It is well-known that boys mature more slowly than girls. They don't share their feelings as well, they prefer slapstick and immature humor, and they can generally be more annoying! Why is this, and how can you adapt your parenting to nurture your son regardless of his level of maturity? 

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First, remember that boys' brains work differently. They will find more enjoyment out of moving, action, and physical comedy. Boys also tend communicate more nonverbally than females, especially at a young age. As a result, boys can appear louder, more chaotic, and less mature which can be frustrating for parents. But they are not being bad, they just prefer a different type of connection. Connecting on their level may help them to open up and connect on a deeper more serious, more emotional level as well. You can do this with goofy jokes, your own slapstick humor, playing sports, or just issuing physical challenges (e.g. whoever can shoot the crumpled paper into the trashcan from furthest away wins).

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Once boys know you can connect with them using their language and physicality, they may be able to open up more emotionally and maturely. At Therapy for Boys, we specialize in understanding boys and getting them to open up in a way that works for them. This can help them to be more comfortable discussing their feelings which can hopefully lead to lasting therapeutic change. 

 

If you think this approach would help your child, please reach out to us to schedule an intake!