Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails, that may be what little boys are made of, but  it’s important to remember that whether he’s a Dennis the Menace or a Prince Charming, your little boy is also made of emotions, egos and awkward limbs.

That said, self-esteem and self-confidence are critical in boys. Helping bolster their confidence means many things, including offering encouragement in weak areas, as well as in places where they already excel. “My son had some gross motor skill issues, so it was important for us to build his self-confidence in that regard,” says Liane G., who lives with her three-year-old son and husband, in New York City. "It’s telling him when he’s done something well, especially when it comes to things that require fine motor skills that other kids in the class might be better at, such as painting, drawing and making things with play dough.” She adds, “It means a lot to him when he sees he can do it too.”

"My boys have 800% energy," says Julie LaRusso, a mother of two boys, Liam, aged 5 and Luke, age 6, who lives with her husband in Washingtonville, NY. “They like to be moving and engaged. Both my husband and I are very into sports and now so are my children. Luke did his first mountain bike race and loved it. And he is going to be doing his first kid-version triathlon soon. He likes to go out on his bike with me while I am training and he 'trains' along with me.” She adds, “My son likes to feel like he is doing something adult-like. My other son just got his first library card and has joined the reading program. That makes him feel proud to know he can do something grown up like take books out and read them."

Related Features:

• Helping Kids Form Their Own Identities
• How To Stop Bullying
• Build Your Child's Self-Esteem