Building Bridges:

PDS’ Parent Book Club focuses on helping parents understand and support boys’ development. Research reveals that boys often face unique challenges, so equipping parents with the knowledge to navigate these challenges can make a world of difference. Through carefully selected books, parents gain insight into the latest research on boys’ learning styles, behavioral tendencies, and emotional needs. This helps them become more attuned to their son’s struggles and strengths.

By engaging in thoughtful discussions, parents share strategies, deepen their understanding of their boy’s experiences, and build a strong support system within the community. Ultimately, the book club empowers parents with the tools, knowledge, and strategies to effectively engage in their son’s development.

This fall, PDS hosted three meaningful book club sessions focused on The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. In this New York Times bestselling book, Haidt, a renowned psychologist, explores how societal shifts, particularly the rise of social media, have contributed to an increase in mental health challenges in children and adolescents.

The book provides valuable insight into how these factors shape the mental well-being of the next generation, while offering practical advice for parents on fostering resilience, healthy coping mechanisms, and open communication. Haidt’s goal is for parents to better understand the pressures their children face and how to support them through these challenges. The book also sparks essential conversations about balancing technology use, promoting emotional intelligence, and strengthening family bonds—tools that empower parents to help their boys navigate the complex world with confidence and stability.

The following are examples of the thought-provoking questions explored during the sessions, viewed through a Biblical lens:

• What did you gain from free play as a child?
• What benefits could boys gain if they were given more time for free play?
• What are the potential consequences of overprotection on a child’s ability to manage stress and develop independence?
• How can we encourage our boys to take healthy risks and prepare them to wisely navigate the real world?
• How do your son’s online activities impact what happens at home?
• Are boys different online than they are offline?
• How can the real-life virtues of Building Boys, Making Men be woven into the virtual world?

During the final session, parents engaged in a discussion with PDS Guidance Counselor, Tom Edwards.

Parents submitted questions in advance, enabling a focused, in-depth conversation on topics such as:

• What’s the first big issue you hear from young boys about social media and internet games?
• Haidt emphasizes the need for play and increased independence. How important is regulating early exposure (i.e., early childhood) to screens and technology?
• Some say, “Don’t be the first, don’t be the last.” When research shows that platforms like Snapchat are unhealthy for a developing brain, where do you stand on your child being the last to adopt social media?
• What advice do you have for parents raising children in a digital age?
• What are some great ways to connect with boys beyond using technology?
• Do you have suggestions on maintaining standards for children of different ages?

In an effort to ensure our boys benefit from a consistent, holistic approach at every level, PDS faculty and staff also read and discussed The Anxious Generation. When teachers and faculty read the same educational book as parents, it creates a powerful opportunity for alignment and collaboration between home and school.

Shared reading fosters a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities boys face both inside and outside the classroom, allowing educators to better connect with parents. This collaboration promotes a common language and set of strategies for addressing key issues related to social-emotional development, academic growth, and behavior.

By engaging with the same material, teachers and parents can have more informed and meaningful conversations about supporting boys’ needs, creating a united front that reinforces positive growth.

The following questions were explored by teachers through the lens of PDS’ mission:

• How do students’ online activities impact what happens inside your classroom?
• How can you give students more opportunities to be part of the real world as opposed to the virtual one?
• In what ways can we better prepare students to wisely navigate the real world?
• Would you want to grow up the way today’s students are growing up? Why or why not?
• What are some benefits of growing up today? What would you want to preserve or carry forward from your own upbringing?

Parent resources in an elementary school setting, particularly for boys, play a crucial role in fostering a supportive and effective learning environment. When parents are well-informed and actively engaged in their son’s education, it enhances not only academic growth but also emotional well-being. This lays the groundwork for a lifelong love of learning and personal development. Our goal is to partner with parents, equipping them with strategies for positive reinforcement and encouraging resilience essential for building a foundation of success.