Pink or Blue?

blue and pink lego box image

Some years ago when I taught a class in Human Growth and Development, there were five requirements for the students which involved paying attention to people at different stages of their lives. One of the class requirements was to go to a large department or big-box store, look at the toy aisles, and report on … Read more

Talking with your boy about “being different”

Has your child asked you about Caitlyn/Bruce Jenner yet? If he hasn’t, I can promise you he has been talking about that with his friends. In January, we discussed how your son knew he was a boy, and now we need to discuss the issue of transgendered individuals. All the evidence indicates that a disconnect … Read more

Boys + screen time: the real 411

boy and screen image

The question that parents ask me the most often is: “Are video games/computers/television dangerous for my son?” One problem with responding to that question is that these forms of technology haven’t been around for very long and the research that is done on the effects of technology have most often used university students as subjects. It seems as … Read more

Teachers: You’ve got to mix it up to sink it in

learning modes diagram image

As I travel on school visits, almost everyone I run into knows some boy who is having trouble in school. Taxi drivers, customs officers, and front desk staff in small hotels around the world tell me about the educational difficulties of their son/brother/nephew. During a one hour flight, the young man who sat next to … Read more

Snacks – the monster in the pantry?

snack time image

Last month, we covered the problem of sugar. This month, we’re taking on snacks. When I was little, we didn’t have snacks. If you were hungry between meals, my mother told you to go get a glass of water or a stick of celery. Anything else was going to spoil your appetite for the next … Read more

Sugar high: It’s REAL

Years ago, parents were warned not to let their children consume too much sugar as it would result in hyperactive behavior. Then, research came out that assured parents that there didn’t seem to be a strong connection between consumption of candy and wired children. Guess what, parents?! The experts have changed their minds again. According … Read more

Boys, Girls, and Nature/Nurture Identity Behavior

boy or girl image

Do you think your child knows he is a boy? Or has he just learned to call himself that because he learned it from those who are around him? Generally, children recognize the differences between men and women by ages one to two and can identify themselves as being male or female by the time … Read more

Got Games?

teenage boys playing video game

In a few weeks, boys around the world will receive holiday gifts of gaming devices, along with new games to play on those devices. What is likely to happen as a result of receiving these presents is that these boys will shout thanks and then plug themselves into the games for the rest of the … Read more

Restless Boys in School: Attentional Issues or Boredom?

bored boy in classroom

A friend called the other day to ask my opinion. Her son is in grade two and the boy’s teacher wants him tested for attentional issues. I asked what the teacher was concerned about. It seems that the boy will only pay attention if the teacher is standing right by him. The boy is supposed … Read more

What matters to boys?

bright faced boys photo

Boys have the reputation of being unemotional and not caring about others. In fact, the opposite is probably true – boys care a great deal about everything in their lives especially those around them. The problem is that they may not be able to express those emotions in part because they acquire words a bit … Read more