7 Parenting Tips Over Family Meals for Raising Good Men
Father-and-son duo Andy and Oliver Cope share seven practical tips from their book *LADULT: Navigating Safely from Boy to Man* to help teenage boys build resilience, confidence, and healthier habits. Rooted in positive psychology, their advice aligns with Malta’s Mediterranean lifestyle, emphasizing food, family, and wellbeing. Key strategies include fostering friendships over shared meals, making screen-free family mealtimes a priority, encouraging realistic goals beyond social media comparisons, prioritizing sleep, praising effort over talent, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and inspiring creativity through food. By integrating these principles into Malta’s rich culinary traditions, parents can support teens in their journey to becoming kind, confident, and resilient men.
Seven Tips to Help Teenage Boys Become Good Men – From the Dinner Table to Daily Habits
Looking to nurture healthier habits and a balanced lifestyle in the next generation of young men? Parenting teenage boys can feel like a whirlwind of challenges, but father-and-son duo Andy and Oliver Cope have teamed up to offer practical guidance through their new book, LADULT: Navigating Safely from Boy to Man. Their advice is rooted in positive psychology and lived experience, aiming to help boys build resilience, confidence, and healthier routines.
In Malta, where family meals are cherished and the Mediterranean lifestyle promotes connection and wellbeing, these tips resonate deeply. By emphasizing the importance of relationships, sleep, and mindful living, LADULT aligns perfectly with a healthy lifestyle that champions physical and mental health. Whether you're a parent, mentor, or someone invested in fostering positive change, here’s how their insights can complement Malta’s vibrant culture of food, family, and wellbeing.
1. Forge Strong Friendships Over Shared Meals
Adolescence is a pivotal time for young men to learn the art of socializing, but today’s teens often connect through social media or gaming. While these interactions have their place, they can't replace the richness of face-to-face connection. Oliver Cope suggests teens join clubs or participate in activities that foster real-world relationships, but in Malta, the dinner table can be just as powerful a socializing tool.
Encourage your teenage son to invite friends over for a home-cooked meal or explore Malta’s thriving restaurant scene to bond over shared plates of nourishing, Mediterranean cuisine. From fresh seafood dishes to hearty vegetable stews, food has a magical way of bringing people together, teaching young men the value of camaraderie and connection.
2. Make Screen-Free Family Mealtimes Non-Negotiable
Family meals are a cornerstone of Maltese culture, and the Cope duo underscores their importance for psychological wellbeing. Research shows that eating together without screens improves communication skills, strengthens familial bonds, and boosts mental health.
Incorporating this into daily life can be as simple as enforcing a no-phone policy at the table, whether you're indulging in a lazy Sunday lunch at a countryside farmhouse restaurant or preparing a homemade spread of grilled fish and fresh salads. The act of eating together in a mindful way helps teens develop deeper relationships and appreciate the value of slowing down in a fast-paced world.
3. Set Realistic Standards for Success – Beyond Instagram
Teenagers often fall into the trap of comparing themselves to influencers flaunting filtered perfection on social media. The Copes highlight that this endless comparison steals joy and sets unrealistic benchmarks.
Instead, encourage your teen to focus on intrinsic goals that align with their passions. For instance, if they enjoy cooking, why not help them explore Malta’s culinary traditions? From mastering the art of making pastizzi to experimenting with plant-based dishes inspired by the island’s growing health-conscious dining scene, these pursuits can instill a sense of pride and a more grounded definition of success.
4. Prioritize Sleep – The Foundation of Health and Happiness
Sleep is essential for teenagers’ developing brains, yet many young men are chronically sleep-deprived due to late-night scrolling or gaming. As Oliver Cope emphasizes, mobile phones and bedrooms should never mix. He advises investing in an old-school alarm clock to keep phones out of reach during bedtime.
In Malta, where warm evenings and serene landscapes encourage relaxation, consider fostering a bedtime routine that includes herbal teas like chamomile or ġellewża (wild caper tea). Pair this with a light, nutrient-dense dinner, such as baked fish or a quinoa salad, to help your teen wind down and enjoy a restorative night’s sleep.
5. Praise Effort Over Talent – Celebrate the Journey
Building resilience starts with reframing how we praise achievements. Research shows that praising effort rather than innate talent helps teens persevere in the face of challenges. Instead of saying, “You’re a natural chef” after your teen makes a dish, try saying, “That’s the result of all your hard work experimenting with recipes.”
Malta’s food scene is brimming with opportunities for young people to hone their skills, whether it’s through culinary classes, exploring local farmer’s markets, or even volunteering at community kitchens. These experiences not only teach patience and effort but also instill a sense of purpose and pride in their work.
6. Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity
Failure is an inevitable part of life, and teaching young men to accept and grow from setbacks is key to their development. As Oliver Cope notes, great men aren’t those who never make mistakes but those who learn from them.
For example, if your teen’s attempt at baking a traditional Maltese qagħaq tal-għasel (honey rings) doesn’t turn out as planned, use it as a teaching moment. Encourage them to analyze what went wrong, adjust the recipe, and try again. Experiencing failure in the kitchen—or any other arena—can build resilience and problem-solving skills.
7. Dare to Dream – And Let Food Inspire Creativity
In today’s algorithm-driven world, social media often dictates dreams for young people. Oliver Cope advises teens to take back control and spend time daydreaming about their aspirations. Here in Malta, food and dining can serve as a source of inspiration for these dreams.
Encourage your teen to dream big about their future—whether it’s opening a sustainable restaurant, becoming a nutritionist, or simply exploring the world through its diverse cuisines. Malta’s burgeoning food scene, with its emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and innovative dining concepts, offers plenty of fuel for inspiration.
A Guide for Growth Through Food and Connection
Ultimately, LADULT presents a roadmap for helping teenage boys navigate life’s complexities while growing into kind, confident, and resilient men. By integrating these principles into Malta’s rich culture of food, family, and wellbeing, parents can foster healthier habits and deeper connections with their teens.
Whether it’s through screen-free family meals, exploring Malta’s culinary traditions, or prioritizing sleep and mindful living, the journey to becoming a good man can be supported by the values found in the Mediterranean lifestyle. And as Oliver Cope wisely points out, “Happy-ever-after endings start with hard work now.”