Raising emotionally healthy boys

American society presents a distorted view of what a boy should be, and that can affect their emotional well-being.

While little girls are encouraged to believe they can succeed at traditionally manly things like becoming a firefighter or a scientist, the same doesn’t hold true for boys. Society says boys should grow up to be strong, aggressive, apathetic and self-reliant.

Messages about masculinity come from all sides including family, strangers, peers and media — video games, TV shows and movies — said psychologist Ted Zeff, author of “Raise An Emotionally Healthy Boy.”

“The No. 1 problem for boys and men is emotional repression,” said Michael Reist, an educational consultant in private practice who specializes in working with highly sensitive children. “So many of the problems they encounter in later life lead back to this. Girls are permitted from a very early age to express a wide range of emotions. It is almost expected of them. On the other hand, boys are taught from an early age to repress their emotions,” said Reist, author of “Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys.”

Raising boys to express their emotions allows them to grow into men who are confident and strong but also kind and compassionate, Zeff said. They are also more likely to seek medical help when needed and have a lower risk of developing medical issues like high blood pressure, heart attacks and ulcers, he said.