Stop and Think Words can Hurt

1. Stop and ThinkWords can Hurt Do not open your envelopes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rhc2hWj8Fk

2. Sticks and Stones �Stick and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me� Do you agree? Why? Why not? Ask for a show of hands, who disagrees and agrees with this saying. Get reasons for their answers to generate discussion. How do they know if they have hurt someone? What are some of the signs? Ask for a show of hands, who disagrees and agrees with this saying. Get reasons for their answers to generate discussion. How do they know if they have hurt someone? What are some of the signs?

3. Effects and Consequences What is an effect? What types of words have a negative effect on you? Who might use these words? How can words change us? Build from the effect being the initial impact on the victim from the words used; and a consequence being the impact of the effects on the victim�s life. E.g. Confidence, personality, appearance, attitude, lifestyle, friendships, eating or sleeping disorders etc.Build from the effect being the initial impact on the victim from the words used; and a consequence being the impact of the effects on the victim�s life. E.g. Confidence, personality, appearance, attitude, lifestyle, friendships, eating or sleeping disorders etc.

4. Your Dream Belief + Confidence + Determination= Dream How could negative words impact on the factors needed to achieve the dream? Choose a young person from the audience, preferably one who has an idea of what they would like to do in the future. Identify with them what they will need to believe in exactly. Why they will need confidence (what about them will it impact?) and why they will need determination (what use does it have?) in order to achieve their dream? Then refer back to the negative words we discussed earlier. What could be some of the potential consequences or impacts on the person�s dream? Why? What happens to each of the three factors: belief, confidence and determination, and things each one represents in that person? Choose a young person from the audience, preferably one who has an idea of what they would like to do in the future. Identify with them what they will need to believe in exactly. Why they will need confidence (what about them will it impact?) and why they will need determination (what use does it have?) in order to achieve their dream? Then refer back to the negative words we discussed earlier. What could be some of the potential consequences or impacts on the person�s dream? Why? What happens to each of the three factors: belief, confidence and determination, and things each one represents in that person?

5. Stereotypes What is a stereotype? Where have they come from? Are they an accurate judge of character? Show the group some images which they would typically label, e.g. rocker, geek, ginger, gay, gang member etc. Emphasise the point that the words used to describe these individuals are based on knowing very little about that person or group and is a way of putting everyone connected with that culture within one box, again demonstrating the long-term consequences of negative words. They can corner and exclude an individual or group and separate them from society, while also preventing them from exploring paths in life that may help them grow and develop as INDIVIDUALS. Show the group some images which they would typically label, e.g. rocker, geek, ginger, gay, gang member etc. Emphasise the point that the words used to describe these individuals are based on knowing very little about that person or group and is a way of putting everyone connected with that culture within one box, again demonstrating the long-term consequences of negative words. They can corner and exclude an individual or group and separate them from society, while also preventing them from exploring paths in life that may help them grow and develop as INDIVIDUALS.

6. Final Point Words are truly powerful! They have the ability to destroy one�s future... However, when used positively they have the power to uplift, motivate and empower individuals to strive and capture their dreams! Words have the ability to deflate people�s confidence, lower self-esteem and destroy one�s future... However, when used positively they have the power to uplift, motivate and empower individuals to strive and capture their dreams! Words have the ability to deflate people�s confidence, lower self-esteem and destroy one�s future... However, when used positively they have the power to uplift, motivate and empower individuals to strive and capture their dreams!

7. Please now open your envelopes! Now invite everyone who has been given an envelope up on to the stage, ask them to read out very loudly, (shout if they want to) what has been written in their envelopes. In each envelope there will be an example of positive words or phrases: E.g. Believe in yourself, you are intelligent, your opinion matters, I am proud, you are beautiful, I love to learn, it�s great to smile etc.Now invite everyone who has been given an envelope up on to the stage, ask them to read out very loudly, (shout if they want to) what has been written in their envelopes. In each envelope there will be an example of positive words or phrases: E.g. Believe in yourself, you are intelligent, your opinion matters, I am proud, you are beautiful, I love to learn, it�s great to smile etc.