Boys Are from Mars, Girls Are From Venus Sue Bohlin Probe Ministries

Supporting Children’s Gender Results in a healthy self-concept Important part of preventing homosexuality (gender identity confusion) It’s easier to raise a healthy child than repair an adult! Gender differences between boys and girls are designed by God

Not All Kids Are the Same Active, athletic Sensitive, creative Girly-girl Tomboy, jockette

BoysGirls Sense of self: achievement Have to have something to do Self-reliant Ask for help = weakness Sense of self: relationships Relationally- oriented Connected to others Ask for help = compliment

BoysGirls Competitive Cooperative

BoysGirls Analytical Intuitive

BoysGirls Linear: focus on one thing at a time Compartmentalized (like a chest of drawers) Multi-taskers: juggle many little things at once Connected (like a ball of yarn)

BoysGirls Action-oriented Hostility: physical Verbal Hostility: verbal

BoysGirls Need a goal Enjoy the process

BoysGirls Bond shoulder to shoulder Bond face to face

Girls Empathy nurturers: Relating to and understanding others’ feelings Compassion Softness Tenderness Comfort

Boys Aggression nurturers: Physically aggressive touch and words Challenging Competition “You’re OK, get up”

BoysGirls Show stress by increased aggressiveness Often need help putting words around their stressful feelings Show stress by increased passivity Handle stress better by verbalizing it

BoysGirls Primarily needs respect Trust, acceptance, appreciation, admiration, approval, encouragement Needs to be needed. Primarily needs cherishing Tender care, understanding, respect, devotion, validation, reassurance Needs to be protected.