Your son craves four things.

First, he craves belonging– to “fit in.” Second, he wants a sense of competence. He needs to feel “good enough.” Third– boys need to know their worth. And the fourth thing that boys crave is a sense of autonomy. They want freedom and independence.

The next time your son is upset or angry, it may be a good idea to go through this list in your head. Which craving is your son lacking?

Then, once it’s identified, help your son find age-appropriate, healthy, ways to fulfill that desire. For instance, if he’s not feeling a sense of belonging at school, maybe he could find another group of peers to meet with. This could be a youth group, or an outdoor adventure group like Trail Life USA.

For more ideas to raise boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.