Powered by RedCircle It’s back-to-school time! What does this time of year look like for you & your family? Does your son dread back-to-school? Do you? Or, do you welcome that start of a new school year? Rob Vaughn, a 5th grade teacher, is one of the (too) few male elementary school teachers in the … Continue reading Back to School w a 5th Grade Teacher
Powered by RedCircle The right hemisphere of your brain is your “wild creature mind,” says Steve Biddulph, the Australian author, psychologist, and family therapist known for his work on parenting and child development (including his seminal book Raising Boys). It is richly connected to our body & memories, including memories that we no longer consciously … Continue reading Steve Biddulph Discusses the Wild Creature Mind
Powered by RedCircle Boys know that deep friendships are critical to mental health, says Dr. Niobe Way, a developmental psychologists who’s been studying boys for 40 years. But as boys move through their teenage years, many of them — as many as 70-80% — find it difficult to connect with other boys. Why? “Boy culture,” … Continue reading Dr. Niobe Way on Reimagining Boys
Powered by RedCircle How do we best support neurodivergent boys? Approximately 12% of boys in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD. About 3% are on the autism spectrum. 18% of boys have dyslexia. An untold number are gifted – &, of course, many boys are 2e, or twice-exceptional, with more than one of … Continue reading Understanding & Supporting Neurodivergent Boys
Powered by RedCircle Circumcision is a decision every boy parent must face – but what’s the truth behind the practice? Let’s break down the facts and dispel the myths. Culture & emotion influence circumcision rates Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis is incredibly common in some cultures & very rare in others. In … Continue reading Circumcision: Facts & Myths
Powered by RedCircle To connect with boys, you must first listen, says Jonathon Reed, program manager for NextGenMen. Societal expectations of boys & men are gradually shifting. These shifting narratives are part of why it’s so important for adults to listen to boys. Adults’ interpretation and understanding of situations and interactions doesn’t necessarily reflect boys’ complex … Continue reading Jonathon Reed: To Connect with Boys, Listen
Powered by RedCircle Dr. Lisa Damour says that adults should consider the barriers boys face when it comes to emotional connection and expression. “Gender is such a huge force in how emotion is expressed, and perhaps even in how emotion is experienced,” says Dr. Damour. “If a boy doesn’t feel that he has permission to … Continue reading Dr. Lisa Damour: Connecting with Teens
Powered by RedCircle Brendan Kwiatkowski knows that connecting with teenage boys requires understanding, patience, and a willingness to create a safe emotional space. Kwiatkowski, PhD, a renowned researcher specializing in boys’ emotions, experiences, and masculinities, says that teen boys “assume most people don’t want to hear about their negative emotions.” Helping Boys Express Their Emotions … Continue reading Brendan Kwiatkowski: Connecting w Teen Boys
Powered by RedCircle Teacher Tom says “kids haven’t changed at all” over recent decades. “Kids still need freedom to play, to follow their own curiosity,to ask and answer questions,and to learn how to get along with other people,” he says. Nurturing Kids & Building Connections The first five years of a child’s life “should be … Continue reading Teacher Tom on Connections & Play-Based Learning
Powered by RedCircle Women are America’s safety net. Women provide the vast majority of child and elder care and care for the disabled. Women do the bulk of home- and community-tending, and they create and reinforce the ties that bind us together. Most of that labor is unpaid — and the little that is paid … Continue reading Women are America’s Safety Net & That’s a Problem for Boys