Home This website about boys and young men offers some orientation to those who are interested, to media and clients or customers. It contains study material for professionals and students. Clicking on an item in the top bar leads to an introductory page. Clicking on an item in the menu's under the top bar leads directly to that page, with again an introductory page and possible subpages.

Development of boys What can boys do? What do they want? What makes them go? Fun, nosy, curious, energetic. “Let me do it!”: in search of control and own responsibility, pushing limits, sometimes too far. Trial and error, risks and danger. Seeking connections. Seeking goals. Rude or naïve. Sometimes selfish, sometimes noble. Everyone unique and in his own pace. Never the same.

Educators, teachers and facilitators can tune in on their energy, motives, dilemmas, with an eye to boy's qualities and their perspectives. Be an example. Sometimes just curious; look and listen. Sometimes confronting and drawing lines. Sometimes encouraging, enabling. Support, transfer of knowledge, training, splitting up difficult tasks. Clear, some humour, and before anything else: being there.

Masculinity The world is changing rapidly. Gender relations are rightly shifting. Men have got to face it and be part of it instead of fleeing into resentment, defence or worse. What's in it for boys? What can they offer? What can we offer to them? Regrettably boys are sometimes misunderstood, neglected in what they need, given bad examples and often dealt with in an reproachful and even repressive way. Just setting limits without perspectives is not enough. This does not help, is unfair to them and may turn against themselves and their environment. We have to help them to direct their energy in a constructive way. They did not make the world in which they were born, but they can contribute. I am a man myself with all possible flaws and qualities, not young, not old and with a lot of experience. Men can do much better than many do now. We can think about it, learn, and enjoy life in a better way. Our way may be different than women’s and has it’s own qualities. After all individualisation and alienation we have to find ways to a culture of cooperation. This everlasting search inspires me.

Research and development I used to write books and articles. Now my research findings, views, sources, comments and experiences are published here. It’s like a book, but in different layers, easy to navigate and with regular updates (new links, findings, contributions of others). This all is for free, no copyrights. It needs spreading, exchange and comments, preferably constructive. Please mention the source (www.laukwoltring.nl) with date and link. 

This page was last modified on 01/09/2011 from Administrator TOP