ON BOYS Podcast

By Janet Allison, Jennifer LW FinkHealth & Fitness Education Kids & Family

ON BOYS Podcast episodes

July 05, 2018 118: Business Tips from a 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur
Sam Fink, age 12
Boys can learn a lot by starting and running a business.
Jen's youngest son, Sam, bought his older brother's lawn business two years ago, when the older brother moved to Tennessee (where he has since started another lawn care service).
At age 12, Sam has a roster of 18 clients. He cuts and trims lawns and performs most of the necessary maintenance on his machines.
In this very special episode, Sam shares the story of his business, as well as some tips for would-be entrepreneurs and their parents.
This episode is a great one to share with your boys!
In this episode, Jen, Janet & Sam discuss:
The value of paid employment
How parents can encourage and support boys who are interested in starting a business
How to manage risk
The entrepreneurial mindset
Money management
Balancing school, work, and sports
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 118:
Sam's Lawn Service on Instagram
Episode 117: Summer Jobs
Episode 116: Why Risk is Important for Boys

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
16 min
July 05, 2018 118: Business Tips from a 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur
Sam Fink, age 12

Boys can learn a lot by starting and running a business.

Jen's youngest son, Sam, bought his older brother's lawn business two years ago, when the older brother moved to Tennessee (where he has since started another lawn care service).

At age 12, Sam has a roster of 18 clients. He cuts and trims lawns and performs most of the necessary maintenance on his machines.

In this very special episode, Sam shares the story of his business, as well as some tips for would-be entrepreneurs and their parents.

This episode is a great one to share with your boys!
In this episode, Jen, Janet & Sam discuss:

* The value of paid employment
* How parents can encourage and support boys who are interested in starting a business
* How to manage risk
* The entrepreneurial mindset
* Money management
* Balancing school, work, and sports

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 118:
Sam's Lawn Service on Instagram

Episode 117: Summer Jobs

Episode 116: Why Risk is Important for Boys

16 min
June 28, 2018 117: Summer Jobs
Photo by Austin Kirk via Flickr
Does your son have a summer job?
Most boys don't.
In 1978, 60% of teens had summer jobs; today, that number hovers between 35 and 40%.
Boys today are more likely to spend their days playing sports, brushing up on academics and traveling with family or as part of mission teams. (And playing Fortnite.)
Years ago, getting a job was an expected rite of passage for teens. In today's hyper-competitive world, more and more parents focus time, attention and energy on "enrichment" activities designed to help children become attractive college applicants.
But summer jobs are a great way to help boys confront RISK and develop RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT and REVENUE. Thanks to a tight labor market in many parts of the country, there are still plenty of jobs available for teens and tweens.
In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss how to support your son's entry into the world of work.
In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss:
Their first jobs
The unique benefits of paid employment, including feedback from others
Great, high-paying jobs for tweens and teens
How parents can help their boys turn unique interests & passions into a paying job
Coming NEXT WEEK: We talk to 12-year-old Sam about his lawn care business.
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 117:
What Your Teens Learn When They Get a Summer Job - blog post by The Money Couple, Scott & Bethany Palmer
Teens Should Have Summer Jobs - The Less Glamorous, The Better -- Quartz article
7 High-Paying Summer Jobs for Teens - Forbes article
On Boys Episode 116: Why Risk is Important for Boys
Gangnam Style, Lifeguards & Work Ethics - 2012 BuildingBoys post (Excerpt: "Our kids need to understand that employee handbooks still apply in the Age of the Internet.")
Orienting Your Boy's Priorities During His Teenage Years - 2018 Building Boys post (Spoiler: "A Job" is on the list)
And, as always, enjoy the uncut version of Janet and Jen - sometimes trying to figure out what to say - here on Youtube.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
29 min
June 28, 2018 117: Summer Jobs
Photo by Austin Kirk via Flickr

Does your son have a summer job?

Most boys don't.

In 1978, 60% of teens had summer jobs; today, that number hovers between 35 and 40%.

Boys today are more likely to spend their days playing sports, brushing up on academics and traveling with family or as part of mission teams. (And playing Fortnite.)

Years ago, getting a job was an expected rite of passage for teens. In today's hyper-competitive world, more and more parents focus time, attention and energy on "enrichment" activities designed to help children become attractive college applicants.

But summer jobs are a great way to help boys confront RISK and develop RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT and REVENUE. Thanks to a tight labor market in many parts of the country, there are still plenty of jobs available for teens and tweens.

In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss how to support your son's entry into the world of work.
In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss:

* Their first jobs
* The unique benefits of paid employment, including feedback from others
* Great, high-paying jobs for tweens and teens
* How parents can help their boys turn unique interests & passions into a paying job

Coming NEXT WEEK: We talk to 12-year-old Sam about his lawn care business.
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 117:
What Your Teens Learn When They Get a Summer Job - blog post by The Money Couple, Scott & Bethany Palmer

Teens Should Have Summer Jobs - The Less Glamorous, The Better -- Quartz article

7 High-Paying Summer Jobs for Teens - Forbes article

On Boys Episode 116: Why Risk is Important for Boys

Gangnam Style, Lifeguards & Work Ethics - 2012 BuildingBoys post (Excerpt: "Our kids need to understand that employee handbooks still apply in the Age of the Internet.")

Orienting Your Boy's Priorities During His Teenage Years - 2018 Building Boys post (Spoiler: "A Job" is on the list)

And, as always, enjoy the uncut version of Janet and Jen - sometimes trying to figure out what to say - here on Youtube.
29 min
June 21, 2018 116: Why Risk Is Important for Boys
How comfortable are you with risk? Do you respond with fear or encouragement when your son wants to try something new? How about when you find him climbing atop your tree house? Or doing flips off a public staircase?
Adults' desire to keep boys safe often interferes with boys' ability to take chances and try new things. But "protecting" boys from risky activity can actually cause harm. Boys (and girls) need to try scary, challenging things that are just beyond their current skill set in order to grow and thrive. When we eliminate risk from our children's lives, we hamper their emotional and physical development.
It's not easy to confront our own fears and societal pressure in order to give our boys ample opportunities to experiment and explore. But that's exactly what our boys need.
In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss:
Why boys need risk
Societal challenges that make it harder than ever for boys to find & face risk
Boys' ability to manage risk
How risk fuels confidence & competence
What parents, grandparents & teacher can do to encourage kids to step out of their comfort zones
Why it's especially important for Moms to take risks
The link between curiosity and risk-taking
5 tips to encourage healthy risk-taking:
Reject arbitrary rules & limits
Follow his lead
Adjust your focus
It's OK to look away
Let him see you trying new things
How risk can make life more fun
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 116:
My Horrible Mom Moment -- 2009 blog post by Jen, telling the story of her youngest son's bike crash
Youngest Son Sets Ambitious Goal and Ends Up With Lollipop - A reframing of the above story
Let Them Take Risks -- US News article by Jen, inspired by her then 14-year-old son when he said, "I wish I lived back in Dad's childhood."
The Walk -- 2015 film about tightrope walker Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers
Freerangekids.com -- Lenore Skenzay's website, all about empowering kids
The Good News About Bad Behavior – Katherine Reynolds Lewis’ book. Includes study that says exposure to risk at young ages decreases phobias.
Summer Safety: Preventing Injuries -- BuildingBoys blog post by Jen
You can watch the uncut version of this podcast episode on Youtube.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
33 min
June 21, 2018 116: Why Risk Is Important for Boys
How comfortable are you with risk? Do you respond with fear or encouragement when your son wants to try something new? How about when you find him climbing atop your tree house? Or doing flips off a public staircase?

Adults' desire to keep boys safe often interferes with boys' ability to take chances and try new things. But "protecting" boys from risky activity can actually cause harm. Boys (and girls) need to try scary, challenging things that are just beyond their current skill set in order to grow and thrive. When we eliminate risk from our children's lives, we hamper their emotional and physical development.

It's not easy to confront our own fears and societal pressure in order to give our boys ample opportunities to experiment and explore. But that's exactly what our boys need.
In this episode, Jen & Janet discuss:

* Why boys need risk
* Societal challenges that make it harder than ever for boys to find & face risk
* Boys' ability to manage risk
* How risk fuels confidence & competence
* What parents, grandparents & teacher can do to encourage kids to step out of their comfort zones
* Why it's especially important for Moms to take risks
* The link between curiosity and risk-taking
* 5 tips to encourage healthy risk-taking:

* Reject arbitrary rules & limits
* Follow his lead
* Adjust your focus
* It's OK to look away
* Let him see you trying new things

* How risk can make life more fun

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 116:
My Horrible Mom Moment -- 2009 blog post by Jen, telling the story of her youngest son's bike crash

Youngest Son Sets Ambitious Goal and Ends Up With Lollipop - A reframing of the above story

Let Them Take Risks -- US News article by Jen, inspired by her then 14-year-old son when he said, "I wish I lived back in Dad's childhood."

The Walk -- 2015 film about tightrope walker Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers

Freerangekids.com -- Lenore Skenzay's website, all about empowering kids

The Good News About Bad Behavior – Katherine Reynolds Lewis’ book. Includes study that says exposure to risk at young ages decreases phobias.

Summer Safety: Preventing Injuries -- BuildingBoys blog post by Jen

You can watch the uncut version of this podcast episode on Youtube.
33 min
June 14, 2018 115: The Boy Crisis with Warren Farrell
Your son is not the only one struggling. According to Dr. Warren Farrell -- and a slew of research -- boys in 63 of the largest developed nations are faring worse than girls. They're doing worse academically. They're falling behind in the workplace. And their physical and mental health is failing as well.
In his new book, The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It, Farrell (and his co-author, John Gray) examine the many factors contributing to the boy crisis. They also point toward possible solutions. Solving the boy crisis will take a lot of effort on the part of parents, teachers and politicians, but it's a cause that's well worth our attention, because when our boys suffer, society suffers.
In this episode, Jen, Janet & Warren discuss:
How (and why) father absence hurts boys & society
How moms (married or single) can encourage & support father involvement
Why so many boys suffer a "purpose void"
The importance of postponed gratification
The link between recess, vocational education and the boy crisis
How to find male mentors for your son
The 4 "must-do's" for divorced parents of boys
How dad deprivation may contribute to social violence -- including school shootings
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 115:
boycrisis.org -- Dr. Farrell's website, jam-packed with info about the book and lots of links to other resources & organizations (including BuildingBoys & Boys Alive!)
Coalition to Create a White House Council on Boys & Men -- multi-partisan effort working to create, well, a White House Council on Boys & Men, to research and implement initiatives to support the well-being of males, in the same way the White House Council on Women & Girls has since its establishment in 2009.
Are Single Parents Bad for Boys? -- BuildingBoys post by Jen (Spoiler alert: The short answer is "not necessarily.")
Is Shared Parenting Best for Boys After Divorce? -- personal blog post by Jen
The Boy Crisis is Real - BuildingBoys' review of the book
And, just for fun, watch the uncut version on Youtube!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
34 min
June 14, 2018 115: The Boy Crisis with Warren Farrell
Your son is not the only one struggling. According to Dr. Warren Farrell -- and a slew of research -- boys in 63 of the largest developed nations are faring worse than girls. They're doing worse academically. They're falling behind in the workplace. And their physical and mental health is failing as well.

In his new book, The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It, Farrell (and his co-author, John Gray) examine the many factors contributing to the boy crisis. They also point toward possible solutions. Solving the boy crisis will take a lot of effort on the part of parents, teachers and politicians, but it's a cause that's well worth our attention, because when our boys suffer, society suffers.

In this episode, Jen, Janet & Warren discuss:

* How (and why) father absence hurts boys & society
* How moms (married or single) can encourage & support father involvement
* Why so many boys suffer a "purpose void"
* The importance of postponed gratification
* The link between recess, vocational education and the boy crisis
* How to find male mentors for your son
* The 4 "must-do's" for divorced parents of boys
* How dad deprivation may contribute to social violence -- including school shootings

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 115:
boycrisis.org -- Dr. Farrell's website, jam-packed with info about the book and lots of links to other resources & organizations (including BuildingBoys & Boys Alive!)

Coalition to Create a White House Council on Boys & Men -- multi-partisan effort working to create, well, a White House Council on Boys & Men, to research and implement initiatives to support the well-being of males, in the same way the White House Council on Women & Girls has since its establishment in 2009.

Are Single Parents Bad for Boys? -- BuildingBoys post by Jen (Spoiler alert: The short answer is "not necessarily.")

Is Shared Parenting Best for Boys After Divorce? -- personal blog post by Jen

The Boy Crisis is Real - BuildingBoys' review of the book

And, just for fun, watch the uncut version on Youtube!
34 min
June 07, 2018 114: Sleepovers, Camp, and Separation Anxiety
Photo by Matthew Ingram via Flickr
'Tis the season for sleepaway camp and summer sleepovers!
For some parents and kids, though, the prospect of a night away from home is scary. There are so many ‘what-if’s' that could happen: what if they’re cold? what if they get homesick? what if...what if...what if...
But what if you let your kid go anyway? What if you work together to tackle any fear and uncertainty, and give your son the opportunity to test his skills and stamina?
Time away from home is an opportunity for boys to:
Discover new parts of themselves
Build their resilience & self-esteem
Be in charge of their own growth
Learn how to struggle, suffer and navigate feelings of boredom
Connect and collaborate with others
Sleepovers and sleepaway camp are a great opportunity for parental growth and development too.
When you send your son away (temporarily!), you learn to..
Let go.
Trust your kids
Allow other adults to mentor and influence your child.
Still nervous? Listen to the podcast. :)
In this episode, Jen & Janet dig in and discuss:
The right age for sleepovers and slumber parties
How to deal with separation anxiety
Why time apart is good for parents and kids
How to create sleepaway experiences on a budget
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 114:
Homesick & Happy: How Time Away From Parents Can Help a Child Grow, by Michael Thompson
Kidsickness: Help for First Time Parents from the Sunshine Parenting blog
Homesickness Do's and Don'ts from the Sunshine Parenting blog
To SEE Janet and Jen discussing their own summer adventures AND the benefits of letting your kids go... see us on youtube ... uncut!
What have your experiences been with sleep-aways? Comment below!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
29 min
June 07, 2018 114: Sleepovers, Camp, and Separation Anxiety
Photo by Matthew Ingram via Flickr

'Tis the season for sleepaway camp and summer sleepovers!

For some parents and kids, though, the prospect of a night away from home is scary. There are so many ‘what-if’s' that could happen: what if they’re cold? what if they get homesick? what if...what if...what if...

But what if you let your kid go anyway? What if you work together to tackle any fear and uncertainty, and give your son the opportunity to test his skills and stamina?

Time away from home is an opportunity for boys to:

* Discover new parts of themselves
* Build their resilience & self-esteem
* Be in charge of their own growth
* Learn how to struggle, suffer and navigate feelings of boredom
* Connect and collaborate with others

Sleepovers and sleepaway camp are a great opportunity for parental growth and development too.

When you send your son away (temporarily!), you learn to..

* Let go.
* Trust your kids
* Allow other adults to mentor and influence your child.

Still nervous? Listen to the podcast. :)

In this episode, Jen & Janet dig in and discuss:

* The right age for sleepovers and slumber parties
* How to deal with separation anxiety
* Why time apart is good for parents and kids
* How to create sleepaway experiences on a budget

Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 114:
Homesick & Happy: How Time Away From Parents Can Help a Child Grow, by Michael Thompson

Kidsickness: Help for First Time Parents from the Sunshine Parenting blog

Homesickness Do's and Don'ts from the Sunshine Parenting blog

To SEE Janet and Jen discussing their own summer adventures AND the benefits of letting your kids go... see us on youtube ... uncut!

What have your experiences been with sleep-aways? Comment below!
29 min