Talk To Your Boys: How to Help Teens Grow Into Confident, Caring Young Men
with Christopher Pepper
Hosted on March 26, 2026, 7 - 8 PM
Live Online Event
EVENT FOLLOW UP RESOURCES & MATERIALS
Thank you for joining us for our event with Christopher Pepper, co-author of Talk To Your Boys, educator, and expert on adolescent health. We are so grateful for Christopher’s insight, though we certainly missed his co-author, Joanna Schroeder, who unfortunately couldn't join us at the last minute due to illness. We are sending her our very best wishes for a quick recovery.
Christopher’s core message was a powerful call to action for parents: connecting with the boys in our lives is not only possible, but essential. He encouraged us to move away from being "furious" when challenges arise and instead focus on creating the emotional safety our sons need to navigate their developing worlds. When we lead with respect rather than imposing our will, we keep the relationship open and strong as they grow toward adulthood.
He shared invaluable guidance on the importance of modeling emotional intelligence, reminding us that boys need to see the adults in their lives manage a range of emotions in order to feel safe showing their own. Christopher highlighted that we shouldn't disengage too early; instead, we should remain an active support system—helping them foster positive friendships, connecting them with other caring adults, and ensuring they prioritize the "basics" of food, exercise, and sleep.
As Christopher emphasized, building a strong relationship with our teens starts with "getting curious." One of the most powerful takeaways was using this curiosity as a doorway—whether it’s asking what makes a favorite video game interesting or who their favorite character is in a TV show. Demonstrating genuine interest in their world, no matter how small, gives them the opportunity to be the expert and open up.
By making it safe for them to share their emotions without fear of being judged and staying involved through the ups and downs of adolescence, we build a foundation of resilience. Christopher reminded us that our presence and persistence are what truly help our teens navigate today's world and grow into confident, caring adults.
From Christopher Pepper:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE RESOURCES from March 26 presentation including slides and links
Links to get the book!: Talk To Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men by Joanna Schroeder & Christopher Pepper:
Christopher also wanted to invite friends of the Parents’ Coalition to get 50% off an all-access subscriptionto his Teen Health Today newsletter. Use this link by April 30, 2026 to access the offer: teenhealthtoday.com/parentscoalition
Connect with Christopher’s: SUBSTACK
Don’t Disengage Too Early: Stay involved even as they seek independence.
Get Curious, Not Furious: Approach behavior with questions rather than anger.
Support Positive Relationships: Actively foster their healthy friendships.
Connect with Other Caring Adults: Help them find mentors, coaches, or family friends.
Electronics Out of Bedrooms: Prioritize their sleep and mental health by keeping tech out.
Monitor Online Activity: Pay active attention to what they consume and do online.
Don’t Skip the Basics: Never underestimate the power of food, exercise, and sleep.
Model Your Emotions: Let your sons see you experience and navigate a full range of feelings.
Create a Safe Space: Make it safe for them to show their own emotions without judgment.
Seize the Opening: When they give you an opening for communication—take it!
Recent articles and interviews from Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder:
Talk to your boys: Tips for parents about mental health (American Institute For Boys and Men)
We Need To Listen To Young Men (The Sunday Paper)
Having difficult talks with your son should happen sooner than you might think, expert says (CNN)
The Epidemic of Male Loneliness (Now What)
Panel: Anxious Girls, Lonely Boys (Aspen Ideas: Health)
Parents Who Do These 11 Things Keep Their Sons Close, Even Long After They Grow Up (Your Tango)
Why Adolescent Boys Are Struggling (Parent Data)
How To Bolster Boys' Social Skills (Teen Health Today)
Want To Understand Boys? Check This Out (Teen Health Today)
Helping Boys Express Masculinity Without Masks (Teen Health Today)
How To Reduce The Toxicity Boys Find Online (Teen Health Today)
Everybody's Talking About The "Boy Crisis." Here's Why You Should Care. (Teen Health Today)
Five Ways To Help Boys Make Friends (Teen Health Today)
The Transformational Power of Health Classes and Boys' Groups (Teen Health Today)
Boy Troubles - And Boy Solutions (Teen Health Today)
Visit our video library to watch the event recording
SPECIAL THANKS TO...
Our speaker, Christopher Pepper, for your inspiring insights, expertise and helpful advice on Talking to Our Boys!
Our moderator, Kristine Wolcott, High School Counselor and Wellness Educator at the SF Waldorf School, for moderating the Q&A session, voicing questions parents have on this important topic.
Our Parents' Coalition volunteers and member schools, whose efforts made this event possible!
EVENT DETAILS: Talk To Your Boys: How To Help Teens Grow Into Confident, Caring Young Men
A Conversation with Joanna Schroeder & Christopher Pepper
Many boys are struggling, and parents are often left wondering how to reach them. If your teen son seems distant, gives one-word answers, or is spending too much time online, you’re not alone. From academic and social pressures, declining college enrollment to rising rates of depression and loneliness, boys are struggling - and many are unable to articulate why or ask for help.
Join us to learn from Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper, bestselling authors of Talk To Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men.
Joanna and Christopher will share helpful advice, scripts, and ideas about how to have conversations with boys about many essential topics, starting with the most important of all — communication. They will share strategies for moving past the false "adolescent boys don't want to talk" narrative and get them to really open up. Our speakers have developed talking points on significant challenges young men face today such as bullying, screen time, substance use, and more. They will discuss insights from leading experts, and perspectives from boys themselves, in their own words.
Gain insight on how to have crucial, but sometimes awkward, discussions on emotions, identity, respect, friendship, sex and more, with the larger goal to raise emotionally intelligent young men who care about themselves and others.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear about what our speakers have learned while interviewing over 80 boys and dozens of experts while writing their book, and leave with practical ideas about how to help the boys in your life navigate today's world.
Our Speakers:
Joanna Schroeder is a writer, editor and media critic focused on raising healthy, happy kids. She has been published in The New York Times, Esquire, and The Boston Globe and has appeared on TV, radio and podcasts across the world. She began her editorial career as Executive Editor of The Good Men Project and currently serves as Managing Editor of the Experts Division at YourTango. She is also the mother of two sons and a young daughter.
Christopher Pepper is an award-winning health teacher whose lesson plans are used in schools around the globe. He coordinates the Young Men's Health Groups in San Francisco public middle and high schools, which bring boys together to talk about their lives, masculinity, emotions, and relationships. He's been published in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and ParentData, and has appeared in USA Today, Mother Jones, Vox, and on NPR. He's the father of two boys and has been a foster parent.
“Talk to Your Boys is a game-changing guide that tackles one of the most pressing challenges of parenting today: how to talk with boys about the things that matter most. From emotions and friendships to screen time and sex, this book doesn’t just explain why we need to have these conversations — it shows us how. Filled with practical, research-backed strategies and smart, actionable scripts, Talk to Your Boys makes it clear that connecting with the boys in our lives is not only possible, but essential. This book is required reading for anyone who cares about raising boys to thrive emotionally, build strong relationships, and grow into healthy, whole adults.” ーLisa Damour, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
Our Q&A following the presentation will be moderated by:
Kristine Wolcott, SF Waldorf High School Counselor & Wellness Teacher. Kristine is a longtime educator who has taught in public and independent schools as well as varied settings that serve at-risk and incarcerated youth and provide community mental health support services. Additionally, she has developed trauma-informed health, wellness and movement curricula for schools, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. She is currently completing her doctoral research in relational neuroscience, developmental psychology, and ecological systems, to address the youth mental health crisis.
This Event is Live Online and will be recorded