Coaching boys to men program
Categories: Development, In the news
It's a sad fact that not every young man has a positive male role model in his life, making it all too easy for kids to believe lyrics like "Smack my bitch up" is actually an acceptable way to treat a woman.
The Coaching Boys Into Men program is working to overcome harmful views by providing information, literature, and ideas on what adults can do to help counteract negative influences and help boys learn early on that violence is unacceptable.
Some easy ideas for men to use, from the website:
- Listen to how the boy and his friends talk about girls. Ask him if he's ever seen abusive behavior in his friends. Is he worried about any of his friends who are being hurt in their relationships? Are any of his friends hurting anyone else?
- Let him know how you think he should express his anger and frustration and what is unacceptable behavior. Talk with him about what it means to be fair, share and treat others with respect.
- Teach him ways to express his anger without using violence. When he gets mad, tell him he can walk it out, talk it out, or take a time out.
- Watching TV or listen to his music with him. If you see or hear things that depict violence against women, tell him what you think about it. Don't hesitate to let him know you don't approve of sports figures, jokes, video games and song lyrics that demean women. And when it comes time for dating, be sure he knows that treating girls with respect is important.
- Be a role model by modeling behavior that is respectful of others in trying situations.
As a society, we seem to have forgotten that good men aren't just born, they are created. It's nice that Coaching Boys Into Men is providing instructions on how to do that.
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