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Traditional societies had many (often elaborate) rites of passage for boys and girls. On the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, boys become men after diving off rickety 40 foot platforms — toward the ground. (You may have seen or heard about this tradition on National Geographic.) In the Sioux culture, young boys were raised … Continue reading 134: Rites of Passage
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Enjoy this episode from our archives – it’s too good to miss! AND if you’re intrigued by what you hear, consider joining co-host Janet Allison for her upcoming online class: “5 Steps to Untangle Your Parenting.” All the deets are here: http://boysalive.com/untangle If your kids always do what they’re told, consistently treat others with … Continue reading 133: Re-Run – The Good News About Bad Behavior
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:25 — 40.6MB)
Would you let your 10-year-old son hang out with a bunch of teenagers you haven’t met? Would you let him attempt a double or triple flip in the trampoline in the backyard – or manage his own Instagram account? Writer and mom Judi Ketteler has. In a society that spends so much time telling boys … Continue reading 132: Risk-Taking Boys with Mom Judi Ketteler
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How do you respond to phone calls and emails from teachers about your son’s misbehavior? Excerpts of actual emails I’ve received from my son’s teachers: On Tuesday, Sam was sitting in a chair with his legs on a stool, he was flipping it and turning the stool with his legs and feet. I made eye … Continue reading 131: Emails & Phone Calls from Teachers
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HOMEWORK can bring out the worst in us…and our kids. We wonder if we should force them to do it (again) or if we can just stop having them do it all together because the conflict is too great. Is it really important? How do you manage – and help your son manage? In this … Continue reading 130: Homework re-run
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One of our jobs, as parents and educators of boys, is to help them learn how to deal with tough emotions — including grief. As much as we want to, we can’t protect our boys from hurt. Loved ones die. Parents divorce Friends move. Boys fail to achieve important goals, and experience rejection from peers. … Continue reading 129 Grief with Tom Golden
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The standard “birds and bees” sex talk doesn’t work any more. (If it ever really did!) Today, parents have to address pornography, homosexuality, gender and consent. If you feel nervous tackling those topics, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Sex educator and therapist Jo Langford routinely helps parents navigate these tricky conversations. Langford is the author … Continue reading 128: 21st Century Sex Ed with Jo Langford
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“My son just turned 14 & his girlfriend is 13, and he doesn’t understand why I won’t leave them alone in my house. Am I being over protective of BOTH of them? I feel a duty of care to his girlfriend. I know how easily things can turn from innocent to not-so-innocent. They are … Continue reading 127: Help! My Son Has a Girlfriend! (Listener Q & A)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:34 — 31.6MB)
A listener asked us, “How do you gently encourage/educate your boy’s teacher on what boys need and how to help them, rather than shame them, when they have gone into anger?” The short answer: It ain’t easy, but it’s so, so worth it! Many teachers know very little about the specific developmental trajectory and needs … Continue reading 126: Helping Teachers Understand Boys
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1 in 2 children will develop a mood or behavioral disorder or substance addiction by age 18. We parents like to think that if we “do everything right,” our kids will be mentally and physically healthy with nary a care in the world. But that’s not the case. The truth is that mental health … Continue reading 125: Anxiety & Depression in Boys