Girls have, on average, a curve that shifts to the left, and boys one that shifts to the right. What this means is that optimal levels of stress for girls often isn’t enough to motivate boys, and optimal stress for boys can be overwhelming for many girls. (Remember, these are averages—every kid is different. Some girls are more boylike and vice versa.) As a parent, it is worth remembering that what works to motivate you may not work for your kid, and what seems like no big deal to you may be really overwhelming for your child.
