Should We Speak to Little Boys as We Do Little Dogs?—NYT
Well, here's a lot to think about:
"After a long car trip we consider it natural for a puppy to “grumblebark,” run in circles, maybe even nip a bit. We don’t get mad at him for needing to shake off that energy. We ask, “Who’s a good boy?” in a tone that the dog understands perfectly. It means, “I’m delighted with you simply because you exist.”
"Contrast that with the way we treat children after they have been similarly cooped up in a day of classes, activities and homework. We bark instructions at them: Finish your math problems — and make sure you show your work! Put away that iPad! Get ready for bed!
"Rather than delighting in their company, we corral and command them. This is particularly challenging for young boys."
What to do about it? A must-read by Wendy Mogel for the New York Times.
Illustration: James Yang via NYT
