Sale!

BAM! Boys Advocacy and Mentoring

A Leader's Guide to Facilitating Strengths-Based Groups for Boys
8.5x11
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9780415963183
Item Number: 8389

$51.14You save $3.85 (7%)

Over the past decade, our understanding of the fundamental differences in child development, behavior, and emotional maturity between boys and girls has increased dramatically, and as a result, many gender-specific interventions and support programs have been developed to meet the needs of parents, teachers, and mental health professionals.

However, these all take the form of responses designed to minimize an already disruptive behavior pattern. What has been needed is a pro-active program whose goal is to instill positive skills and patterns in ‘at-risk’ boys, rather than waiting to address problems after they are already visible.

The BAM! Boys Advocacy and Mentoring program fills this need by providing the first guidebook for group facilitators who want to lead preventative boys groups designed to foster communication skills and emotional connections.

This unique program guide provides all of the information and tools needed to implement a successful boys group. The activities are designed to be engaging—allowing boys to do fun things, face physical challenges, have adventures, hang out, and be part of something exciting. The activities and program structure can be modified to fit into any existing school-based or community mentoring program.

Over a series of group sessions, participants are encouraged to understand their emotions and interpersonal interactions without losing a sense of ‘maleness’ as a result of emotional growth and communication with peers about personal issues.

The guidebook contains all of the information and tools a facilitator needs in order to implement and maintain these boys groups.

Based on years of research and refined over the course of countless sessions run by the authors, the program has been field-tested and tailored for use either in the school setting or outside.

Comments from Colleagues

“As a mom of two boys and a person who has worked with boys for the past 15 years, I so appreciate the innovative approach of BAM! When you read BAM! you’ll immediately see a wide range of activities boys will want to do, and the exercises do a great job of creating the environment where boys can and will openly discuss topics that usually are off limits to boys in our culture.

—Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes

“I loved your BAM! Guidebook. You have written a wise and grounded guide for working with boys in groups. You really get it about boys.”

—Michael Thompson, author of Raising Cain and host of the associated PBS documentary

BAM! Introduction

BAM! Orientation

  • The Challenges Boys Face
  • The Necessity of Good Contact
  • The Social Influences: The Impact of Dysfunctional Aspects of Traditional
  • Masculinity on Boys’ Relationships
  • The Biological Influences: A Different Kind of Contact for Boys
  • Seeing Boys’ Strengths and Addressing Their Challenges
  • Five Goals for BAM! Leaders: Making Better Contact with Boys
  • Five Goals for BAM! Participants: Helping Boys Make Better Contact
  • A New Experience for Boys: Walking the Talk in BAM! Groups
  • Making Contact Through Strategic Storytelling
  • Making Contact Through Physical Challenges

BAM! Example

  • Week 1: Lost in the Woods
    This first week the boys get to know each other, learn about the group goals and rules, and face their first challenges together, The Electric Fence.
  • Week 2: Alligator Swamp
    This week, boys learn about each other through telling their Sixty-Second Autobiographies, through discussing the importance of controlling impulses, and by facing the perilous Alligator Swamp together.
  • Week 3: Haunted House
    This week, the boys learn that it is okay to admit to feeling afraid after facing The Haunted House.
  • Week 4: Sitting Circle
    This week, boys reveal more of themselves by way of the family stories and complete a fun, cooperative activity called The Sitting Circle.
  • Week 5: Willow in the Wind
    This week, the boys begin to explore the power that teasing has on their behavior, and they take greater physical and emotional risks by way of the Willow in the Wind Challenge.
  • Week 6: Making Lists
    This week, the boys learn about social influences on male behavior and identity and the consequences that result when boys fail to behave in expected ways.
  • Week 7: Treasure Hunt
    This week, the boys embark on a Treasure Hunt where they face physical challenges, appreciate each other for their individual strengths, and identify personal characteristics or preferences that go beyond the typical social expectations for men.
  • Week 8: Trust Falling
    This week, the boys face the emotionally and physically risky Trust Fall Challenge, realizing a deeper level of trust in other group members.
  • Week 9: Talking Cards
    This week, the boys review their experiences in the group, identifying areas of personal growth and considering how lessons learned will apply in the future.
  • Week 10: Found in the Woods
    During this final adventure, boys celebrate their time in the group and say goodbye to each other. Important male figures in the lives of the boys learn about the BAM! goals and share wishes for the boys in the future.

BAM! Instructions

  • Initiating a BAM! Group
  • Collecting Data and Proposing a BAM! Group
  • Responding to Parental Concerns
  • Getting Appropriate Referrals
  • Recruiting Boys
  • Facilitating a BAM! Group
  • Qualities of BAM! Group Leaders
  • The Art of BAM! Group Facilitation
  • Keeping Balanced as a BAM! Leader
  • Learning From Our Mistakes
  • Dealing With Difficult Behavior
  • Women as Group Leaders
  • Men as Group Leaders
  • Session-by-Session Instructions
  • Week 1: Lost in the Woods
    • The Name Game Activity
    • Describe BAM! Groups
    • Create Group Rules
    • Facilitator Story #1: “Run, Howie, Run!”
    • Facilitator Story #2: “Leave Him Alone!”
    • Facilitator Story #3: “Foul Ball!”
    • Electric Fence Activity
    • Evaluations
    • Closing
  • Week 2: Alligator Swamp
    • Sixty-Second Autobiography
    • Facilitator Story: “Sheep Head!”
    • Alligator Swamp Activity
  • Week 3: Haunted House
    • 60-Second Autobiography
    • Haunted House Activity
  • Week 4: Sitting Circle
    • Opening
    • Facilitator Story: “Family Story”
    • Family Stories
    • The Sitting Circle Activity
  • Week 5: Willow in the Wind
    • Opening
    • Facilitator Story: “The Pink Shirt”
    • Teasing Discussion
    • Willow in the Wind Activity
  • Week 6: Making Lists
    • Opening
    • Facilitator Story: “What’s She Doing Here?!”
    • Boy in the Box Activity
  • Week 7: Treasure Hunt
    • Facilitator Story: “No Wimpin’ Out!”
    • Outside the Box Activity
    • Treasure Hunt Activity
  • Week 8: Trust Falling
    • Trust Fall Activity
  • Week 9: Talking Cards
    • Reviewing the Group
    • Talking Cards Activity
    • Planning for the Final Adventure
    • Completing the Group Evaluation
  • Week 10: Found in the Woods
    • Coming Together
    • Preparing the Men
    • Challenge Medley Activity
    • Final Circle

BAM! Appendix

  • BAM! Group Evaluation: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
  • BAM! Group Goals (Briefly Stated)
  • Links Between BAM! Group Objectives and Evaluation Items
  • BAM! Group Participant Pre-Evaluation Form
  • BAM! Group Participant Post-Evaluation Form (Part 1)
  • BAM! Group Participant Post-Evaluation Form (Part 2)
  • BAM! Group Adult Post-Evaluation Form
  • Sample Permission Form
  • Additional Activities and Discussion Topics
    • Deconstruct Manliness Messages
    • Act Like a Man Box
    • Take a Stand
    • A Man You Look Up To
    • Father Conversations
    • Silent Circle Dash
    • Monster Cards
    • Defining Impulsivity
    • Calming, Slowing Down
    • Being Assertive is HARD
Shopping Cart