THE BOY

INTRODUCTION:

This lecture is to give the Officers of The Boys’ Brigade the insight of the behavioural characteristics and the expectation of The Boy in The Boys’ Brigade.

The Boy is an important personality to the founder of the organisation, Sir William Alexander Smith. As we are all aware of the saying of the leaders of the organization that “without Boys

there would not have been Boys’ Brigade”.

WHO IS A BOY?

Cambridge Advance Learner Dictionary gave us a Boy as “a male child or a male of any age.”

In The Boys’ Brigade setting, The Boy is the most important person that makes the organisation to exist. Officers existence in The Boys’ Brigade is as a result of The Boy for them to be guided, directed, counselled, supported and to led. The paramount objective of The Boys’ Brigade “is the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom among the Boy”.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BOY?

Boys in the Sections of the Organisation has various characteristics that are attributed to them in which we all need to know in order to perform our duty excellently as an Officer.

1. THE ANCHOR BOY (3 – 7 YEARS OLD)

This is the primitive section of the organisation before attaining the age of a Boy in Junior Section and they have the underlisted characteristics;

• Crude emotion – learn to interpret their action e.g.

• Limited Concentration

• Energetic

• Self – centredness / Egocentrism

• Inability to understand difficult and complex concept

• Undimensional thoughts

• Likes collecting and making things.

2. THE JUNIOR BOY (8 – 11 YEARS OLD)

This is the formative and constructive section of the organisation before attaining the age of a Boy in Company Section and they have the underlisted characteristics;

• Problem Solving Skill

• Crude emotion – learn to interpret their action e.g.

• Limited Concentration

• Restlessness

• Self – centredness / Egocentrism

• Abstract ideas

• Undimensional thoughts

3. THE COMPANY SECTION BOY (12 – 15 YEARS OLD)

Boy in this section are attaining the early pre-adolescence stage and their developmental characteristics are as follows;

• Physical Development

• Sexual awareness

• Friendship

• Independence / Freedom

• Struggle for independence

• Abstract concepts

• Self – centredness / Egocentric i.e. » They have imaginary audience

» Feel pompous, ambitious,

» Personal allegory, legend, falsehood, crook etc

• Accumulation of stress i.e. » Nobody cares about me

» My parents treat me like a small child

» Nobody likes me

4. THE SENIOR SECTION BOY (15/16 – 19 YEARS OLD)

Boy in this section are in their adolescent stage and they believe they have arrived because of their developmental characteristics which is as follows;

• Strong need for independence

• Sexual attraction to opposite sex

• Wants recognition, listened to and to be noticed

• Distinguish between abstract and concrete concepts

• At mid – adolescent (16/17), increase attention to defining his identity

• At late – adolescent (18/19), they narrow down choices for the future to few choices

OFFICERS RESPONSIBILITY

WHAT THE BOY HAS:

1. Enthusiasm and Energy: Boys of this age cannot sit still for long. They always want to be on the go, doing something they like on their own, or more usually with others of their age. However, when they commence anything enthusiastically, this their enthusiasm soon fades after a time. The Boys have real feelings for Boys Brigade work, thus spend their time in it.

2. Capacity for Fun: Life is never very serious at this age: most things have funny side (even if it is not intended) and the Boy has a great sense of humour. He has few worries, and those he has soon pass, what he likes to do is to enjoy himself.

3. Capacity for hero-worship: Human beings tend to model their lives after some other people. Nevertheless, this tendency is particularly strong at this age. This attitude is referred to as hero-worship. A Boys’ hero may be a footballer, or pop star, but it may equally be his BB Officer or NCO. Although this may happen without him being aware of it, the Boy will model his life, what he does and tries to do, on his hero.

4. An element of uncertainty: A Boy seldom thinks and when he stops to think of security, he feels a need for security, and someone who will take a real interest in him, and whom he can trust in every way. Some Boys are lucky to find this at home, but many others do not and seek it outside their homes. The Boy is not sure of his next move and he’s also not sure of the people around him especially when they are people he’s not yet used to.

WHAT THE BOY NEEDS

Having known his strengths/what the Boy has, it is proper for us to evaluate his needs with the aims of providing these needs and striking a balance between what he has and what he needs.

1. Counselling and open up: encourage them to talk about what they are passing through while one listen attentively and thinking of the kind and type of advice to give to him.

Desist from jumping into conclusions and do not be quick to answer to any question asked.

Based on the fact that adolescent doesn’t want adult to rush them to advice. They many only want adults to understand what they are passing through and the situation they find themselves before any advice.

2. Building a Strong Relationship: Try to build a strong and family relationship with them so that they feel comfortable coming to you when they need help

3. Offer Reassurance, Encouragement and Support: Officer should be ready to provide verbal or physical comfort, but do not disappointed and discouraged if your efforts are jeopardised. It’s a normal reaction to stress. Be cool, happy and ready to offer same any time and let them know that you are available anytime, any day he needs you.

As an OFFICER in the organisation ably ready to work for the development of The Boys irrespective of their developmental characteristics. You should;

• Teach and study God’s word

• Pray

• Develop the love for the children

• Patience

• Sense of humour

• Encouragement and support

• Counsel

• Building a good relationship with them

• Study them and be there friend

• Ready to assign responsibility and delegate

CONCLUSION

Having known all these as the behavioural characteristics about The Boy whom you have solely accepted to work for by leading them aright by treading on the rightful path. Note very well that you do not deviate and fail from discharging your duties by bringing The Boy to Christ.

Anything short of this is not aimed at the object of the organisation “advancing Christ’s Kingdom among Boys”.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).