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What Do Boys Need To Learn In Early Years To Close The Attainment Gap?

Janice Savage of the National Day Nurseries Association offers some suggestions…

Janice Savage
by Janice Savage
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Why do we need to treat boys differently to girls? Scientists have found differences in the structures of male and female brains, the significance of which is still being researched. What we know for certain is that boys and girls tend to see things differently, behave and learn in different ways, enjoy different things and develop at different rates.

It’s of paramount importance that early years settings recognise that boys need different learning environments to girls, to ensure they fulfil their potential. If we don’t support their natural abilities and interests, they could be set up to fail.

Is this true for all boys or for just some? A: No, all children are unique individuals and on a gender scale, fall somewhere in the middle area between masculinity and femininity. Some boys demonstrate more masculine behaviour than others, but it can also apply to some girls too.

Why are boys less likely to sit still and learn? A: Boys have what experts call ‘boy energy’, which can be seemingly endless. However, it has a purpose as boys learn when they are active. They process learning in the right-hand side of the brain, which means it’s difficult for them to separate talking and moving. If they are expected to stick at adult-initiated activities that don’t interest them, or sit still for a period of time, they may respond with a physical stress reaction such as fighting, running or being restless and aggressive.

Between the ages of four and five, boys experience a testosterone rush, which can lead to their play becoming more physical and competitive.

What motivates boys, then? Boys tend to be in constant motion. They have larger muscles and their brains are awake and open to learning when they are physically active. They get bored if they are sitting still, so try to use outdoor environments as much as possible. Use topics that will interest them – for example, sport or superheroes.

From an early age children need to be encouraged to make marks, but boys in particular like to do this outside and using three-dimensional materials. Give them clay to make shapes, numbers or letters, or encourage them to use their limbs. Get them to act out stories, encourage role play (boys respond well to ‘What if?’ scenarios) and bring in technology. Boys can become more actively engaged in literacy activities through the use of tablets, for example.

Some boys respond better to non-fiction books than stories – particularly those involving science, animals or sports.

Is it true that boys have difficulty multi-tasking? The hippocampus (the part of the brain that supports memory) is slower to develop in boys than in girls, so boys tend not to remember a list of instructions and may need reminding. They also find it difficult to concentrate on more than one task at once.

Boys can become fully consumed in a task and like to complete one thing before moving on to another. If they need to stop a task, give them some warning – for example, if lunchtime is approaching – to avoid frustration and anger. They learn best when they have the time to focus on one thing and become absorbed in that activity.

How can we make the nursery environment more conducive to boys’ learning? Boys have less impulse control, which leads to risk-taking behaviour. They need plenty of child-initiated activities to be able to problem solve and learn the consequences of risk-taking.

Boys need space to move and are particularly keen on outdoor play, so there needs to be free flow to the outside and opportunity for catching or kicking balls, climbing, construction and deconstruction – in particular, through use of block play. Nurseries with limited outdoor play opportunities should try to take their children on regular outings and work to increase parental understanding of why it’s so important.

Indoors, boys will be engaged by building materials and need lots of bright natural light in which to work. They do need to learn to sit still at certain points during the day, but try giving them a ball to squeeze or let them tap their feet during circle time.

How can I bond with boys in a different way to girls? Boys need to be loved, and create strong bonds as much as girls – but some feel uncomfortable maintaining eye contact, and don’t tend to hear as well as girls. Young boys tend to ignore what is said to them and will turn away when receiving instructions, preferring to focus on objects.

Boys enjoy doing ‘high fives’ and physical rough-and-tumble play to form physical attachments. When boys develop friendships, they like to wrestle or engage in ‘aggressive attachment’, which is how they confirm and strengthen their friendships. They prefer to express themselves physically.

NDNA’s training course and booklet Brave Boys explores brain development, looks at what motivates boys, and provides ideas on how to nurture confident, creative and capable learners; for more information, visit ndna.org.uk or follow @NDNAtalk

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