top of page

MIDDLE SCHOOL CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER

Conversations with your teen

L1

ASK: What are some of the things that influence who you are and the decisions you make? How did you represent them in your tree? Who did you put in your trunk? What are some of the negative influences you want to avoid? 

SHARE: How outside influences have shaped who you are, and a time when you realized you needed stronger positive influences to better avoid the negative ones. 

 

L2

ASK: What are your top 3 values? Are there any other values that you would consider a priority in your relationships?

SHARE: Some of your values from when you were a teenager. Discuss how your values may have changed over time and why. 

 

L3

ASK: Your teen if they’ve seen a relationship that didn’t turn out so well, and why they think that happened. What different choices could have been made?

SHARE: A time when you, or someone you know, slid into a relationship and had to deal with negative consequences, and what could have been done differently to have a different outcome. 

 

L4

ASK: Your teen about the relationship pyramid. What belongs in Positive Starters? Deepening and Developing? Mature Love? Discuss any opinion differences.

SHARE: A time when you, or someone you know, let infatuation in a relationship put them into a Mature Love stage before developing the other parts of the relationship. Discuss how brain chemicals play a role in how we behave in relationships. 

 

L5

ASK: What are the 6 parts of intimacy in relationships? 

SHARE: Discuss fun dating ideas.

 

L6

ASK: What are pressure situations? How would you get out of a pressure situation?

SHARE: A time when you were in a pressure situation and how you handled it. Discuss using assertiveness skills, having a plan to get out of pressure situations, and best ways to say “No!”

 

L7

ASK: What are the three sides of the relationship pyramid? (answer: chemistry, friendship, trust/commitment)

SHARE: An experience you had with breaking up. Discuss tips for breaking up well, and how to survive after a break up.

 

L8

ASK: What are warning signs, or “red flags” in a relationship? 

SHARE: Relationships where you have seen red flags and what they were. Or times when the red flags weren’t really noticeable until the relationship was in a really bad place. Discuss safe ways to get out of dangerous relationships, or how you could help a friend out of one. 

 

L9

ASK: What is the WWA method? (answer: WWA is a communication technique for having hard conversations, but can also be used as affirmations. It stands for What happened, When/Where it happened, how it Affected me)

SHARE: A time when this communication method would have come in handy. Discuss ways it can be used for affirmations.

 

L10

ASK: What is the biggest takeaway from your lessons? What stood out? What was your favorite topic?

SHARE: How you feel these lessons could have been helpful for you as you were building relationships, or how you see the lessons being helpful for everyone in building healthy relationships. 

This website is supported by Grant Number 90TS0141-01-00 from the Family and Youth Services Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Family and Youth Services Bureau.

Copy of Think Twice Logo_F rev3.png

CONTACT US

VISIT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA

This website was made possible by Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2022-ACF-ACYF-TS-0055 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families ACYF/FYSB. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the Think Twice Team and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

This website and its content are copyright of Think Twice Healthy Relationships Yakima 2026. All rights reserved.

bottom of page