How often have you heard the cliché “boys will be boys?” In the days when little boys were at home, running around the yard and neighborhood playing cowboys and superheroes and building secret hideouts, we saw the aggressive and boisterous play of boys as a sign of strength, leadership, and future success. Times have changed, and today the behavior of boys has become a subject of national concern. Boys have a lower sense of self-esteem than girls, aspire to do less in school, have difficulty learning to read and write, and are often held back or placed in special education classes. There are three major, inter-related influences in the life of any child: biology, relationships, and environment. Let’s look at how each one impacts the lives of boys.
For example, Biology Brain research has revealed that compared to girls, boys generally mature later, are more active and aggressive, and require more physical space. Boys are better at manipulating objects, are more task-oriented, and are more likely to solve problems, but they are less verbal and more apt to have trouble reading. In addition, boys have difficulty identifying the emotions of other people.