Making Little And Growing Boys Involved

[tnavarro61]

Joining an apostolate for kids, I noticed that there are less boys than girls who participate in religious activities (the apostolate is an oratory). When we started a prayer group more than two years ago, we were dominated with girls. I am wondering why is it so? I'm trying to remember some psychological concepts I've learned when I majored in Industrial Psychology but I think i should take up my books again.

The sisters in the apostolate told me that they used to have more boys but they have stopped attending when they discovered playing spider-wrestling and marbles.

How do you let these kids be involved in Catechism class with recreation? Any suggestions? Any links that will help us understand more the nature of these kids? (Funny but I realized that when a boy has grown up it is hard to go down to the level of a child to understand them.)

Muchas gracias! Maraming salamat po! Thank you!

[fides' Jack]

It starts in the family. If the family is content with their sons playing video games all the time, and watching TV, and generally never really doing anything worthwhile, they can't really expect them to participate in Church activities.

It would also help if this is a parish where effeminate practices aren't in place. For instance, having a no-girl-servers policy is actually a good way to entice boys to serve. Music that makes you feel good during Mass - or makes you want to bounce around - makes most boys completely bored. Music such as Gregorian Chant, which should have pride of place at every Mass, will actually make them want to pay attention, and will deepen their faith life. Also, philosophical and theological discussions help get boys into logical thinking about why they might participate in certain activities. Believe it or not, incorporating "fun" programs, like games, into more serious activities, such as prayer groups or choir, will only lose more boys in the long run. They might like it at first, but then the "fun" part starts to become the reason for their involvement, and soon they realize that they can have fun at home, and don't need to participate.


At least that's been my experience.

[vee]

Ok I keep reading the thread title as "making little boys" and I suggest you get a wife for that! Sorry, back to your topic on which I agree with fides' reply.

[tinytherese]

Having parish groups have moments where they talk about how everyone feels about a topic isn't particularly masculine friendly.

[Papist]

Fides is right. I have been doing youth ministry for years. Movies, ice cream, ping pong, each may attract youth at first, but eventually[as they mature] they want more. You can give them crumbs, but it is inevitable they they will desire the meal. There is a Frence expression, [i]mettre de l'eau dans son vin. [/i]My experience is that teens do not what water poured in thier wine.

Edited January 10, 2011 by Papist

[Ed Normile]

I thin Fides is straight on in his post. When a young man is an altar server there were always those guys who are not servers who say things like the the alb looks like a dress, I remember having a few fistfights over that, another was that servers were sissies. I see girl altar servers these days and think how would they ever get a boy to want a part of that now. There you would be standing next to a girl dressed the same way in front of the whole church, and thats about as deep a thought as the average young guy gets.

ed

[tnavarro61]

There are no female altar servers here (I think only one shrine here run by a religious order). Thank you fides for your response by the way! The activity we are holding are free catechism lessons. This is not a prayer group where we share how their feelings got hurt, nor a choir. There are games in between, then there are snacks afterwards.

Hmm our posts helps me think... except yours Vee!

[quote] I suggest you get a wife for that [/quote]



We invite kids from toddlers to adolescents. If adolescents would come, I was told that the sisters would give them deeper catechism.

And i am realizing how fides is right. The boys find marbles and spiders more attractive. hmmm

any suggestions on how to make these boys be involved?

[holly.o]

Movies about Saints? Maybe some type of trading card game except with holy cards?

Maybe act out the mysteries of the Rosary?

And of course, breaks for playing with spiders & marbles & eating snacks.

[TeresaBenedicta]

Honestly, I'm a fan of an all male (or all female) oratory/catechism, if possible. Boys open up more and are more involved if girls aren't around, I've found.

But sometimes that isn't possible. If it's coed, maybe splitting the guys from the girls everyonce in a while for different activities.

Edited January 12, 2011 by TeresaBenedicta

[Micah]

[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' timestamp='1294792987' post='2199168']
Honestly, I'm a fan of an all male (or all female) oratory/catechism, if possible. Boys open up more and are more involved if girls aren't around, I've found.

But sometimes that isn't possible. If it's coed, maybe splitting the guys from the girls everyonce in a while for different activities.
[/quote]

^ Definitely

Especially when we're/they're at a young age.

[tnavarro61]

Thank you very much for your suggestions!!

Now after "Segragating", what activities shall we do for them?

[Winchester]

Start a crusade.

[Sternhauser]

[quote name='Winchester' timestamp='1294970080' post='2199880']
Start a crusade.
[/quote]

GET RUNK and start a crusade!

~Sternhauser

[Semper Catholic]

What a weird thread title

[Gregorius]

Indeed.




What I've found is that we put activities like adoration and retreats next to stuff like lazer tag and bowling, and many kids went to the games and not to the real stuff.
My group has never been large in the first place, but luckily we've been growing larger and have gotten more consistent attendence to all the activities.