ON BOYS Podcast

Janet Allison, Jennifer LW Fink•redcircle.com

Kids & Family

Education

Health & Fitness

Real Talk about Parenting, Teaching, and Reaching Tomorrow’s Men

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Episodes

109: Gun Play and Boys

Photo by Craig Marren via Flickr Is Gun Play Really Okay? A generation ago, gun play was an acceptable part of childhood. Parents gave their kids toy guns as gifts -- yes, even Red Ryder BB guns! (and yes, that's A Christmas Story reference) -- and boys regularly played Cops and Robbers and War both at school and in the neighborhood. Today, we're a little more leery of gun play. And no wonder. Mass shootings seem to happen with alarming regularity, and without exception, the shooters so far have...

May 03, 2018•28 min

108: Video games and Boys (with special guest Greg Wondra)

Photo by Isengardt via Flickr Why do boys spend so many hours playing videogames? And how worried should we be about the hours they spend gaming? To get some answers, we turned to a true expert: Greg Wondra, a former boy & current parent who also happens to be video game designer who worked on the MLB 2K series, Wizard 101, Lost Planet 3, and Monkeyquest, Greg Wondra, video game designer & dad In this episode, Jen, Janet & Greg discuss: Why boys are so attracted to video games How to...

Apr 26, 2018•28 min

107: Video Game Design – A Career for Boys

Photo by Ryan Quick via Flickr Can your video game-loving boy turn his passion into a career? Perhaps, says our special guest, Greg Wondra. Greg is a veteran game designer who worked on the MLB 2K series, Wizard 101, Lost Planet 3, and Monkeyquest, and currently teaches video game design to high school students at Kern County Regional Occupational Center in California. Greg directing a motion capture session with Derek Jeter for the MLB 2K baseball game. Jen & Greg. Notice some resemblance? ...

Apr 19, 2018•22 min

106: Screens and Boys

Photo by Paul Inkles via Flickr How many hours per week do your boys spend in front of a screen? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 6-10 now spend 6 hours per day using screens as entertainment. That figure doesn't count time spent learning via screens at school, or videochatting with grandma and grandpa. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: Expert recommendations for screen time vs. reality Whether or not screen addiction is a "thing" Signs that your...

Apr 12, 2018•30 min

105: Masculinity in the Age of #MeToo

Photo by Independentman via Flickr What is masculinity? It's a question that's not easy to answer. But it's an important one for parents and educators of boys to tackle because the primary question for all boys, is "What is it to be a man?" In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: So-called "toxic masculinity" & the idea that boys are "broken" Healthy masculinity Changing expectations of boys and men How to help boys wrestle with dueling definitions of masculinity Links we mentioned (and mo...

Apr 05, 2018•26 min

104: Anger and Boys

Photo by Stewart Baird via Flickr "By age 9, the default emotion for most boys is anger." -- Michael Gurian It's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of a boy's anger, whether you've got a toddler throwing a temper tantrum or a teenager on a rampage. But learning to respond to boys' anger with love and patience is one of the best gifts we can give to our guys. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: How the "boy code" subtly encourages anger The biology of anger Techniques parents...

Mar 29, 2018•24 min

103: Sports and Boys Who Don’t Like Them

Photo by woodleywonderworks via Flickr Sports are a HUGE part of boy world -- and that's a problem for boys who aren't interested in or don't particularly enjoy athletics. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: Why it's so important for parents to separate their athletic ambitions from their sons' How families can resist social pressure to sign up for sports Alternative ways to encourage activity, build teamwork and socialize How to identify and support your sons' true interests Strategies pa...

Mar 22, 2018•25 min

102: Disappointments and Helping Boys Deal with Them

Photo by Runar Pederson Hokestad via Flickr Sam had high hopes for this 12th birthday. But things didn’t go as planned. Instead of a day of adventure and independence, Sam’s had an encounter with a cop and learned he must wait another four years to ride his ATV independently on the trails. Dealing with disappointments is a key life skill. In this episode, Jen and Janet discuss how the “man box” stifles boys’ emotional expression and share strategies parents and teachers can use to help boys cope...

Mar 15, 2018•29 min

101: Homework and Boys

Photo by Lars Plougmann via Flickr Few things cause boys (and their families) as much stress as HOMEWORK. In many cases, homework battles turn into outright power struggles -- with no winners. In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss: Why boys struggle with homework The impact of homework on boys' academic achievement What to do about "meaningless" homework How a "too cool for school" attitude can interfere with learning Why arguing about homework might not be the best use of your time and energ...

Mar 14, 2018•24 min

100: Introducing Co-Hosts Janet and Jen

What do you get when you combine a former educator/family coach with a writer/mom of 4 boys? A podcast that's all about parenting, teaching and reaching tomorrow's men! In this episode, you'll meet your co-hosts, Janet Allison and Jennifer L.W. Fink. Learn how they connected -- and why they believe it's so important for parents and teachers of boys to learn about the Boy Code. Jen (left) & Janet (right) Links we mentioned (or should have!) in Episode 100: BoysAlive! (Janet's website) and con...

Mar 12, 2018•18 min

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