Category Archives: Guests

Parenting Teenage Boys with Lee Bare



Parenting teenage boys is a challenge. And an opportunity. In some ways, says child and adolescent psychologist Lee Bare, parenting a teenage boy is like parenting a newborn. “You have to be prepared for anything and you never know what kind of mood they’re going to wake up in,” says Lee, who is also the … Continue reading Parenting Teenage Boys with Lee Bare


Building Boys’ Reading and Literacy Skills



Reading and literacy are important life skills. But many boys struggle with reading and writing — and resist parents’ and teachers’ well-intended efforts to help them. Lots of boys are reluctant readers. Many hate writing. Teaching boys to read Middle school literacy instructional coach Todd Feltman says, “reading has to be taught in increments,” especially … Continue reading Building Boys’ Reading and Literacy Skills


Parenting, Privilege, & Building a Just World



We want to build boys — AND a just world. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable challenges, and tempting to not take action on big societal issues like inequity because, well, what can we do anyway? But while it’s true that none of us can individually create the systemic changes that are needed … Continue reading Parenting, Privilege, & Building a Just World


Holding the Calm with Hesha Abrams



Holding the calm, says Hesha Abrams, is an essential skill for resolving conflict and diffusing tension. Conflict and tension trigger an individual’s amygdala, the “reptilian” part of the brain that initiates the flight-flight-or-freeze response. And when the amygdala is activated, the human body goes into a refractory state for about 20 minutes. Our eyes and … Continue reading Holding the Calm with Hesha Abrams


Parenting Through Health Challenges



Parenting inevitably includes health challenges. Kids get sick. Parents get sick. And injuries and accidents happen more often than we’d like. Learning how to manage a medical diagnosis — and navigate the health system — is a crucial parenting skill. “Boy mom” and COVID, cancer and heart failure survivor Jen Singer has more medical system … Continue reading Parenting Through Health Challenges


Gender Equality, Boys and Men



Doing more for boys and men does not require an abandonment of the ideal of gender equality. In fact, it is a natural extension of that. — Richard V. Reeves Those words are from a new book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do About … Continue reading Gender Equality, Boys and Men


Braden Bell Explains Middle School Boys



Middle school boys may seem messy and mysterious, but they’re also entertaining, challenging, and inspiring, says Braden Bell. The middle school years are “a wonderful, magical moment,” says Bell, an experienced educator, father, and grandfather. “It’s important to keep in mind that we are not raising 6th graders, we are not raising 7th graders — … Continue reading Braden Bell Explains Middle School Boys


Michael Gurian on Raising Boys



.redcircle-link:link { color: #ea404d; text-decoration: none; } .redcircle-link:hover { color: #ea404d; } .redcircle-link:active { color: #ea404d; } .redcircle-link:visited { color: #ea404d; } Powered by RedCircle   When Michael Gurian published The Wonder of Boys in 1996, there “wasn’t any national consciousness about boys’ issues,” he says. A quarter century later, there are dozens of books … Continue reading Michael Gurian on Raising Boys


Empowering Boys to Challenge Rape Culture



Empowering boys to challenge rape culture is one way we can decrease sexual violence, says Gordon Braxton, an anti-violence educator and activist who formerly served as the Director of Men’s Outreach on Sexual Violence Prevention at Harvard University. Currently, most of us “spend little to no time empowering boys to raise their voices against sexual … Continue reading Empowering Boys to Challenge Rape Culture


Deborah Farmer Discusses Emotional Literacy (& Awe!)



Deborah Farmer Kris is a child development expert, author, and former educator — and she still finds raising kids a challenge! “None of us are slot machines,” she says. “It’s not like you put in this language and out pops a child who says ‘yes, mother.’” Parenting, Kris says, is humbling, partly because “there’s not … Continue reading Deborah Farmer Discusses Emotional Literacy (& Awe!)