Category Archives: Uncategorized

Meagan Francis of The Mom Hour: Parenting in the Digital Age



Meagan Francis has been writing, blogging and podcasting about parenting for the better part of 20 years. You might not know her name, but odds are good you’ve seen a photo of her: That’s Meagan, in the hot pink dress. And that’s one of her (four) boys under her arm. (Meagan also has a daughter.) … Continue reading Meagan Francis of The Mom Hour: Parenting in the Digital Age


Best of 2019



340%. The ON BOYS audience grew by 340% this year. We now have listeners in more than 110 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Botswana and Bolivia — which means that our message of support for boys is resonating and empowering parents worldwide. This year, we hosted … Continue reading Best of 2019


Middle School Matters with Phyllis Fagell



“Middle school,” Phyillis Fagell says, “is a stew of simmering hormones, shifting relationships and increased expectations.” It’s also a time of massive confusion and overwhelm — for middle school boys and their parents. Phyllis Fagell is a school counselor and the author of Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle … Continue reading Middle School Matters with Phyllis Fagell


Teaching Boys Respect



What is respect? We tell our boys all the time to “show some respect!” and to “respect your teachers,” and worry about whether or not our boys know how to respect girls and women. But what does that mean? Defining respect, we’ve learned, is trickier than it seems at first glance, and if you and … Continue reading Teaching Boys Respect


Helping Boys Deal with Negative Stereotypes



Boys are subject to negative stereotypes too. If you’ve been parenting boys for awhile, that fact probably isn’t news to you. You’ve probably heard your son complain about teachers who treat boys differently than girls. Maybe you’ve seen the way other moms watch your son — and you — at the park, as if they … Continue reading Helping Boys Deal with Negative Stereotypes


Vaping & E-Cigarette Use: What Parents Need to Know



Nearly 1 in 3 high school seniors tried vaping in the last year.  Middle schoolers are vaping too. According to the Centers for Disease Control, e-cigarette use among middle school students increased by 48% between 2017 and 2018. Now, nearly 5% of middle school students in the United States vape on a regular basis. Kids … Continue reading Vaping & E-Cigarette Use: What Parents Need to Know


146 What You Need to Know about Boys & Suicide (w Katey McPherson)



Young men are 4X more likely to die of suicide than young women The suicide rate for boys ages 15 to 19 grew by 30 percent from 2007 to 2015 Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24 No one wants to think or talk about suicide, but as people who … Continue reading 146 What You Need to Know about Boys & Suicide (w Katey McPherson)


145 Masculinity Goes Viral: The APA Guidelines, Gillette Ad & Boys of Covington High School



By now, you’ve probably seen this picture… …and heard about Gillette’s new ad, The Best Men Can Be Maybe you’ve even heard about the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men, which some applaud and some condemn. (Two recent headlines: “Toxic Masculinity is Under Attack. And That’s Fine,” from a left-leaning … Continue reading 145 Masculinity Goes Viral: The APA Guidelines, Gillette Ad & Boys of Covington High School


144: You Asked about Age 14, Implicit Bias and Sensitive Boys (Listener Q & A)



  Our listeners ask the big, important questions! When we put out our most recent call for listener questions, we got some heart-felt, thought-provoking, difficult-to-answer questions. Allison asked how to effectively love and support a young teen: We have a 14 year old boy, and I’m on shifting sands. I’m trying to find balance supporting … Continue reading 144: You Asked about Age 14, Implicit Bias and Sensitive Boys (Listener Q & A)


143 How Confidence & Joy Spark Success



“Confidence and joy are to the development of a child as oxygen is to life.”   — from Confidence & Joy: Success Strategies for Kids with Learning Differences If your son struggles — academically, socially, or emotionally — you know how quickly simple struggles can dissolve into despair. A child who feels unsuccessful at school … Continue reading 143 How Confidence & Joy Spark Success