LifeBound Press Release- Boys Falling Behind Girls in School Progress

"Seventy percent of children diagnosed with learning disabilities are male, and the sheer number of boys who struggle in school is staggering. Eighty percent of high-school drop-outs are boys and less than 45 percent of students enrolled in college are young men." (MSNBC, January 23, 2006)

"Boys can improve their chances of success in school and out by becoming more emotionally intelligent--learning to gain self-mastery over their emotions and the difficulties they face with others," says Carol Carter, author of People Smarts for Teenagers.

Top Ten Tips For Promoting Emotional Intelligence With Your Teenage Son by Carol Carter

1. Coach your child on self-soothing techniques. All of us have problems and setbacks, but we need to find a way from within to calm down, weigh the options and avoid responding in unhealthy ways. We have to be our own champions.

2. Promote a compassionate heart. Work with your son to understand the struggles and the setbacks of others. One of the best ways to help self-absorbed teenagers is to allow them to see the suffering of others and the role they can play in making a difference to improve people's situations.

3. Emphasize being a good team player. It is disappointing not to win, but it is far worse to not understand how to lose well. Students only lose if they don't try or if they don't get the lessons which losing presents for growth.

4. Require impulse control. American teenagers can be impulsive, particularly boys. To be a successful young adult, students need to be able to make the requisite sacrifices that come with hard choices and trade offs. Delaying gratification is the first step in that process.

5. Know strengths, manage weaknesses. Help your child see what they do well, even if those gifts don't show up in school. Once they are grounded in their strengths, they will have the wherewithal to tackle their weaknesses.

6. Model adaptability. Students need to learn to be flexible and versatile so that they can deal with challenges and setbacks. Be flexible in your thinking while maintaining your values guidelines in your own personal and professional life.

7. Encourage an open mind. A closed mind cannot learn, but an open mind is capable of tremendous learning and opportunity. Praise open-minded behavior and point out thoughts that seem judgmental or limited.

8. Know how to read others. Work with your teen on their skills of perception- what is going on beneath the surface? What is the body language being conveyed? How well does your son read between the lines?

9. Teach self-respect. The first pillar of confidence is self-respect. Students need to value themselves at the highest level in order to make wise choices. Confidence combined with competence builds long term success.

10. Sustain an indomitable spirit. If you as a parent have solid faith in the face of the unknown and you can keep your optimism high in the most challenging circumstances, your teen will learn perhaps the greatest lesson of all. Carol Carter is available for interviews: Contact Cynthia Nordberg TCNordberg@aol.com 708.338.0838 (Chicago.CST)

Carol Carter is available for media interviews to discuss this timely topic. Contact: Cynthia Nordberg in Chicago at 708.338.0838 or cynthianordberg@lifebound.com.

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