Unlike girls, boys connect by doing and by moving rather than by talking. It is just the way it is, the way the brain develops and the natural matter of fact that male and female brains are different. Don’t believe me? Check out this book for more background. Additionally, I have learned to understand and to grow with my son as he grows up.
Related: It’s a Fact: Brain Differences Exist Between Boys and Girls
He isn’t always going to want to hold him mom’s hand or willingly give his mom a hug or tell her that he loves her. It is necessary to adapt to his growth as hard as that may be for us moms.
“Every one of our sons leaves home at some point. They become men who can return to help us mothers in ways that no other human can. They can teach us how to live our lives better. If we hold on long enough and love them always, they come back to us.” ― Meg Meeker, Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men
Ways to Love & to Connect with Your Son
- Play a card game that means something to you. In my family, playing gin rummy with my nana was a past time.
- Bake a cake, let him lead the process (Pretend Soup is a great book for cooking with kids)
- Tell a story with a pencil and paper, or orally, taking turns inventing or telling the memory
- Go for a hike somewhere new and by his choosing
- Go camping in a state park (no electronics allowed!)
- Go mountain biking
- Throw a frisbee (Don’t own a frisbee, this one is my favorite!)
- Give him a responsibility like caring for your pet, a younger sibling, or walking to the store to get milk
- Toss a ball
- Jump on a trampoline
- Build a fort
- Draw a comic
- Create a mad lib
- Learn an instrument together
- Go the library
- Show that you trust him
- Love your partner in front of him
- Read a book aloud
- Write a note
- Visit a bookstore
- Attend a professional sports event
- Learn an instrument
- Write a story
- Look at old photos
- Play a mystery game
- Listen to live music
- Swim
- Go for a photo walk
- Ski
- Bowl
- Sled
- Make a holiday dessert
- Complete a puzzle
- Do a crossword
- Play cribbage
- Play backgammon
- Learn a new game together
- Build with Lego
- Create a car track
- Go rock climbing
- Watch a hockey game
- Attend a sports game
- Go for a haircut
- Try a new restaurant
- Try a new food
- Research a topic
- Build a snow fort
- Have a snowball fight
- Build a snowman
- Go skating
- Go camping
- Catch a fish
- Climb a rock
- Rollerskate
- Clip his nails
- Wash his hair
- Tuck him in
- Help him pick up
- Shoot hoops
- Play tennis
- Play hide and seek
- Build with K’Nex
- Tinker
- Build a city
- Experiment with science
- Explore in nature
- Sit with him at homework
- Help set the table
- help clean up the table
- Create a gift for someone else
- Wash dishes
- Empty the dishwasher
- Build a cardboard spaceship
- Paint
- Do yardwork
- Roll down a hill
- Do somersaults
- Kayak
- Surf
- Build a sand castle
- Let him bury you in sand
- Run with him
- Skip with him
- Make chocolate from scratch
- Fly a kite
- Go on an airplane with him
- Let him settle the bill
- Let him call his grandmother
- Let him plan the meals for the week
- Give him the opportunity to care for a younger sibling
- Blow glass with him
- Do the laundry with him
- Snuggle with him
- Read a book with him
- Share a secret with him
- Look at old family photos
- Research a part of the world
- Build a robot
- Sketch a dream home
- Play a game of chess
- Race a monkey bar
- Have a picnic
- Plan a game night
- Compete in a board game
- Watch a pre-planned movie
- Facetime with nana
- Dig in the sand
- Run through a sprinkler
- Have a balloon fight
- Nerf gun war
- Plant a garden
What else would you add?
Marnie