To be successful learners in the 21st century, boys should be creative, inventive, problem solvers and learn to take risks.
The common perception is that boys are rough, destructive and take too many risks – they get hurt; they break things and leave a trail of mess and destruction.
Statistically this is true; more boys have accidents and end up in Accident and Emergency or disciplined by their school or the Police for unwise or stupid decisions.
What should be done? Should we lock them with the latest electronic entertainment?
Keeping boys inside and wrapping them in cotton wool is not the answer.
It is harmful and can restrict their physical, emotional, social and cognitive development and potential.
Motor skills
Most boys have greater muscle mass and strength than girls from an early age. They also have a more developed motor skills system, which allows them to kick, throw, and hit a ball a great deal further and with more skill than most girls of the same age.
If we want boys to use their strength without hurting others, they need time outside playing – running, jumping, climbing and crashing and bashing into other boys.
Boys need rough and tumble play with dads, big brothers and peers, with who they can test their strength in a happy, fun and supervised way. If they do not have these opportunities to learn to develop and control their physical strength, they can hurt others. In learning to control their strength, boys will gather a bruise, scrape a knee or have a cry but that is part of learning about self and life.
I often work with young boys aged five and six creating objects out of wood. Substantial energy and imagination go into these objects, making them proud. They learn to use hammers, nails, glue guns and drills.
For many, it would be the first time creating with wood and tools because at home they are not allowed such tools or freedom.
Creative tools
They need to receive hammers, nails, string, magnifying glasses, bug catchers, torches and multi-tools in their Santa sack or for their birthdays.
Boys can play happily outside for hours absorbed in building, creating, discovering, learning to take risks, and letting their imaginations and sense of adventure run wild.
Boys should be given the tools to create and invent if they want to be successful learners.
Dr Michael Irwin is a senior lecturer at Massey’s Institute of Education in Albany, Auckland
