"Boys, boys, boys - so much easier than girls. More straightforward, less emotional. Altogether simpler. Apart from when they act out, but that's OK, because boys will be boys. They barely need any parenting at all, other than a reminder not to get anyone pregnant - right?"
""Here's the reality," write Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper in their new book, Talk To Your Boys, a how-to manual for the parents of tweens and teens. "This laissez-faire approach to raising boys isn't working. An increasing number of boys say they feel lonely and isolated.""
Boys are often perceived as easier to parent, assumed to be less emotional and more straightforward, yet many experience loneliness and isolation. Laissez-faire parenting contributes to emotional distance and missed opportunities for guidance. Active engagement, clear communication, listening, and empathy help build trust and connection with tweens and teens. Practical strategies include initiating conversations about sexuality, consent, mental health, identity, and setting consistent boundaries. Equipping parents with tools to tackle tricky subjects supports healthier emotional development, reduces risky behaviors, and strengthens parent-child relationships as boys move toward adulthood.
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