Struggling School-Age Boys

There are four primary causes to the epidemic frustrating so many children today. They are: POOR NUTRITION, the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, the LACK OF PHYSICAL PLAY, and DISCIPLINE. Children have been so inappropriately stressed that suicidal thoughts are more prevalent and occurring at younger ages. We are fatter. There is more childhood Type II diabetes. Even heart disease is developing in our teens! All of these are symptoms of stress, inactivity and poor diet. Sadly, some people erroneously see the problem only as a ???mind??? issue that requires medication or therapy. If these 4 primary causes were corrected- our children would be more emotionally balanced, healthier AND brighter.

NUTRITION: Watch the movie ???Super Size Me.??? The majority of schools only offer highly processed, high fat, high calorie, and low-nutrient foods???. Administrators need to re-evaluate what we???re feeding, and in turn what life pattern we???re teaching our children. We expect them to be healthy? We expect them to burn off their sugar rushes while sitting at their desk?

The NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (NCLBA): This was chivalrous in idea, however it???s unfortunate negative side effects are harming our children. Much of the problem stems from the policies and environments national administrators have instituted. Many primary schools increased the amount of homework, developed inappropriate expectations, banned recess and gym, and reduced the time allotted to art, music and other ???non-testables.??? Sure, short-term gains were made, but these are far outweighed by the negative side effects. In the end, the short-term gains are lost anyway??? leaving only a generation of unhealthy, emotionally unbalanced and frustrated people who had no childhood.

PHYSICAL PLAY: Physical play burns off calories, promotes natural endorphins, builds social skills, promotes physical development and balance, and stimulates brain cell and nervous system growth in ways sitting in a chair just can???t. At one time, several states mandated phys ed 5 days a week for grades K-12. Most children loved gym and recess. What happened?

DISCIPLINE: Children need guidance and discipline. Society needs to allow a freer hand to structured, loving, reasonable but firm discipline for both parents and teachers.

What can we do? Contact school administrators, state and federal Representatives and Senators. Demand change. The National School policies are inappropriately stressing and creating conditions for children to fail. Let them know that it is both wrong and preventable. If we improve POOR NUTRITION, repeal or significantly change the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, and promote PHYSICAL PLAY, our children will become more balanced in Mind, Body and Spirit. In the end, they will be less stressed, healthier, more socially adept, more enthusiastic, and likely??? smarter.

I worked in elelmentary for 17 yrs. Raised 2 children in that school. I had seen changes year to year. Each generation of children have their own characteristics. Teaching all different levels of learning in one grade can and has been challenging. Now add in the behavorial issues, family issues and most parents want the schools to fix everything and still teach their child to be the best at it all. After all two working parents which was not heard of years ago is putting more pressue on the children and the school. The parents don't spend the time talking to the kids, sharing with the kids. Everyone is short of energy and patience. So there is a price to pay. Unfortunatley the children pay.

Has anyone here read "Bringing Up Boys" by Dr James Dobson? From what I understand it describes the difference between boys and girls, how boys develop and what drives little boys. It seems to also discuss how parents can best help their sons navigate life and become respectible and well rounded men.
I am not a parent yet, but will be in 6 months. If we have a boy I will definetly read this book.

I have a son who is in first grade. In kindergarten, the teacher kept drilling me about how she feels he has ADHD, blah blah blah. I refuse to sucumb to the insight of a teacher to tell me that an active 6 year old child has a problem. My son has behaviors no different than the next child. my sister has 4 boys. I have often discussed this with her. She has been around my son enough to know that he doesn't act any differently than her kids, and that in fact he doesn't have ADHD. The schools are so quick to diagnose and pick out kids who are perfect little statues at the desk. The schools get more money for each child they 'label' as ADHD, so why not pick on those who fidgit just a little?? He is intelligent, passes all his tests, so as long as it's not interferring with his schoolwork, why should I be concerned? the ADHD thing has gone too far in my eyes. All the schools want are zombies for children so it makes their jobs easier. i don't believe in drugging my 6 year old child just because a teacher thinks it might be necessary.....

Other then kids not allowed to be KIDS anymore... instead of ADHD and enviormental pollutants... Concider SOY is now added into EVERYTHING. Soy is an organic yes but is also a natural estrogen. Kids behaviours, ups in allergies and increase in breast cancers ( as well as lil girls blooming sooner) ... think about it. Limit your childs intake to soy and junk in general. You might notice a big difference. I did w my own sons and the other kids I care for. It has made a huge change in them all.
Good luck to all the other parents out there... these days we really need to be on our toes.

well well passion and kisses .. I see you havent done your home work. Japan has the highestv rate of teen-age suicide in the whole world .....Thats what happens get when you wont let a child be a normal child.. If we allow our children to grow healthy by giving them play time and exercise . child play causes the child to use his.her imagination which brings on creativity in gthe learning process. Phschologists promote play and exposure to nature and all surrounding.Children build math skillls while playing. games.. Lik tag. Its a shame that the schools take away the recess . Its not a good move at all. We can still be as good as Japan and promote a healthy learning. environment for boys and girls too. Yess and woith out add drugs what a shame they are hurting our healthy childrens minds.. Remember the old education helped get our nation through as the big power ifor years Im advocating to provide education in a way that still allows our kids to be real children. healthy minded socially , mentally and academically ... and children psychologists mdo also .... soo get with it educational experts.... and drug promoting Drs !

Has anyone ever heard of the book "Bringing Up Boys" by Dr James Dobson? I have heard great things about it. The book seems to cover how boys are different than girls and how parents need to understand the differences. It also discusses how parents need to pay attention to their boys to help them navigate this crazy world and what it will bring their way.
I am not a parent yet but will be in 6 months. If I have a boy, I will definetly read this book.

Rocker most of what people have been saying is that it is being standardized for the girls. Whether or not this is true, it would be the exact reason it is primarily affecting boys. Despite peoples best efforts guys and gals are DIFFERENT. No matter how hard you try to rationalize it there will always be differences in mentality between the two, as well as certain things one does better than the other (In general)..

i see how ur saying that making small kids do more and more work at younger ages can cause their emotions to slide and all, but how is this affecting boys only and not girls? i mean, girls do the work too don't they? and what's up with the country being so competative with other countries.. there's always gonna be advantages and disadvantages to everything.. so why are we always looking at what we aren't good at instead of what we are good at?

I've taught elementary school for several years and have 3 children of my own, 2 boys and one girl. In my humble opinion, boys and girls are just naturally different. Girls, for the most part, seem to handle sitting and listening for longer periods of time. However, both genders NEED to have time to think for themselves, have choices, and use those wonderful imaginations. Before I had my own children, I stumbled on a frightening phenomenon. Our school playground was full, and it being a beautiful day I took my kids out to an empty soccor field - no balls, no toys, just fresh air, young minds, and plenty of energy. Thinking as a new teacher that they would love it. When we walked onto the large fenced in area, they all took off running in different directions. Nearly every child ran to the fence, turned around, and ran back to me. Now what? was the question on every lip. I stood in disbelief. I encouraged them to make up a game, and none of them, not one child could do it. They ended up sitting or laying around at my feet begging to go back inside. I began to realize they had to be taught to use their own minds. It became my ritual. At least once a week we would trudge out to that empty field with only our imaginations. Honestly, it only took a few months and a few lessons on what you can do with just your imagination before they no longer needed my guidance and came up with more inspired games, plays, dances, etc. than I could ever come up with. I noticed that they were somewhat better able to sit and listen after they had a chance to think for themselves. I continued this every year and with my own children. I know, not a save the world solution, but every little bit helps!

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I've taught elementary school for several years and have 3 children of my own, 2 boys and one girl. In my humble opinion, boys and girls are just naturally different. Girls, for the most part, seem to handle sitting and listening for longer periods of time. However, both genders NEED to have time to think for themselves, have choices, and use those wonderful imaginations. Before I had my own children, I stumbled on a frightening phenomenon. Our school playground was full, and it being a beautiful day I took my kids out to an empty soccor field - no balls, no toys, just fresh air, young minds, and plenty of energy. Thinking as a new teacher that they would love it. When we walked onto the large fenced in area, they all took off running in different directions. Nearly every child ran to the fence, turned around, and ran back to me. Now what? was the question on every lip. I stood in disbelief. I encouraged them to make up a game, and none of them, not one child could do it. They ended up sitting or laying around at my feet begging to go back inside. I began to realize they had to be taught to use their own minds. It became my ritual. At least once a week we would trudge out to that empty field with only our imaginations. Honestly, it only took a few months and a few lessons on what you can do with just your imagination before they no longer needed my guidance and came up with more inspired games, plays, dances, etc. than I could ever come up with. I noticed that they were somewhat better able to sit and listen after they had a chance to think for themselves. I continued this every year and with my own children. I know, not a save the world solution, but every little bit helps!

It's interesting to blame the schools when it's the government that tells them what to teach and when. Not every school system is banning recess and pushing aside physical activities. Some of our schools are adding physical programs and encouraging hands on activities. Hopefully people reading this will take it in stride that it is not indeed every school that is "teaching to the test". Some of our schools, in fact, frown upon that. Yes, there are issues with the schools, don't get me wrong. However, let's not put all the blame there when often their hands are tied.

We're creating a society of the cowards, by the cowards and for the cowards. Quiet confidence has been replaced by sheer hysteria. Parents today are trying to fix their own childhood through manipulating their children, never taking into account that their children are individuals and not them. I love kids, but I despise modern parents. Your children are not my problem unless you're a bad parent. Deal with it or wear a condom.

We treat every "new parenting method" like it's the latest model of i-pod and will be an instant fix to make parenting easier. Drugs??? Has anyone ever heard the phrase, "boys will be boys"???

Parenting will NEVER be easy.

God help us if we're ever in a war that requires a draft.

i am a junior in a private high school and am now on my 4th hour of homework actually doing an essay on this topic. the points you have all brought up are valid exept for the meds point. i think that this just makes the youth of america into homework doing machines ive seen first hand how the kids in my school with or withought ADD or ADHD take those meds thinking it will cure their stupidity but it doesnt what needs to happen is a good balance of actuall learning and test preperation not teaching in grade schools let the kids play i have no PE at my high school and we all suffer from it. take away the sugar dont give a 5 year old a bunch of fruit roll ups in his lunch and try and make them a social as possible. the parents have to control the kids more and the schools have to do their job TEACH THE KIDS please excuse my spelling i was obviously messing around crazily or sleeping in that part of grade school