Books about raising boys

[Paprikapommes]

Looking for book recommendations about raising modern boys.

Steve Biddulph seems to get mixed reviews, I've also found Decoding Boys by Natterson, Raising Cain and The Gender Trap. Would love to hear if any other parents found these useful?

Also wondering if there are any that I've missed?

Bump and following! X

Also following!

Just stay away from Steve Biddulph! Terrible gender stereotyping!
Honestly as the parent of 3 boys I have just raised them as the type of human beings I wanted them to be. It wouldn’t have been any different if they were girls.

This.

Boys are individuals in themselves. Same as girls. Boys are not speshul. Stephen Biddulph

I raised a boy; I imagine it's the same as raising a girl? Utter bollocks.

Thanks for everyone confirming what I've heard about Biddulph, will skip that one. I'm not looking to treat my DS radically different to how I would a DD. But even with best efforts patriarchal conditioning does exist and can subtly creep in, from pretty minor things like blue for a boy to pretty major stuff. And it's something I would like to have a bit more self awareness around, is that really such a bad thing?

If nothing else I'm just curious to read different views and then come to my own conclusions. I am obviously reading general baby books too. There's really no need for anyone to get on their soap box on this thread.

Hey OP, I hear you. I’ve baby boy and I’m interested in doing some reading on this too. You can’t get away from the fact that the different sexes are subject to different social pressures and it’s about understanding these and how we can best support our children in relation to these.

Ok yes I do know what you mean. The trickiest time for me is the teen years, trying to navigate them through all the toxic stuff they hear from other boys, and what they see on the internet obviously! That’s a minefield.

I have Calmer, Easier, Happier Boys on audiobook. It's pretty good and the advice seems to work on my two (my problem is I am not consistent!)

www.amazon.co.uk/Calmer-Easier-Happier-Boys-revolutionary/dp/B0176TDWFM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=calmer+easier+happier+boys&qid=1658225902&sprefix=calmer+easier%2Caps%2C382&sr=8-1

roses2 that's a new one to me and reviews look good. Thank you.

Well, for books about how to combat gender differences, I like Delusions of Gender and Pink Brain, Blue Brain.

I find a lot of the books about how to raise boys seem to see gendered differences as completely nature no nurture, which is IMO unhelpful. And I found it helpful to read books which explained how the nurture side (not necessarily our individual parenting choices) happens.

Don't want to sidetrack, but I've raised 2 boys (now in 20s) and the best adviceI'd give you is to check what sort of role model other men in your life are!
If you have a male partner, make sure you don't fall into gender stereotypes between you, with your sons seeing you doing the bulk of housework, cleaning, cooking, laundry etc.

I love my sons dearly, but it has been hard work challenging some of the habits they've caught from their father!

Both nature and nurture are important surely?

Sure, you don’t want to force people into pre-defined roles when it doesn’t match who they are. But there are differences between males and females.

I dont have a recommendation as such - but I would recommend a biology based book setting out a typical timetable of development milestones.

I had one when my boys were young and found this very helpful as testosterone surges can occur at very early years also practical personal care - so my recommendation would be to pick up a biology led one as it helped inform me.

As regards parenting - I would not go gender specific but would dip in and out of different styles to see what suits your instincts.

I've got a small boy and one on the way. For this stage I'm all about the role modelling. DS sees us both doing cleaning, cooking, driving, gardening, working, looking after him and his baby brother when he arrives. DS has loads of different toys from dolls and buggies through to cars and trucks (not that I think any toys are gendered). We read books with characters from loads of different backgrounds, races and abilities. We watch TV programmes with characters from different backgrounds (thank God for cbeebies!).
As I woman I know how I'd like to be treated and DH treats me with respect, fairness and equally and I hope that will rub off onto our sons. I love it when he has a play date and he tells his little mates that they have to take their snack plates to the kitchen.

i don't have a book rec but Sonshine Magazine on Instagram/Twitter has some good info on raising boys.

Yes, both nature and nurture are important, but I feel the role of nature in the differences between men and women (boys and girls) is generally overstated and the role of nurture understated, so I chose to focus on that direction. I also think it's most important to look at the individual child and see what their nature is, for them, not because they are a boy or a girl.

So actually useful books for seeing the individual child I have found are these:

Raising Human Beings (it's a coincidence that the name is similar to the Biddulph one)
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen
The Whole Brain Child

I came on here to say Sonshine magazine - as per PP. Follow on Instagram for a taster.

Jenni Murray wrote one bit not read it.