Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys

In order to raise emotionally healthy children, we need to take care of our own emotional health, and this means working on our relationships with other adults including our romantic relationships. We must never take our sustaining relationships for granted. When a parent becomes socially and emotionally isolated, it is not good for children.

We can invoke Barbara Coloroso’s three questions: Is it harmful to the child? Is it harmful to others? Does it violate a moral code? If the answer to all three questions is no, then go ahead and enjoy.

• Touching different textures
• Getting a back rub, a bear hug, or a hand or foot massage
• Wrestling
• Rough-housing
• Play fighting
• Spinning
• Rolling
• Hopping
• Somersaulting
• Rocking
• Jumping
• Swinging
• Balancing on a board or ball
• Running
• Stretching
• Lifting
• Pushing
• Pulling
• Hanging by the arms
• Extending and flexing the joints

• Playing with water
• Playing with sand

Sometimes hitting a sister means “I love being with her and I want more of her attention.”

Seeing Our Children for Who They Really Are

What’s best for the child?” If we did ask this question, we would give the child more opportunities to practise power and control.

Our Unresolved Need for Power and Control

We must never take our sustaining relationships for granted

Take Care of Our Sustaining Relationships