accountable for all the
consequences
2. HONEST- when making decision it is important that one remains truthful to
oneself and others. Dishonesty may lead to wrong decision
3. RESPECT- in decision making you must always respect yourself and others if
you are are to make the right decision. If you respect yourself you will make
decisions based on facts and personal value rather than to merely please your
peers. In respecting others it means that you consult them and take their advice
seriously.
4. SIMPLICITY- having this value means that you will be able to break down a
problem to simplistic components therefore making it easier to understand it.
Simplicity also means that you follow simple steps of decision making and arrive
at simple workable solutions that you are able to implement
5. FREEDOM- it is important to have this value as you make decisions at the end
you will bear the results of your decision. This value ensures that you make
decision purely based on what advice you have been given or due to pressure
from certain people, but rather from careful consideration of facts
CREATIVE THINKING

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Its coming up with new ideas procedure and alternatives of resolving a problem or
dealing with a situation.
It involves looking at a problem from all possible angles, finding connections and
coming up with various ways of resolving it.

CRITICAL THINKING
This refers to a very keen evaluation of a problem situation or course of action.
Its deep or logical thinking in which we subject any proposition or course of action to
thorough questioning. Critical thinking requires you to not take things at face value
but rather try and find out more about the issue

IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVE THINKING

Some reasons why creative thinking is important include:
1. Due to new face challenge or existing one creative thinking help us to come up
with new ways of dealing with them
2. Allows you to come up with ideas that can be turned to income generating activities
therefore you less depend on people or parents
3. Using creative thinking you can deal with dangerous situations without getting
harmed e.g dealing with a bully you can decide to use humour to convince the bully
not to bully you
4. Allows us to use resources such as time and money in an affective way e.g looking
after animals and at the same time reading/drawing a book
5. A creative person finds challenges to be exciting thus the person will be fully
willing to come up with ideas too deal with the situation rather than pass the
responsibility to someone else that helps us to be responsible
6. Creative thinking helps us come up with solutions to problems that may seem
impossible

IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING.

1. Helps us learn to question before action, thus helps us avoid making rush decisions
2. Using critical thinking you are able to address the root cause of a problem thus
without it you only look at the surface value of the problem
3. Helps us pick the most effective alternative through rigorous testing before finally
deciding if it is wrong or worthy
4. Helps us avoid being influenced into irresponsible behaviour
5. Self awareness is made possible through critical thinking by critically thinking
about your weakness strengths abilities limitations physical and emotional
characteristics you are able to become self aware.
6. Helps us think of possible consequences of a given choice therefore you become
prepared foe any consequence that may arise

AREAS THAT DEMAND CREATIVE THINKING TO ARREST THE

STIUATION
1. Abuse- In abuse circumstances creative thinking can help you find ways to escape
from the abusive environment
Find ways to report the abuse e.g using signs and symbols
Convince the abuser to end the abuse
2. Bullying
You can use creative thinking to avoid the possibility of happening that is avoid
places where bully might be at certain time

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Come up with an idea where bully come to end end without anyone having to suffer
Report the matter without being identified as the reporter
3. Forced and early marriage
Some communities force young girls and boys to marry at a very early age. Refuse to
adhere to it may lead to violence or being made am outcast therefore creative thinking
can be employed
Ways to escape
Convince the one forcing you that you need more time
Convince the person marrying you to refuse you

FRIENDSHIP FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people
than you can make in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.

TYPES OF FRIENDSHIP
1. Adult adult friendship
Friendship between husband and wife
Brother and brother in-law
Adults to children parents and children
Uncle/aunt and niece and nephew
2. Community friendship
Friendship between people of a wider community. It may include friendship between
neighbors religious leaders and the followers, teachers and students. The friendship
may be formed through interactions forums such as community work random
meetings at market places.

Peer influence and peer pressure

Peer influence- its the subtle indirect effect that peers have on each other as they
interact. It causes change in behaviour willingly or unwillingly
Peer pressure- this is the pressure wielded by people between the same social group
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEER PRESSURE AND PEER INFLUENCE
Peer pressure peer influence
Entails use of force threats ridicule and No use of force that’s subtle and
intimidation sometimes unnoticed
Sustained persuasion and sometimes through No use of persuasions
promises of better things
Very direct and intentional Is indirect and sometimes
unintentional
Change initiated by group Change initiated by individual
Demand immediate change Change is gradual

Unhealthy behaviors associated by peer pressure

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These are behaviors that go against the law and moral expectation and which are
harmful to us and the people thus peer pressure can lead to the following:
1. Riots and school unrest
Riots are violent ways of expressing dis-satisfactory which lead to waste of time
destruction of property loss of life also one can be expelled from school
2. Drug and substance abuse
Peers pressurized to engage in D.S.A mainly through threat and constant perpetuation
due to fear individual may exclude from the group
Other consequences can be:
Poor performance absenteeism and drop out
Involve in risk taking behavior
One may suffer from short term or long term physical(shaking) mental problem
3. Premarital sex
Exposes the peer to HIV/AIDS sexually transmitted infection and teenage pregnancies
4. Bullying
Among peers may be viewed as an acceptable way of proving oneself to be strong
Sometimes it may cause bodily harm or loss of life
5. School drop out
Peer pressure may lead to dropping out of school in several ways:
Being pressurized to engage in premarital affairs which may lead to pregnancies
abortion or death
Drug and substance use poor concentration hence lack of focus.
6. involving in violent acts
Violent acts include: property damage beating murder and rape peers may be
pressurized to engage
7. Involving in cults
Cults- are unacceptable religious groups and beliefs that are considered harmful

PEER PRESSURE RESISTANCE A.K.A STRATEGIES OF RESISITING

PEER PRESSURE
negotiation
In negotiation you learn to:
get into agreement
Do no offence
Learn to compromise
Assertiveness- learn to express your objections in a firm but respectful manner
Upholding personal value system
Have a sieve value
Learning to say no
Seek help
From professional parents and law enforcers
Relating with negative socializing agent

FACTORS PROMOTING TO FRIEENDSHIP FORMATION

Maintenance
Healthy friendship are necessary to people of all age this is because they provide
support company. Once friendship have been formed there is need for it to be taken
good care of so that they can last long

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Love easy to forgive
Humility means that you are not more important than your friends then it means you
will treat each other with equality and take each other serious.
Honest always telling the truth and not cheating when you and your friends are honest
with each other you do not hide things from each other thus you are able to develop
trust in each other
Kindness it involves being caring gentle generous to each other. Also involves the
behaviour that shows you are concerned and you care about your friends e.g visiting a
sick friend either at home and in hospital. It helps strengthen friendship because the
friends feel they are valued
Empathy willing to share and help
Imagine that you do not have money to buy lunch your friend on the other hand
carried lunch from home you tell him or her about pour situation he or she tells you
sorry and continues eating how would you feel
Respect means to hold friends in high regard and to treat them as worthy. The use of
polite words and courteous treatment of others. Having respect enhances friendship
because it ensures that non of those in friendship feels humiliated or belittled by the
other.
Responsibility means doing what you are required to do and taking care of things
entrusted to you. It also means making proper decision and taking blame or credit for
your actions a responsible person is therefore dependable and will not disappoint but
if you are irresponsible you will always constantly disappoint your friends and they
may choose not to continue being your friends
Self confidenceits a belief that you are capable of doing something successfully.
When your friend is self confident they freely interact and express their feelings and
opinions freely and thus non of your friend will be intimidated or forced to something
they don’t want
Self awarenessthis enhances friends since they are able to identify and work on their
weaknesses that may harm the relationship. It also enable friends to compliment each
other I.e if friend A is good in sciences and friend B is good in humanities they can
help each other

Factors that destroy friendship

Mistrust being suspicious of each other and you do not fully believe thus reduce
interaction to each other thus straining the friendship
Dishonesty refer to when friends lie to each other and cheat dishonesty destroys
friendship because if your friend discovers you cheated he/she will feel hurt and may
choose to avoid you
Sociocultural prejudices/stereotypes those are generalization about a groups
character which do not take into account that individuals are different
Gossip means talking about other peoples matters and mostly what is said. It is
normally unkind and untrue
Lack of empathy inability to view situations and experiences from the other persons
perspective .lack of empathy may make other friend to feel like you do not care or not
loved. Also it may shows that you are inconsiderate
Selfishness caring about meeting your own needs without caring about others.
Selfishness may make your friends to feel belittled uncared for and taken advantage
of

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Disrespect having an attitude or behaviour that shows that you do not value your
friend and his or her opinions ideas and feelings. It involves humiliation insult and use
of impolite language this may lead to avoidance by friends.
Intolerance it means unable to withstand others opinions and feelings. when you are
intolerant towards others it is difficult to bond friendship. Thus when you show
intolerance in a friendship then your friends will avoid you or end the relationship
because they feel demeaned and unaccepted

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