Advocacy is the ability to stand up for what one believes and to influence others. When we advocate for healthy behaviors, we are encouraging others to replace unhealthy behaviors with healthier ones, such as not smoking or putting your phone out of reach while driving to prevent you from texting while driving.
Advocacy is an important skill for middle school students to develop because many kids look to their peers for support and as role models. When we advocate for safer cell phone use while driving, for example, we are helping our peers to be healthier in their choices and are creating a safer community.