Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:55 — 35.4MB)
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:55 — 35.4MB)
Kids want the skill set to empower them to make the right choices. — Mike Domitrz, founder of The Date Safe Project & father of 4 boys Talking to boys about consent is a must. It’s also incredibly challenging and a bit intimidating. Let’s face it: if adults were consistently good at consent, there wouldn’t … Continue reading 119 Consent with Mike Domitrz
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:30 — 17.8MB)
Boys can learn a lot by starting and running a business. Jen’s youngest son, Sam, bought his older brother’s lawn business two years ago, when the older brother moved to Tennessee (where he has since started another lawn care service). At age 12, Sam has a roster of 18 clients. He cuts and trims lawns … Continue reading 118: Business Tips from a 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:28 — 37.2MB)
How comfortable are you with risk? Do you respond with fear or encouragement when your son wants to try something new? How about when you find him climbing atop your tree house? Or doing flips off a public staircase? Adults’ desire to keep boys safe often interferes with boys’ ability to take chances and try … Continue reading 116: Why Risk Is Important for Boys
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:46 — 38.7MB)
Your son is not the only one struggling. According to Dr. Warren Farrell — and a slew of research — boys in 63 of the largest developed nations are faring worse than girls. They’re doing worse academically. They’re falling behind in the workplace. And their physical and mental health is failing as well. In his … Continue reading 115: The Boy Crisis with Warren Farrell
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:41 — 32.9MB)
‘Tis the season for sleepaway camp and summer sleepovers! For some parents and kids, though, the prospect of a night away from home is scary. There are so many ‘what-if’s’ that could happen: what if they’re cold? what if they get homesick? what if…what if…what if… But what if you let your kid go anyway? What if … Continue reading 114: Sleepovers, Camp, and Separation Anxiety
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:02 — 36.7MB)
According to the Oxford Living Dictionaries, self-esteem is “confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect.” That’s something we want for our kids. We’re not talking about participation trophies simply for showing up; we’re talking about a true sense of pride that comes for knowledge of your capabilities. Nurturing that kind of self-confidence is a … Continue reading 111: Self-Esteem and Boys
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:12 — 30.0MB)
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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:13 — 27.8MB)
“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
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:31 — 32.7MB)
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