What does a 12 year old Middle School Boy Like

I worked with kids for over 25 years as a Counselor, mostly with young boys aged 10-14. I really like 10 year old's, and can't wait till 13 year old's grow into themselves usually around 15 1/2. Many people asked me why I preferred working with boys rather than girls, and it was pretty simple. You could put 3 boys in the same room and they got along, or at the very least they learned how to settle their differences.

Girls on the other hand were much harder. You put 3 girls in a room and you never knew which two were best friends at any given moment, excluding the third one. Yes, I prefer working with boys. Entertain them, show respect for them, and help guide them through the turbulent, awkward stages of adolescence.

Young boys want to be accepted, and we can help them only to a certain degree. Give them the tools to learn personal responsibility, don't give them false ego messages, and give them privacy. Their bodies are changing and many of them are embarrassed and don't know how to broach the subject. With the Internet so popular it's easy to find information, but just as easy to find misinformation. Parents, Grandparents, and Caretakers need to make sure their boys have the information they need to steer their way through this period of puberty successfully.

Unconditional love and separating a behavior from the person when disciplining is very important. We want our boys to grow up with healthy self-esteems, be compassionate, and well educated. Learning the right behaviors and keeping them safe can be a delicate balance. This age group of boys is starting to break away from the family and so it is crucial that you are there for him, but not overbearing.

Peer Acceptance will start dominating his life, and if he is short, overweight, or is different in any way others will tease him. Middle School is rough, and kids can be very mean to each other as they all try to blend in. Don't be surprised that he might pick friends you don't like, or starts actually taking a shower without being told repeatedly. I love the age they find girls, because that's the age they also find the soap on their own.

Enjoy the 10-12 year old's, love the 13 year old's even more, and watch the calendar for when your 14 year old transforms into someone that has their hormones finally in balance :)