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
