106: Screens and Boys



How many hours per week do your boys spend in front of a screen? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 6-10 now spend 6 hours per day using screens as entertainment. That figure doesn’t count time spent learning via screens at school, or videochatting with grandma and grandpa. In this … Continue reading 106: Screens and Boys


105: Masculinity in the Age of #MeToo



What is masculinity? It’s a question that’s not easy to answer. But it’s an important one for parents and educators of boys to tackle because the primary question for all boys, is “What is it to be a man?” In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: So-called “toxic masculinity” & the idea that boys are … Continue reading 105: Masculinity in the Age of #MeToo


104: Anger and Boys



“By age 9, the default emotion for most boys is anger.” — Michael Gurian It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of a boy’s anger, whether you’ve got a toddler throwing a temper tantrum or a teenager on a rampage. But learning to respond to boys’ anger with love and patience is … Continue reading 104: Anger and Boys


103: Sports and Boys Who Don’t Like Them



Sports are a HUGE part of boy world — and that’s a problem for boys who aren’t interested in or don’t particularly enjoy athletics. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: Why it’s so important for parents to separate their athletic ambitions from their sons’ How families can resist social pressure to sign up for … Continue reading 103: Sports and Boys Who Don’t Like Them


102: Disappointments and Helping Boys Deal with Them



Sam had high hopes for this 12th birthday. But things didn’t go as planned. Instead of a day of adventure and independence, Sam’s had an encounter with a cop and learned he must wait another four years to ride his ATV independently on the trails. Dealing with disappointments is a key life skill. In this … Continue reading 102: Disappointments and Helping Boys Deal with Them


101: Homework and Boys



Few things cause boys (and their families) as much stress as HOMEWORK. In many cases, homework battles turn into outright power struggles — with no winners. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: Why boys struggle with homework The impact of homework on boys’ academic achievement What to do about “meaningless” homework How a “too … Continue reading 101: Homework and Boys


100: Introducing Co-Hosts Janet and Jen



What do you get when you combine a former educator/family coach with a writer/mom of 4 boys? A podcast that’s all about parenting, teaching and reaching tomorrow’s men! In this episode, you’ll meet your co-hosts, Janet Allison and Jennifer L.W. Fink. Learn how they connected — and why they believe it’s so important for parents … Continue reading 100: Introducing Co-Hosts Janet and Jen