1. Special Report on Talking with Boys About Tough Issues [return to top]

At Talking with Kids About Tough Issues, we receive a number of email each week from concerned parents. While the subjects range widely, one that is being raised more often is how to talk with boys. Parents want to know how they should discuss tough issues with their sons. In his book, "Real Boys," clinical psychologist William Pollack outlines steps that get "behind the mask" that often hides our boys' deepest feelings and experience. He recommends paying closer attention to how boys communicate, which often involves an "emotional schedule," "timed silence," and a "connection through action." Pollack defines this last point as simply joining the boy in an activity he enjoys, rather than forcing him to sit down and share his feelings. In this way, Pollack says you're able to forge a connection that enables the boy to share feelings he'd otherwise keep hidden.

Another concern among parents is the influence of other boys on their sons.
While some boys do get involved with the wrong crowd, a study conducted by Purdue University found that, overall, "boys exert a healthy, positive influence on one another." It also found that boys with healthy friendships actually are "less likely to engage in risky behavior and [are] more likely to do well in school." According to Thomas Berndt, who conducted the study, boys actually protect one another through their friendships.

(Source: William Pollack, "Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of
Boyhood.")

Download your FREE Talking with Kids parent booklet at:
* http://www.talkingwithkids.org/booklet.html

2. 10th Annual National TV-Turnoff Week, April 19-25 [return to top]

TV Turnoff Network's 10th Annual TV-Turnoff Week is April 19-25. If your family has never participated, the rules are simple: turn off your TV, do things as a family and, most importantly, have fun. It's best to first talk to your family about the week. Together, you can identify times when you and your family watch television. Ask them to brainstorm activities for the times any of you are most likely to miss watching TV. Here are two ideas to get you started: go for a bicycle ride around town or, if the choice is to stay indoors, play a few rounds of Scrabble.

For additional "screen-free" activities or to read more about the National TV-Turnoff Week, visit:
* http://www.tvturnoff.org

3. Tip of the Month: Monitor Your Boys' TV Use [return to top]

According to a Children Now study, watching too much violence on TV has been shown to increase the chance that children will be desensitized to violence or even act more aggressively themselves. As a parent, you can balance the effects of TV by paying more attention to the kinds of media your boys play with or watch; parental advisories can help you choose what is appropriate for your boy's age. Try watching TV with your boys and talking with them about the things you see together, then asking how they would handle the situations differently.

For more information about the effects of entertainment media on boys, visit:
* http://www.childrennow.org/media/boystomen/report-media.cfm

To sign up for updates on issues related to children's media, visit:
* http://ga1.org/childrennow/join.tcl?source=home

For more tips on other Talking with Kids topics, visit:
* http://www.talkingwithkids.org/first.html

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