Anything that is important to us, we want to share. Children are the same. Children usually enjoy doing the things they do well, so one reason to watch them is to let them show off a little and accept the pride they feel in their achievement. Watching involves you further in your son’s life; it increases togetherness even when he’s doing something on his own. Your presence will boost his self-esteem.

If you are a parent:

* Find the time to watch
* ‘Mum, can I show you how I…?’, or ‘Dad, come and see me do…’ should be answered with: ‘Sure’, but preferably not with ‘later’ added
* Let him impress you; tell him afterwards how much you enjoyed watching him
* Within his hearing, tell his grandparents how well he’s doing, so that he can feel pride in his skills; if they are no longer with you, you can say: ‘Granny would have loved to have seen you do that’

If you are a teacher:

* You can’t watch what the boys and girls in your class do in their personal time, but you can find a moment to hear about something they have done
* Try to value whatever it is a boy enjoys doing or achieving
* Provided that your family and work commitments allow for this, it can be gratifying for students to see other teachers attending plays, football matches, concerts, etc.

If your son loves playing football, riding bikes or conquering playground equipment, watching certainly takes effort and may involve getting muddy, cold or wet. You may be mystified by his passion for strange, war-based, card or computer games. But he will thrive in the warmth of your watchful eye.

Related posts:

1. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Talk With Touch and Words

2. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Model Respect For Women

3. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Support and Encourage, Don’t Control and Push

4. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Cherish and Trust Yourself

5. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Promote Self-Direction

6. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Nurture His Self-Respect

7. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Let Him Be Different

8. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Offer Choices

9. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Keep Him Informed of Developments

10. The Basics of How to Parent Your Boys: Hear the Sound of Silence