Boys' Institute for Growth

Boys' Institute for Growth Enhancing relationships between boys and their families, peers, and their communities. BIG is a place where boys and parents come to learn and grow.

It is for boys with common, everyday struggles like fitting in, dealing with peer pressure, or coping with divorce, as well as for those boys with more significant difficulties like ADHD, depression, anxiety, social isolation, and acting out in destructive ways. For pre-teen and teen boys, BIG offers a chance to learn about “being male” and its wide-ranging meaning to cope with and express feeling

s, to make and keep good friends, and to relate more effectively with parents and siblings. Another part of BIG’s philosophy is to help boys understand, develop, and nurture their relationships with both girls and boys. For parents, BIG provides the opportunity to learn about how boys tend to operate without pigeonholing them into traditional gender stereotypes. Parents also learn about how the larger culture influences boys and their concepts of masculinity, and what they can do to help their sons think deeply about what it means to be a man in the 21st Century. They also come to get support from other parents who may be in similar spots: wanting to be closer to their sons, feeling confused about how to effectively parent their boys, or maybe just feeling alone in their everyday struggles as busy caregivers. BIG helps parents feel less isolated and more connected to others who know about the ups and downs of parenting boys.

On International Day of Families, it’s worth looking at what actually supports boys during their development.It’s not ab...
05/16/2026

On International Day of Families, it’s worth looking at what actually supports boys during their development.

It’s not about having perfect conversations or always knowing what to say.

What matters most is consistency.

Boys benefit from:

• Predictable responses
• Calm, steady reactions
• Knowing a trusted adult will stay engaged

During puberty, boys are still developing the ability to understand and express what they’re experiencing.

That means family becomes the place where they learn:

• How to process emotions
• How to communicate
• How to navigate change

Not through one big moment
But through repeated, everyday interactions.

Puberty conversations don’t have to feel completely awkward.The Remote BIG Talk for Boys is designed to give both boys a...
05/16/2026

Puberty conversations don’t have to feel completely awkward.

The Remote BIG Talk for Boys is designed to give both boys and their caregivers clear, age-appropriate guidance on what to expect and how to navigate it together.

This interactive workshop covers the basics of puberty and reproduction in a way that is honest, supportive, and easy to understand.

📆 May 16, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM PT
💻 Live, online workshop

👦 For boys in grades 4–6 and their caregivers

Start the conversation with confidence.

🔗 Link in bio to register

Be sure to join us at our next event on May 16th @ 9:00 AM PT for the Remote BIG Talk for Boys!The Remote BIG Talk for B...
05/13/2026

Be sure to join us at our next event on May 16th @ 9:00 AM PT for the Remote BIG Talk for Boys!

The Remote BIG Talk for Boys is an interactive 2.5-hour online workshop for 4th-6th-grade boys and their caregivers that provides foundational, medically-accurate information on the basics of puberty and reproduction.

Ready to save your seat? 

Step 1: Visit the link in my bio to register for the event.  

Step 2: Look for two follow-up emails: one providing you with payment info, and the other providing you with the secure Zoom link to the event, along with handouts and instructions for the day of the event. 

Step 3: On the date and time of the event, log on with your son from a quiet, comfortable, private location in your home with handouts and materials at the ready.

Hello, Orange County and St. Vincent de Paul School! Two more BIG Talks for Boys in the can! Great to drive up to OC and...
05/11/2026

Hello, Orange County and St. Vincent de Paul School! Two more BIG Talks for Boys in the can! Great to drive up to OC and meet with some middle schoolers who were eager to make sure they had all the basics down! Also great to see the 5th grade students at St. Vincent de Paul to start their puberty education! As you can see from the cards, some pretty thoughtful questions. Well done, boys and trusted adults!

To the moms raising boys…You are doing more than you think.In the everyday moments…The car ridesThe quick answers to qui...
05/10/2026

To the moms raising boys…

You are doing more than you think.

In the everyday moments…

The car rides
The quick answers to quick questions
The times you stay calm when it would be easier not to

That’s what shapes him.

You are teaching him:

How to handle emotions
How to treat people
How to understand himself

Not through perfect conversations
But through consistency

Through being there
Through showing up again and again

Even when it feels messy
Even when you’re not sure you’re saying it right

You’re doing your best, and that’s usually more than enough

More families are starting puberty conversations earlier.And more parents are asking the same question:How do I do this ...
05/08/2026

More families are starting puberty conversations earlier.
And more parents are asking the same question:

How do I do this in a way that actually helps?

We’re proud to be part of a live panel exploring exactly that.

Dr. Christopher Miller will be joining Molly Bloom and Dr. Cara Natterson for an honest, practical conversation about puberty and how to support kids through it.

📆 May 14

📍 Pasadena
🎟️ Free–$25

Live Q&A included.

-

Hello, La Jolla and Solana Beach! Two more BIG Talks for Boys in the books. Always impressed with the curiosity, questio...
05/06/2026

Hello, La Jolla and Solana Beach! Two more BIG Talks for Boys in the books. Always impressed with the curiosity, questions, and openness of these boys and their trusted adults. For the second talk, we really emphasized the importance of being kind to those different than us, especially if they’re Dodger fans (talking to you, Mr. Fourth From The Left in pic #4).

During Screen-Free Week (May 5–11), it’s easy to focus on the goal of completely eliminating screens.But the better ques...
05/05/2026

During Screen-Free Week (May 5–11), it’s easy to focus on the goal of completely eliminating screens.

But the better question is: What are screens replacing?

For many boys, it’s:
- Movement
- Quiet
- Boredom (and learning how to manage it)
- Conversation and connection

And those are the spaces where growth and development often happen:

- Where ideas form
- Where emotions settle
- Where connection builds

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

But creating even a little space away from screens can change more than we expect.

Thank you to all of the parents who joined me for Getting Ready for the Remote BIG Talk for Boys.These conversations mat...
05/03/2026

Thank you to all of the parents who joined me for Getting Ready for the Remote BIG Talk for Boys.

These conversations matter. Your willingness to show up, ask questions, and learn how to support your sons doesn’t go unnoticed.

And the fact that you are here means your son has someone in his corner.

If you are ready for the next step, I would love to have you join me for the full experience.

The Remote BIG Talk for Boys is designed for boys in 4th-6th grades and their trusted adults, covering puberty, reproduction, and how to take good care of growing and changing bodies.

📆 May 16
🔗 Link in bio to register

Don’t forget… this event is coming up in just a few days.📆 May 2 | 9:00 AM PTFree parent session for boys in grades 4–6T...
04/29/2026

Don’t forget… this event is coming up in just a few days.

📆 May 2 | 9:00 AM PT

Free parent session for boys in grades 4–6

This 60-minute session is designed to review the content of the upcoming Remote BIG Talk for Boys, answer your questions, and offer practical strategies for talking with your sons about all of the changes that come with growing up.

We will also discuss all of the benefits of having these crucial conversations and prepare you for the full event on May 16th, 2026.

🔗 Link in bio to register

Road trip!!! Had the pleasure of traveling to beautiful Lake Tahoe this past weekend for a BIG Talk for Boys with a grea...
04/28/2026

Road trip!!! Had the pleasure of traveling to beautiful Lake Tahoe this past weekend for a BIG Talk for Boys with a great group of boys and trusted adults. Then had a quick turnaround back to SD to meet with students at Notre Dame Academy and Innovations Academy. Lots of curiosity and lots of facts learned. May is looking to be as busy as ever! Stay tuned!

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92130

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+18587612256

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