Communicating with Boys

55 Comments / Raising Boys, Navigating Mummyhood / By

This post was originally written in 2018 and has been updated in 2026 with new tips and insights.

Communicating with boys is a skill

As a mummy to boys for nearly 14 years and a wife for nearly 16 years you’d think I might have some clue about communicating with boys. Yet I struggle every day. I am entirely convinced that boys and girls communicate differently — and before anyone gets all cross about this, it doesn’t mean I only talk to my girls about flowers and sparkles or that I think you need to be all tough and manly with boys.

In fact I think it is vitally important to get boys to talk about their feelings and develop their emotional intelligence. I firmly believe this is more necessary with boys than girls because we need to overcome that deeply ingrained social conditioning that only girls cry. And that? That is absolutely not OK in my house.

What I do know, after nearly thirteen years of raising boys and being married to one (yes I am counting him), is that there is definitely a communication gap between us and them. I have found myself mid-sentence, watching their eyes glaze over, wondering if I am simply speaking another language. I include my husband in this entirely — he regularly looks at me like I have just suggested something completely unreasonable when all I have done is ask him to put the bins out.

Sometimes I just don’t know how else to say it. In fact I have been known to say it in German on the basis that if they feel like I am speaking a foreign language I might as well commit to it. I hasten to add this does not work. They don’t speak German.

So here is everything I have learned about communicating with boys — from the toddler years right through to the teenage ones — because spoiler alert, it gets a whole lot more interesting.

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Communicating with boys

For this reason and to save myself from getting a little bit shouty I have been looking into communication theory and specifically how men and women differ. It seems I am not mad we do communicate differently.

So despite being no expert on communication and the fact that I constantly have communication fails both with the boys and the husband I have built up my knowledge of communicating with boys. So this post are things I have learnt along the way and that work for me when communicating with boys.


Check out the list below to see my top tips:

  • Low and slow

    • My boys take their instruction better from my husband and after research I found out that men genuinely can’t process higher pitches and fast speech as well as if you speak low and slow. I know I get high pitched if I am irritated so I try to slow it down

  • Be specific and direct

    • Passive aggressive does not work. If I hint about wanting something done and don’t issue a specific, time bound and direct request forget it – it won’t be happening

  • Ask for solutions not support

    • Sometimes I just want empathy and a listener. My husband frequently reminds me that this is not his department. For this he tells me to call my mother or sister and see him about problem solutions.
    • I have been reading that the male gender are predisposed to create solutions and see this as a main purpose for communication. There was me just thinking he was being an arse…

  • Talk on the move

    • There is a theory that boys are generally more physical and kinetic in their thinking styles and so often process information better when on the move so if they are in trouble or its an important message and I need them to understand we walk and talk

  • The fewer words the better

    • I totally lose the boys and my husband when I include too much detail. I think they just get bored (sometimes I bore myself so I do get it!). So short, sharp and direct seems to be the key

  • Use their names

    • This sounds daft, but I often find myself going for the collective ‘boys’ and then no one does what I ask. They each assume I am addressing the other so no one moves.
    • So even if I need both to do something I say each of their names and then sometimes just sometimes they do what I ask. I think this applies to my girls too.

  • Role Model

    • This is probably not a uniquely boy thing either! I have noticed that if I say ‘coats on everyone we are leaving now’ and I don’t have my coat on or am quickly doing something no one moves.
    • To me it is logical to do something whilst they put their coats on as I am quicker, but no this does not compute.
    • However, if I stand at the front door with my coat on and say exactly the same words then voila movement commences. It is like they need to see it to believe it. I wonder do they think I am joking or just uncommitted if I am not doing what I am saying?

I am so aware that it really won’t be too long before these boys will be taller and stronger than me. Then being able to effectively communicate will become even more vital in my opinion.

I get concerned that once my boys are teenagers they will sink into that non communicative phase and that I just won’t be able to connect with them or ever get them to do the things I need. It is so important to build that connection and respect level now so that in the future it is innate.

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I also want them to know that they can talk to me and that it is OK to be sad or emotional. Conversation is key to the expression of feelings and so I want to be able to communicate effectively around the small things in order to build trust for when bigger things come along.

I am continuing to work on my skills around communicating with boys and would love to hear if you have any gems that you use to help get your little or big boys to listen to you or just enhance your communication with them.

Boys feel free to comment too… Is there anything that we girls do when communicating that really doesn’t work for you?

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Frequently Asked Questions About Communicating With Boys

Why does my son never listen to me?

Oh I feel this in my soul. The honest answer is that it is probably a combination of how you are saying it and the fact that he is simply wired differently to you. Boys tend to need clearer, more direct communication with less detail and more specific instructions. Try low and slow and see if it makes a difference. It won’t work every time but it will work more than the alternative which in my house is mild shrieking.

How do I get my son to open up and talk to me?

Walk and talk. Seriously, this is my number one tip for getting boys to open up. Side by side communication — in the car, on a walk, kicking a ball around — works so much better than sitting face to face expecting them to pour their heart out on demand. My boys have told me more on a ten minute walk than they ever have sitting at the kitchen table being asked how their day was.

Does communication with boys get easier as they get older?

Honestly? Yes and no. The basics stay the same — direct, specific, fewer words. But teenagers add a whole new dimension. They are perfectly capable of communicating, they just choose not to on their schedule not yours. The key is keeping the connection going through the small everyday moments so that when something big comes up they know the door is open. It takes patience. A lot of it.

My son won’t talk about his feelings — is this normal?

Completely normal and also something worth gently working on from an early age. Boys are not naturally less emotional than girls, they are just often conditioned to believe that showing emotion is not for them. Modelling emotional openness yourself, normalising conversations about feelings in everyday life and not making a big deal of it when they do open up all help over time.

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55 thoughts on “Communicating with Boys”

  2. Diane

    I enjoyed reading this. Thank you! I am a mom of 2 boys (12 and 14), am publushing a book (this summer) about raising boys, and am a communication studies professor. These are all great pieces of advice, and there are others, too. Let me know if you would ever want to collaborate.

  3. Alex

    great post – I have struggles communicating with my 8 year old daughter at the moment, she seems to have fast-forwarded to a teenager already!

  4. Rachel

    WHAT AFUNNY YET INFORMATIVE POST! I LOVE YOUR TIPS ON COMMUNICATING WITH BYS AND WILL REMEMBER NOT TO USE MY HIGH PITCH ANNOYED TONE WITH MY PARTNER WHEN HES NOT DONE THE CHORES!!

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks. I am glad you found it useful. I regularly forget my own advice and squawk quickly to non listening boys

  6. Rachael

    These arw great tips, we all get a bit shrill when were starting tonget irritated and i know that with my boyfriend, the more precis you can be, the better.

  8. Enda Sheppard

    Really interesting post … as a man, let me confirm: we HATE passive aggressive and sarcasm in tone. Yes, more direct communication does help … collaborative. And we do have quite the range of emotional intelligence, just not switched on all the time. Yes, we are a but different, but worth it!!! Hehe

    1. Kirsty

      Love it! Thanks for commenting. My husband was the source of some of the ideas as he told me the things he found impossible when I talk to him #DreamTeam

  9. Laura - Autumn's Mummy

    How interesting! It definitely is different communicating with my husband to women in my life and wires often get crossed. I’ll be trying some of these out and seeing what happens 🙂 #DreamTeam

  10. Laurie

    After growing up in a family with only sisters, I have 3 boys and now 3 grandsons. I need these communication tips more than you can imagine! I still haven’t figured out how to communicate with boys. Thank you!!!

  11. Sophie

    This made me laugh as i was having this conversation with my TeAcher Assistant today as The boys in the class were just in another planet! I have 4 and 5 year oLds this year, mainly boys and they just. Cant. Listen. fun thOugh! #dreamteam

    1. Kirsty

      Glad to have amused 😉 When my son was in reception last year I don’t know how the teachers ever managed to get him and his friends to listen as they are all off with the fairies. They are very fun though #DreamTeam

  12. Isabel

    mhm maybe this doesn’t just go for boys but grown men also, might try the low and slow approach and direct instruction approach 🙂

  13. Kate

    Have learned this over the years especially the slow and low voice for the children and the walking when wanting to talk about important stuff with my OH. Another thing on communication which is perhaps not a gender thing is about the language of love – apparently my OH uses acts of service whereas I prefer verbal praise – understanding that has helped our relationship a bit. Anyway good post that will help lots of mums #DreamTeam

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks so much for your comments. I am dead chuffed that you thought they were good ideas and are a teacher xx #DreamTeam

  16. Emma

    This was so useful to read. I have a son, hes only a baby now but the tips are useful for when hes older. Thankyou x

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks so much for your comments and I am thrilled that you enjoyed it. It really has helped with my sons and I started lots of the things when they were toddlers basically as soon as I could.

  17. Jo (A Rose Tinted World)

    Totally get this.and also totally agree that talking to the hubby is the same. Hinting doesnt cut it. You have to be direct and explicit in your instructions, or the jobs never get done! #DreamTeam

    1. Kirsty

      Direct is the only way and time bound I have found. My husband needs me to say ‘ please do it now’ that can’t be implied : Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam

    1. Kirsty

      I don’t always remember these things in the moment, but when I do it really does seem to work Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam

  20. Carmela

    This is such a helpful post. Wait as I am typing this, it is coming out as all caps. I do not know how to fix it and I hope it doesn’t turn out all caps when published. Anyway, I am a boy mom and i agree…my boys communicate better with their father. I will try to speak low and slow. you know what, these tips could also work when I try to communicate with hubby! love this. Tweeted! #dreamteamlinky

    1. Kirsty

      Ha ha! It wasn’t all caps. THanks for much for your kind comments. I definitely use them with my husband in fact some of the ideas were his! Thanks for being on the #DreamTeam

  21. Rosie Doal

    I couldn’t agree with you more. i definitely change my tone and speed when talking to my boy as compared to my daughter. i feel i have to explain things that little bit more! #dreamteam

  22. Annette, 3 Little Buttons

    This is such an interesting read! I only have one boy in the house (if you don’t count Alfie the dog) and that’s mr Button. Slow, low and not too many words… i bet this will work a charm. LOL! Fab post Kirsty. #dreamteam xx

    1. Kirsty

      Thanks Annette. Give low and slow a try – I warn you you may feel like a dick, but it certainly works better than my usual shrieking tone 😉 #DreamTeam

  25. charlotte stein

    All the men in my house jsut don’t listen to a word i say, thats part of the problem! Low and slow is agood point that may help them isten to the odd word i mutter hehe! #dreamteam

    1. Kirsty

      Give it a whirl and let me know if it helps. It definitely works with my crew, but it is hard to remember to do when they are driving me bonkers!! Thanks for joining us on the #DreamTeam

  26. Noleen Miller

    Well as a mom to girls I can’t relate much to communicating with boys but i do know that my husband communicates different to our girls that what i do #dreamteam

  28. Lucy At Home

    This is a really interesting post. I don’t have boys myself (although I do have my husband), but I love that you took the time to find out why your words were getting lost in translation. This is something I feel really passionate about – we need to look beyond the surface behaviour and find out WHY our kids are acting and behaving in a certain way.

    And someone else obviously appreciated this post too because they chose to add it to the BlogCrush linky for you. Hurray! Feel free to pop over and collect your “I’ve been featured” blog badge #blogcrush

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