How To Bolster Boys' Social Skills
Practical ideas for keeping boys connected and thriving
Hi everyone! I grew up in Wisconsin listening to a lot of public radio, so it was a real thrill to join the Wisconsin Public Radio show Central Time for a discussion about boys. I hope you give it a listen.
Talking About Boys on Wisconsin Public Radio
For parents, raising boys to be good men has always been a daunting task, and the internet and other cultural factors have made it more challenging than ever. In this episode, two parenting specialists about how to raise boys in today’s climate. LISTEN NOW
Panel Participants:
Jennifer L.W. Fink is a writer, educator, Registered Nurse and mother of four boys. She hosts the podcast “On Boys” and she’s the author of the book “Building Boys: Raising Great Guys in a World that Misunderstands Males.”
Christopher Pepper is the author of the Teen Health Today newsletter and co-author of the forthcoming book “Talk To Your Boys.” He is an award-winning health educator in the San Francisco Unified School District, where he helps coordinate the district’s Young Men’s Health Project.
I was grateful to be included as one the experts providing advice in this KQED Mindshift article by Phyllis L. Fagell — Christopher
6 Ways Educators Can Bolster Boys’ Social Skills
At a time when rates of loneliness are rising among young adults and researchers report that 15- to 24-year-olds spend nearly 70% less time socializing in-person with friends than they did two decades ago, boys face some distinct challenges.
For instance, in their 2021 report, “The State of America’s Boys: An Urgent Case for a More Connected Boyhood,” researchers Michael Reichert and Joseph Derrick Nelson note that boys feel pressure to conform to societal expectations about masculinity, such as being stoic, dominant and competitive. That may help explain why boys are more likely to experience physical and verbal bullying and why they’re less academically engaged than girls.
Here are six ways educators can help boys acquire the skills and traits they need to strengthen their relationships and thrive at school. READ MORE
Boys Are Suffering Too. Here’s How We Miss That.
Dr. Lisa Damour, whose work we featured recently in Teen Health Today, just wrote this very smart essay for the American Institute for Boys and Men. I found this section especially compelling:
Parents and educators now routinely ask me how they should respond to the growing interest of many boys in the broadly offensive ideology of internet influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate. I always find myself navigating a double reaction in these conversations. Personally, I am appalled to think that some boys are letting themselves be taken in by this material. Professionally, I know from nearly thirty years of clinical practice that no kid who feels good about himself becomes drawn to hateful worldviews.
For most of us, it’s easier to feel compassion for those who suffer from anxiety or depression than to summon sympathy for those who hole up in dark corners of the internet, compulsively gamble or play video games, act out, or spout hate. Further, the externalizing symptoms which boys are more likely to exhibit are often addressed with nothing beyond a disciplinary response, especially for boys of color.
But if we are going to do right by our boys, we need to see past the negativity on the surface to recognize underlying distress that deserves our compassion and help. People who feel whole and worthy don’t build themselves up by degrading or hurting others, and those who have healthy strategies for managing life’s inevitable challenges don’t need to soothe themselves by getting lost in pornography, video games, or gambling.
Thank you for reading! A special thank you to those of you supporting Teen Health Today with a paid subscription on Substack. Your generosity is the sole reason I’m able to devote so much time to this project. Remember that teachers get a 50% discount - Christopher
P.S.: Another way to support Teen Health Today is by purchasing books through our page on Bookshop.org, where we feature many of the books discussed in this newsletter.
Recent Teen Health Today Highlights
Teens Are Sharing Deepfake Nudes Of Their Classmates
Eight must-read stories on how hard it is for young adults to stop vaping, the effect of sleep on teen mental health, the stress teachers are under today, and more.Teaching Teens How To Use Condoms Is Messy, Funny, and Awkward - And Totally Worth Doing!
The case for hands-on condom practice as part of health class
How Dr. Lisa Damour Helps Adults Understand (And Appreciate!) Teens
Lessons from America's Teen Whisperer
How To Talk To Boys So They Grow Into Better Men
Many boys are struggling right now. Here are some concrete ideas for helping them become caring, emotionally engaged men..Book Bans and Classroom Controversies - How To Fight Back
Schools around the U.S. are facing book bans, curriculum challenges, and threats. What lessons can we learn from the battles over sex ed?
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Love this!!!