Raising Boys 💛 What helps them grow

Steve Biddulph’s Raising Boys has been guiding parents for decades. It is not a new book, but its ideas still feel fresh. It helps us understand boys as sensitive, funny, complex people who need connection and calm boundaries to feel secure. 

Biddulph explains that boys develop emotionally in stages, each needing something different from the adults around them. 

In the early years: warmth and play. 

In the middle years: gentle structure and shared laughter. 

In adolescence: respect, trust, and space to find their place. 

One of the most powerful ideas is that boys are shaped by how the adults around them model emotions.

They learn empathy by watching it.

They learn courage by being allowed to cry. 

And they learn strength by seeing kindness valued.

“Boys need to be loved for who they are, not who we wish them to be.” — Steve Biddulph 

It is a simple line, but it captures the heart of the book. 

Biddulph asks us to meet boys where they are, not where we think they should be.

We recommend Raising Boys to any parent or carer wanting to better understand the emotional world of boys, especially during family transitions. 

It is hopeful, practical, and deeply compassionate. 

You can find it through our #alwayschildfocused Book Club or your local library.