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Raising Boys: How Boys Change Between 8–14 (And How Parents Can Support Them)

Updated: 7 days ago


Many parents are unprepared for the emotional changes boys experience between childhood and adolescence.

A boy who once talked freely may become quiet.Playfulness may turn into restlessness or frustration.

This is not something going wrong when raising boys. It is something beginning.


Why Boys Pull Away

As boys move toward adolescence, they instinctively:

  • Seek independence

  • Test limits

  • Look for identity beyond family

Pulling away is part of healthy development — not rejection.


The Myth That Boys Don’t Talk

Boys talk — just not always face-to-face.

They open up:

  • While doing something physical

  • In nature

  • When they don’t feel pressured

  • With mentors they respect

Silence is often protection, not disinterest.


What Boys Truly Need

Boys thrive when they experience:

  • Clear boundaries

  • Meaningful challenge

  • Responsibility

  • Recognition for who they are becoming

Without this, energy often turns into:

  • Defiance

  • Withdrawal

  • Risk-seeking behaviour


Supporting Boys Through Transition

Parents can support boys by:

  • Holding steady boundaries with warmth

  • Providing positive male role models

  • Creating moments that mark growth

  • Acknowledging effort, not just outcomes

Boys don’t need fixing.They need guidance, challenge, and acknowledgement.


Check out Father Son Camp


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