Why Boys Listen—and Why They Don't

Is your smart, wonderful son sometimes a bit of a knucklehead?

Does he do his homework just fine but, for mysterious reasons you will never fathom, fail to turn it in?  Does he tune you out when you've asked him for the nth time to perform even a simple task like making his bed before he goes to school?

Maybe you're dealing with more serious issues with your son: failing grades, defiance, risky behavior. There has long been concern in education circles about a segment of boys in middle and high school who don't seem motivated at school or at anything in life, while their female counterparts are soaring ahead and nailing the majority of acceptance letters from college campuses. Consider the long list of magazine articles and books that have come out in the past decade with such titles as The War Against Boys, Why Are School-Age Boys Struggling?, Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men.  

If you're worried about your son or want to learn how to communicate better with him, come to the talk at on Tuesday, "Why Boys Listen and Why They Don't. Theschool's PTA is hosting this talk by Don Elium, a Walnut Creek marriage and family therapist and the author of Raising a Son.

Elium will provide insights into the behavior of young males by discussing how their brains simply operate differently from females'. 

He says that these distinct differences can be clearly seen in what gets a boy's attention and what doesn't. "By understanding the essential ways a boy's brain works, parents and teachers can offer boys the understanding, direction and leadership they need to become successful."

Along with a tour of the male brain, Elium will offer ideas on increasing your chances of getting your son to listen.  

The free talk starts at noon in the Walnut Creek Intermediate School library, 2425 Walnut Blvd. Elium will take questions from the audience.