Posted by:

Michael Grose

As most parents know it takes a little longer to grow a boy than a girl.

The maturity gap between the genders is skewed in favour of girls.

At each transition period it seems girls are a little more ready for the next stage than boys. When starting school they seem more social and more ready for learning.

When moving to secondary school they seem more up for the challenges of being independent and more organised.

When moving out of school they seem more focused and better prepared for life with less structure and more uncertainty.

Parenting boys takes patience, perserverence and a longer-term focus.

But mothering and fathering boys is a lot simpler than parenting them. (Parenting is the head stuff. Mothering and fathering is the heart stuff.)

There is only one thing a mum and dad needs to remember.

Boys like to please their mums and they want their dads to be proud of them.

They’ll generally crawl over broken glass to please their mothers so make sure you let them know when you are happy or not happy with their behaviour. It makes a difference.

And they just yearn to hear their dads say, “I’m so proud of you and what you do!” Some dads struggle getting those words out! The words can getstuck in their throat.

Get those twin drivers of wanting to please and wanting to feel pride right and you have great leverage to help boys behave well and also to be successful.

For more ideas about raising might boys visit www.parentingideas.com.au

Tags:

boys, fathering, mothering, raising