Today we’re discussing two questions sent in from a mom, and we suspect that most parents can relate to the first one—how do we deal with the eye rolls, sighs, and other “junk behaviors” that can accompany the tween and teen years? We talk about how frustrating interactions often indicate that our kids have reached a new stage of development and ho…

In this episode, we’re discussing a question from a mom wondering how to help her husband relate to their tween girl. We talk about dads and daughters and how this question points to an even bigger issue—how parents can respond to kids who feel different from or even difficult to them. Attachment science points us to two mirroring needs—comfort and…

In this episode, we’re discussing a question about a 13-year-old struggling with anxiety. Fortunately, anxiety is one of the most treatable mental health issues to work with, but doing that takes good information to help us face fear head-on. Social anxiety, in particular, can really take hold between the ages of 12 to 14, and we talk about why tha…

Anyone else ever disagree with your partner over a parenting issue? We don’t think it’s just us, and we’ve seen how these disagreements can cause friction in families. In this episode, we discuss a question from a mom wondering how to move forward when she and her husband see things differently about their daughter and ADHD. Jeffrey shares strategi…

The tween and teen years can bring with them unexpected joy, as well as to-be-expected ups and downs. In this episode, we talk about emotions and hormones and three huge transitions happening within the teenage brain. Understanding what’s going on with our kids’ bodies really helps all of us! Here’s the question: “My kids are entering middle school…

This season, we’re talking about raising tweens and teens, discussing parents’ questions, and exploring how science and faith come together to point our families to security and connection. Earlier this year, we received a question from a mom wondering how to direct her child’s moral choices. We’re using her question to kick off this series because…

All of our relationships with our kids will have moments of pain and disconnection. We build our children's security when we face those disconnections with openness and curiosity so that we can come back together when things feel broken. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and Amy Olrick discuss the concept of repair, and how important it is in bui…

Painful experiences can be confusing and overwhelming for kids, but we can enter into hard moments in ways that grow them in wisdom and maturity. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and Amy Olrick talk about how to help children process difficult thoughts and feelings and the power of approaching our children’s pain with curiosity. Finding ways to …

Comfort is our human need to be seen and held in the midst of our pain. And the research is clear that when we pause to see and sit with our kids’ suffering without immediately offering solutions, we gradually train their nervous systems to calm themselves down through us. But comfort can be a hard need to meet because when kids are in pain, parent…

We all want to protect our kids from dangerous things, but too much protection can leave our children feeling unsure of themselves and afraid in the world. In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and Amy Olrick talk about new ways to consider the real dangers kids face and how opportunities to overcome manageable amounts of trouble can help kids grow s…

We all want our children to be able to go out into the world to discover and learn. But sometimes we give them limits because there are things that can hurt them. And our kids can cause hurt themselves if they don't understand that others have needs just like they do. This week, we discuss how to give our kids healthy boundaries so they can safely …

All kids are born into the world with the instinct to learn, explore, and figure things out, which means childhood is full of big bumps and messes! Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and Amy Olrick talk about what healthy support looks like for our kids, and why children grow stronger when we don’t overcorrect their mistakes. Christina and Daniel Im of the IMbetwe…

In his work as an attachment researcher, Dr. Jeffrey Olrick has identified six things our kids need as they grow and develop—delight, support, boundaries, protection, comfort, and equipping. In this episode, Jeffrey and Amy Olrick introduce the importance of delight and discuss how faith and science come together to point families to health and con…

As parents and families face increasing pressure and mental health strain, Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and Amy Olrick share how science and faith come together to show us that attachment and connection can still grow our kids strong. They offer a guide to build strength and resiliency in our children that will last a lifetime, even through hard times. In th…

Most families deal with bedtime struggles at some point or another. In this episode, we discuss why kids are wired to be scared of the dark and strategies to make going to bed easier for everyone. At the end of the episode, New Zealand pastor and musician Aaron Hardy joins us to share his story and music from his band, Te Rautini. His music is a gi…

In today’s episode, a mom wonders how to get her children to help her with chores. We talk about surprising ways to encourage kids to help from young ages, why creating a system where everyone contributes is so important, and how “doing with” a great way to grow our kids in responsibility over time. Don’t miss the God Moment at the end from Sam Alt…

This week's question is about a sometimes-too-familiar subject: sibling rivalry. We discuss how to help kids learn to negotiate their differences on their own and the importance of removing yourself from the role of judge. Don’t miss the God Moment at the end, when Lindsay Durrenberger shares about a remarkable encounter she had on the night after …

In this episode, we hear from a mom concerned about her son’s desire to be a professional YouTuber. We discuss how situations like this can be opportunities and the power of starting conversations with our kids with a mindset of “Yes, and.” Here’s the question: I have a son who is very intelligent, creative, capable. He can do anything he sets his …

In this episode, we consider a question from a mom with a 4-year-old daughter who demands constant attention, discussing how to help manage her little girl’s needs and requests. Here's the question: “My daughter, who is turning 5 in a couple of weeks, is very articulate and emotionally intelligent and consistently communicates to me that she’s not …

In this episode of the Growing Connected podcast, we consider a question from a mom who is worried about her young son’s outbursts of temper. Listen to learn three steps that help children gain control of their big feelings and emotions, and don’t miss the beautiful God Moment story from our friend Tony at the end. Here's the question: “My 7-year-o…

We’re embarking on this podcast at a very particular time in history, when families are dealing with so many hard things. So we want to begin by sharing some writing by a friend of ours, Marcy McClelland Klug. Marcy’s writing captures what many parents are experiencing right now, and also includes an important question about how to help different k…

On each Growing Connected podcast, husband and wife team Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and Amy Olrick discuss a listener-submitted question, exploring what the intersection of child development science and faith teach us about issues families are facing. Each episode ends with a God Moment — a story about a time a parent or a child felt God's love in their li…