As a mother of 4 amazing children, who are now adults, I love sharing stories about them and how Rob and I raised them. Our 4 children are made up of 3 very active boys and one beautiful girl who had no trouble ‘keeping up’ with her brothers.
I love the diversity of children, even within the same family. I find it fascinating that you can look at your children, who have for the most part, what you would consider to be similar life experiences – at least in the early years and whilst they were living and growing in our home. Yet in and through these experiences their expressions of them can be as vast as the sea.
Today, I’d like to talk about boys and education. Again, another conversation that I love because boys learn in such a different way to girls. Studies have proven that the sexes learn differently. Michael Gurian, author of ‘Boys and Girls Learn Differently: A Guide for Teachers and Parents’ says that the difference in learning styles is “A big deal.” As parents I believe it’s important that we have an understanding of this difference, especially if you are raising both in your family.
I know with my boys I needed to keep them busy. Action sports was big in our home and being in nature really spoke to the boys. Whether that be surfing, snowboarding or even building projects that would test their ability and at times my nerves. Our boys needed to be busy with their hands, they needed tactile things that would speak directly to their hearts, minds and souls. I think of the surf and the snow and how even the elements played a role in their education. I also know that as I travelled through the world of dyslexia with some of my boys, making space for them to express in a way they knew how was ever so important and it took time.
Teaching our children is paramount in our lives. From the time they are born, it’s our responsibility to teach them to become independent of us. From the safety of our womb to our arms to them holding onto our legs whilst learning to stand. We teach them to babble, to talk and then to form sentences. We, with our pre-schools, churches, sports teams, teach them to articulate needs and desires, to manage lunch boxes and schedules and even altercations on the sports field. Teaching them all of these things takes time and energy and sometimes we find ourselves running on empty. Another lesson is needed, another moment in time, another opportunity to teach healthy independence. Oh, the joy and challenges of parenting….. and parenting well.
So, with your boys (and of course your girls but I’ll address that in another article), can I encourage you to discover what makes them tick. Do they like facts, are they readers, do they like creating and crafting things with their hands or even their voices. I love seeing young boys develop the creative side and am grateful for people like Bruno Mars and John Legend (and of course the incredible list of 1000’s who have gone before – I’m just using these two as an example) who are proving that creativity in men is something to be celebrated. Are they like my boys who love action sports and who push boundaries?
All of these things directly relate to the way your boys learn. Understanding this will provide you with a direct link to helping your boys get a great education. Comprehending how they take information in, consider it and retain it. By you stepping into their world you may very well be the key that will unlock a world of learning for them.
Helpful tips for boys – excerpt from Michael Gurian’s book
{Note: These can be adapted for any age}
At Home:
Encourage frequent breaks from homework to move around. For example, he can do 15 minutes of homework and then 15 minutes of shooting baskets. Set a timer.
Help him move around while studying. Toss a football back and forth while calling out spelling words, or make up studying games that require movement. For example, call out study questions. If he misses, you get to assign him an activity, such as running up and down the stairs three times. If he gets the answer correct, he gets to assign you an activity.
Find creative ways to help him stay focused. For example, maybe he can walk on a treadmill while reading or sit on a balance ball instead of a desk chair.
Help your son stay organized. It may not be enough to buy your son a homework binder and check it every Friday. You may need to go over it with him every day as part of your homework routine.
At School:
Talk to his teacher about his learning style at the beginning of the year. The more information she has about him, the better she’ll be able to respond if he fidgets a lot during quiet study times.
Ask for alternatives. If your son is struggling with a narrative book report, see whether he can demonstrate his understanding in a different way, such as a slide show presentation or a podcast.
Enjoy the time you have with your children. They are a gift from God who has entrusted you to raise them well. We, at Little Miracles, are so honoured that you have chosen us to walk this part of your journey with you. Know that we are here, we are available and we are more than willing to help with anything.
