It's a Boy!

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Raising Cain, It's a Boy! is the first major parenting book to chart every stage of a boy's life. This upbeat, authoritative, and reassuring guide--written by psychologist Michael Thompson, Ph.D., a leading international expert on boys' development, and journalist Teresa H. Barker--shows how a boy's inner life progresses through infancy, childhood, and adolescence. What do boys actually need? How exactly does a healthy boy look and act? It's a Boy! has the answers, providing expert advice on the developmental, psychological, social, and academic life of boys from infancy through the teen years. Exploring the many ways in which boys strive for masculinity and attempt to define themselves, Dr. Thompson identifies the key developmental transitions that mark a boy's psychological growth and emotional health, and the challenges both boys and parents face at each age.- Expecting a Boy: how our deeply held hopes, fears, and family histories shape our expectations of boys and our parenting techniques- Baby Boys (birth to 18 months): falling in love with your son, healthy attachment, trust, and temperament- Toddler Years (18 months to 3 years): boys on the go, bold steps, blankies, budding language, and rambunctious physicality- Powerful Little Boys (ages 3 and 4): superhero ambitions, penis play and potty talk, learning to manage the force of his anger, and celebrating the power of the boy group- Starting School (ages 5 through 7): developmental cues for school readiness, transitional challenges, girl cooties and boys-only play, tough talk, tender hearts, and first friends- Boys on a Mission (ages 8 through 10): striving for mastery in sports, screen games, and boy society, organizing the boy brain for school success, and glaring academic gender gaps- The Preteen (ages 11 through 13): puberty, posturing and popularity, the culture of cruelty, hidden sensitivity, and stoic silence in the middle school years- Early High School