Building Boys

It is routine to identify and discuss how gender norms can be harmful for girls. But we don't often elaborate on how gender norms can be harmful for boys, too. And we definitely don't often discuss how to counter those harmful gender norms to raise wonderful, decent, loving boys. This is why Building Boys is such an important book, where Fink outlines such important topics as alternative perceptions of masculinity and emotional intelligence - and here's the best part - with real, applicable ideas on how to integrate these into your son's life. Parents of boys - you won't be disappointed!--Kate Mangino, Author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home This is not a culture wars book about which gender has it hardest, or whether there are genders at all. It's a practical, hopeful, bracing guidebook to raising boys who are kind and strong and good men in the making. Amen to that!--Lenore Skenazy, President of Let Grow, author of Free-Range Kids As a school counselor, therapist and mother of two sons, I kept saying YES out loud as I read Building Boys. Author Jennifer L.W. Fink has devoted her entire adult life to raising, writing, and podcasting about boys, and it shows. Her trademark humor and vulnerability come through on every page of this entertaining, practical, exhaustively researched guide to turning out confident, kind boys in a world that often misunderstands them. Whether you're a caregiver, therapist, or educator who works with boys, this book is an absolutely indispensable guide.--Phyllis Fagell, school counselor, licensed therapist, and author of Middle School Matters and Middle School Superpowers Building Boys starts with a critical acknowledgement - that boys confront a world of stereotypes - and offers a roadmap for parents wanting to help them hold onto their true selves. At a time when masculinity itself is weaponized, it is refreshing to hear from a savvy mother who simply wants all our sons to flourish.--Michael Reichert, author, How to Raise a Boy In Building Boys, Jennifer L.W. Fink provides wisdom, science and reassurance for parents as we navigate the rewarding (and at times messy) process of raising our sons. Fink, who has four boys, takes on the stereotypes, distills the research and offers practical guidance. Reading this book is like having an experienced friend on speed-dial!--Lisa L. Lewis, MS, author of The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, And How Parents And Schools Can Help Them Thrive Jennifer Fink's book is an exceptionally valuable contribution to the growing field of literature about raising boys to become the excellent friends, partners, brothers, sons, husbands and fathers they can be when their upbringing isn't compromised by misleading cultural narratives about gender that set the behavioral and emotional bar lower for males than necessary. Parents will appreciate the practical guidance applicable to the different developmental periods of boys' lives, as well as to the shaping of enduring and emotionally rich relationships between parents and their sons.--Janet Sasson Edgette, PsyD, Child & Adolescent Psychologist and author of The Last Boys Picked: Helping Boys Who Don't Play Sports Survive Bullies and Boyhood With Building Boys, Jennifer shares her unique perspective as both a longtime journalist on boys' development, and a mom of four nearly-grown boys who has seen it all firsthand. The result is an extensive compilation of research grounded unwaveringly in the stories of boys and their parents--a touchstone for building boys' best selves.--Jonathon Reed, Next Gen Men's Youth Program Manager and Host of the Breaking the Boy Code podcast I love this book! As a woman who grew up in a house full of females, I so often was (and still am!) unsure of how to raise a son. As Fink points out, us moms know we want to raise good guys, but we don't really know how. Building Boys provides so many answers. Evidence-based, entertaining, and easy to read, this book will help parents, educators, coaches, and others invested in the well-being of boys to not only raise good guys, but guys who are emotionally intelligent, capable of forming salubrious relationships, and mentally and physically healthy.--Dr. Charlotte Markey, Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University and Author of Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys In Building Boys, Jennifer Fink combines research, insight and her own considerable experience in raising four sons to create a clear, helpful guide on how to raise boys to become good men. This book is more important than ever as society continues to challenge our sons with new and constantly evolving expectations.--Kate Stone Lombardi, Author of The Mama's Boy Myth: Why Keeping Our Sons Close Makes Them Stronger Jennifer does a brilliant--and more importantly, empathetic--job of integrating her own experience raising sons with data from the world's best scholars. A must read for every parent and educator.--Warren Farrell, PhD, Author of The Boy Crisis Jennifer Fink is a tireless advocate for boys, with four boys of her own. In Building Boys she distills the research into 10 simple rules any parent can use to guide their sons' development. Not only do her guidelines and analysis fit the newest research on boys, they also fit common sense--which is something that parents today find immensely important. I highly recommend this book to anyone raising boys.--Michael Gurian, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Wonder of Boys and Saving Our Sons With humor and vulnerability, Jen shares real life in-the-trenches boy-mom stories while highlighting the latest research and how it applies to your family. Most importantly, she shares the practical advice you need to understand, love, and raise your son...to be a great guy!--Janet Allison, Founder of Boys Alive!, Co-Host of ON BOYS Parenting Podcast