Things to Know While Raising a Boy Child

Did you know that some of the best chefs and fashion designers in the world are men? For some reason, we tend to discourage our boys when they show an interest in things like cooking or designing. This is mostly due to prevalent gender stereotypes – which start with notions like “girls like pink and boys like blue”, or girls should play with dolls and boys should play with trucks and guns! The world we live in today is much more gender fluid and we need to adopt a more gender-neutral parenting style. Is bringing up a boy a challenge? Well yes – if their interests seem different from the expected norm, then you might be confused. Well, you needn’t worry anymore! Have pride in your boy who loves to cook or shows a flair for design!

Effective Tips to Raise Happy Boys, Sons

Our Proparent blogger Ravleen Wadhwa helps us with some useful tips on bringing up your boy. Read on for more on how we can encourage our boys to be who they dream, and not become our or society’s ideas of what they “should be like”…

• Understanding your son is perhaps different and an individual who has his own preferences and interests – read on for more…
• So your son shows an interest in cooking –that’s great! How can you help and encourage him to develop this interest further?
• Wow, your son enjoys fashion and design –you’re a lucky mom for sure! Help him pursue this interest and encourage him while taking style tips from him!

So is it really different to bring up a boy? Yes, it can be quite different and requires a lot more work. Don't raise your son as your daughter, that's the wrong way to go, but instead, bring him up the way he should be raised - the right way – accepting him as he is with no gender stereotyping. Accepting and respecting our children for who they are – and not molding them to fit society’s or our old ideas of who they should be – is the key to successful parenting.

Encourage Your Son in His Choices

With this piece, I want to highlight some hobbies your boy may have, but for various social reasons, they are not encouraged much, just yet.

• Cooking: Your boy shows interest in cooking? What a great hobby. Harness it! Take him to classes that teach non-fire recipes. Let him help you with little things in the kitchen. If he is old enough, let him make breakfast or simple dishes for the family. Slowly and steadily it will boost his confidence and he will become a pro at taking care of his own needs, at least, if not anyone else yet
• Styling: Show off his skills to friends and family - this will boost his self-confidence. Your boy shows interest in clothing, and wants to choose his outfits and probably his moms or sisters also? Amazing, what else do we mums need - an assurance of how it will look on you, from someone who means the world to you. Didn't you always want approval from your husband, or maybe even desire interest from your man for your clothing? This is the time to live your dream. Be proud and happy, your boy is taking an interest in how he wants his mum and sister to look
• Designing: While styling and designing are part of the same field, there is a difference between the two. Styling involves creating a look using different fabrics and textures, while designing involves creating a dress from scratch. So if your boy is interested in designing, encourage it to buy praising his efforts and skills. And if he is old enough, you can put him into short term summer courses as well to enhance his skills
• Interior Designer: So your son likes to design and conceptualize interiors –that’s fantastic! Encourage them by seeking their opinions on changes around you or even your relatives or friends homes. Let them design their own room or some special corners in your house– like a reading nook or an outdoor space

Help your son unleash his creativity and watch him blossom! Allowing and encouraging your son to follow his interests will also help him develop a healthy respect for women and equality. In the end, there's nothing like a girl/boy activity. It's about interest and choice. Let your children make a choice.

Did you find Ravleen’s blog on bringing up boys useful? How do you help your child discover their talents? Do leave your comments…. We love hearing from you!