One of the many problems that boys have in school is that educators, for the most part, don’t see them as being interested in the academic side of school. By that I mean that boys will learn the facts that are presented in class, but they don’t seem to be concerned with the abstract nature … Read more
I’ve been working on a project about girls and perfectionism (which is one reason I forgot to post something last month), and I believe that some of the information that’s emerged from that project will interest parents of boys. Since I’ve taught both boys and girls, I was certain that the vast majority of students … Read more
The summer is fast coming to an end and, depending on where you live, your son is just about to go back to school, has just gone back to school, or (for those in the southern hemisphere) is in the middle of the winter term. Look at what he’s doing – is he sitting playing … Read more
The year is about to turn again, 2017 will be here before we know it, and this is a great opportunity for students to turn over a new leaf and take a fresh perspective on school. Of course, if this is a regular practice, your son may be one of what a friend calls “Fall … Read more
Parent – “Why did you do that, you knew that was not allowed!” Child – “I don’t know why, it just seemed like the thing to do at the time.” The one gender difference in brain development that most scientists agree on is that the prefrontal lobe, the part of our brain called the executive decision … Read more
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
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
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
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
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