Do you have sons?
I do too!
….seriously I had no idea that raising boys would be so different….and I grew up with a brother!
It’s actually pretty amazing to learn about the many ways we can support our sons with often small changes and viewing life through a different lens.
Here are a list of go to books, in no particular order, that will give you ideas, insights and help you understand more about our sons so your family thrives!
These are books I have or have read. This post contains affiliate links.
The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life
One of the first books I bought for my under 5 year old son. My copy is full of sticky notes and underlining. It’s not a doom and gloom book. The focus is on practical ways we can helps and support our boys as parents, carers and teachers in the classroom. Really good to dip into as you need things and to have read through.
Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men
Gave good insight about schooling and guidance to make good choices. Challenged some of my ideas early on and encourages an open minded approach to learning as much as you can about boys ways without thinking you have to abandon everything you’ve done before. Fairly easy read.
Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know about the Emerging Science of Sex Differences
One of the first books I read about gender differences that boys are born with mean they will act differently. It’s not just nurture it’s nature too. Helped me get into the mindset of a boy mother and how they feel and think. Great for younger and older boys.
Raising Boys by Design: What the Bible and Brain Science Reveal About What Your Son Needs to Thrive
I’ve bought this one recently and dipped into it as it covers much of what I’ve read before. Published in 2013 it’ll have more recent studies and ideas about raising boys. It’s a Christian book. I’d have liked the next steps to refer to scripture. It feels a little choppy like the book had the science and then the scriptural parts added as an afterthought on first look. I like the use of HERO as an acronym and the sections on uses of technology and healthy rites of passage.
Raising Boys: Why Boys Are Different – and How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men
Easy bedtime read and good introduction to the world of Raising Boys.
Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys
I enjoyed the simple illustrations from these Christian Therapists. Lots of read aloud moments between my spouse and I and conversation because of what we’re reading. I particularly love how each stage is broken down and talked about as well as the summary at the end of the chapter. Good for each stage of boyhood.
The Purpose of Boys: Helping Our Sons Find Meaning, Significance, and Direction in Their Lives
Read this book a few years ago but still regular dip into it as we shape our family vision to include more meaning and significance. It’s helped us to plan future events for our boys and consider rites of passage in a modern way that would suit our family. I’ve lead a small group discussion on this book and loved the conversation from other families of boys just that bit older than mine. It’s a good book to read before our boys get to this stage. We need the preparation. Great for elementary boy moms looking forward to middle school and beyond.
Raising Confident Boys: 100 Tips For Parents And Teachers
Very easy to read introductory book. Many of the ideas were common sense and many nod your head moments. Good to read if you need a quick reminder because you lost your way. An example 47 Discipline without dictatorship gives two paragraphs then there’s 6 bullet points for the parents and 4 bullet points for the teachers. Sometimes there are examples but often you’d have to find answers elsewhere.
The manual to Manhood
I heard this recommended on a podcast with a group of men talking about manhood. I forget which one now. So I got it because well guys recommended it 🙂 It is basically a how to book for boys who prefer or need to read how to do things in a book format.
As with everything some are common sense for me and not for you and vice versa and if you’ve never learn how to now you can or if there’s no man around then here you are. Things like: How to shave, How to tie a tie, hang slacks you might find on video too but having a book version appeals to some.
Many of the things anyone can do and provides a good list for boy moms to remember to teach/share.Worth noting a dating section and social skills and manners and a food and cooking section. Good to hand off to your son to start conversation or to read specific things in elementary and middle school ( Depending on your child) Handy reference book. Easy read. Not too deep. Tweens and Teens.
Boys and Girls Learn Differently! A Guide for Teachers and Parents
One of the first books I bought that was science based. I have the 2001 edition. It talks about brain based research, how the brain works and the differences between, how the difference affects boys and girls, creating the right classroom climate. There’s a section for each stage K, elementary, middle and high. It is unapologetic about boys being one way and also allows that not every boy will follow this path without having to say every second sentence ” of course there are exceptions.” Examples and stories help you imagine how this might or might not be right for your family. Useful summaries and links to other material if you wish to take it further. Quite a meaty read. Things change so I refer less to it now as 2001 is a long time ago in brain based research.
Manhood
I bought this for my husband when I first started looking at boy books to see what he thought and a way to have conversation. He read part of it preferring to read the summaries at the end of each chapter. Reminds, challenges and tells stories and gives examples throughout the book. Gave him ideas to talk to his sons about for later that he wouldn’t have thought of and some he would. Interesting book. He didn’t read it cover to cover. He felt it went on a bit.
Pam Allyn’s Best Books for Boys: How to Engage Boys in Reading in Ways That Will Change Their Lives
As avid readers we wanted to encourage a love of reading. They tended to stick to books as a mom I wasn’t drawn to ( Maybe they are books you’d read. We’re all different 🙂 So I wanted a good place to view a wide range of books ripe and ready for boys. I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve used it and so have the boys to find books and authors. Recommended to me by the author that I interviewed on my podcast. Good launch pad or if you’re stuck for book ideas.
5 conversations you must have with your son
This is a faith based book and there’s a daughter book by the same name. Easy read and each conversation is split into further sections with quotes, stories, examples and ideas from the bible, other authors and science. Elementary and older I’d suggest but worth previewing for younger moms. Good to share in a bible study group with families at different stages to talk through issues and share stories ( Not everything is scary about boys growing up!)
Listen to a recent show about Calmer Easier Happier Parenting Of Boys #125
