Publisher's Synopsis
Why do we get boys' adolescence so wrong? Here's how to steer them through this silent and confusing passage, by the co-author of the bestselling Care and Keeping of You series and Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys. Why is my son suddenly retreating behind closed doors? What's with his curt responses, impulsiveness, newfound obsession with gaming, and...that funky smell? As paediatrician and mother of a boy Cara Natterson explains, puberty starts in boys long before any visible signs appear, and it's as confusing for our sons as it is for parents, often leading to less parent-child communication in the name of keeping the peace. But, as Natterson warns in Decoding Boys, we respect their increasing "need" for privacy and alone time at their peril. Explaining how modern culture mixes badly with male adolescent biology, Natterson offers science, strategies, scripts, and tips for getting it right: * Why boys need emotional and physical contact with parents--and how to give it in ways they'll accept * How to manage video game "addiction," screen time, and pornography * How to steer boys away from new social pressures--vaping, drugs, and alcohol * Teaching consent and sensitivity in the #metoo culture. Decoding Boys is a powerful and validating lifeline, a book that will help today's parents keep their sons safe, healthy, and resilient, as well as ensure they become emotionally secure young men.