The 6 Needs of Every Child
Empowering Parents and Kids through the Science of Connection
- Marriage, Family & Relationships
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Published: 2020
FritzSearch.com earns a commission on purchases made through Bookshop.org links.
Publisher's Description
Discover the power of being imperfectly present with your children, helping them develop mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience that will sustain them for a lifetime. Like most parents, Amy and Jeffrey Olrick left the hospital with their first child desperate to know, "What do we do?" But years of parenting three kids and Jeffrey's work as a child psychologist convinced them to ask a better question: "How shall I be with this new person?" In a culture obsessed with parenting formulas, it's easy to miss the fact that science and lived experience have proven that human development and thriving are a matter of relationship. Drawing on decades of psychological research, neuroscience, and their own experience as parents and people of faith, the Olricks present six relational needs for human growth that will transform the way you think about your child--and yourself. Together, the needs form a trustworthy compass to guide you and your child to a path of purpose and relational wholeness. For parents who feel pulled in a hundred directions, dizzied by the volume of clashing strategies, and jaded by the parenting programs that complicated their own childhoods, The 6 Needs of Every Child is a groundbreaking roadmap integrating the science of connection with practical tools. You'll be equipped with: An in-depth look at the six essentials your child needs to thrive Tools to use when you feel stuck The secret to secure connection with your child Self-assessment tools to discern your unique parenting style More than a parenting guide, this book is your invitation to break free from the myth of perfect parenting and embrace your child's long journey of growth. With insight, humor, and compassion, it calls parents to discover the power of being imperfectly present with their children, developing mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience that will sustain them for a lifetime.
Endorsements (11)
“As a mother of three school-age kids all with unique needs, I know this is the book that will be sitting on my nightstand to remind me at the end of challenging days that parenting is hard for everyone and to reassure me that I don’t have to do anything extraordinary to be exactly what my children need. With all the parenting advice poured out in the world today, it’s so easy to feel unequipped, intimidated, and guilty for what we’re not doing right. Jeffrey and Amy not only simplify complicated parenting truths into attainable action; they also support these truths with both science and their own relatable parenting stories that make you feel seen and inspired to start again tomorrow. For anyone who’s ever felt lonely or unsure in parenting (isn’t that all of us?), this book is for you. Thank you, Jeffrey and Amy, for giving us a compass that will always lead us home.”
“I was captivated by this book. While much of it is familiar to me as a clinical child psychologist specializing in attachment, Jeffrey and Amy talk about these truths in a way that make them real and personal. They also link these truths to a spiritual design by a loving God, something very much missing in most faith-based parenting books and curriculums. I will most definitely be recommending it both to my own family and to my clients.”
“Compared with all the parenting books I’ve consumed in my decade as a mom, this is the most insightful, encouraging, and relationship-changing one that I’ve come across. From easy, practical tips to deeper, more thought-provoking passages, I finished this book feeling like I had a new blueprint for how to help my kids thrive. This book was the invitation I was looking for to really nourish my life as a parent.”
“Amy and Jeffrey’s love and respect for parents and children shine through the book and will give light, hope, and encouragement to all parents who long to give their children a healthy and loving foundation in life. Well-founded in developmental theory and research, their words move us forward to joy in our relationships with our children and God.”
“This is the parenting handbook I’ve been waiting for! Marked by wonder, wit, and wisdom, The 6 Needs of Every Child offers practical tools for how to parent with love. Each chapter begins with a story that made me laugh, then tear up, recognizing familiar moments with my own children. Just when I asked, “Well, what do I do?” I was handed a new tool. As a mother to a five-year-old and one-year-old, I use the compass in this book every day now. It has already broken old patterns, opened new possibilities, and will accompany our children as they grow. I’m grateful I found this book at the start of my parenting journey! Olrick and Olrick have given parents everywhere an indispensable handbook for our times.”
“Wow! This is the one book I will buy and send to my adult kids who are raising kids of their own. And this is the one book I wish I had when I was a new parent. It combines research-based insight with deep moral and spiritual sensitivity, and it is written with both clarity and heart. (I had tears in my eyes more than once in almost every chapter.) Beyond the all-important parenting role, the six-needs framework is helping me better understand myself and others; it is a powerful tool for all human relationships. Where previous generations of parents referred to books by Spock, Dobson, or Chapman, future generations will refer to “Olrick and Olrick” as one of the books that every parent should read. A new parenting classic is born!”
“Reading The 6 Needs of Every Child felt like sitting around my kitchen table laughing and learning with two of my closest friends—one of whom just happens to be a renowned child psychologist. Balancing science and stories, Amy and Jeffrey illustrate that even the best parents make mistakes—and that’s completely fine! The 6 Needs of Every Child is a practical, relatable guide to establishing a lifelong healthy relationship with your child.”
“It’s so important to have role models of good parenting, and let’s be honest, some of us just don’t have that. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick speak through the pages of this book like gentle guides, empathetic to the struggles of parents and children alike. It made me breathe a little easier and relax into the best part of being a parent: simply being with my children. Give yourself this gift; you deserve it!”
“Full of grace and backed by research, The 6 Needs of Every Child was exactly what I needed to recalibrate my parenting with a new focus on connection. ANNA WHISTON-DONALDSON, New York Times bestselling author of Rare Bird Amy and Jeffrey have provided an invaluable guide for connecting with your child. They take the pressure off while sharing helpful approaches to parenting that are grounded in research yet accessible for busy parents.”
“Husband and wife team Amy and Jeffrey Olrick are here to pull back the curtain and shed some much-needed light on how we can all learn to better connect with our kids to parent successfully while also shedding the crippling garb of perfection. From the very first page, this wise, heartfelt, and information-packed book was a balm to my beleaguered mama’s soul. Calling all weary parents who are deep in the child-rearing trenches: you’ll want to read this one ASAP and definitely with a highlighter handy.”
“Finally! A book for parents who are ready to break free from obedience-based parenting and move to grace-filled, relationship-based parenting. Amy and Jeff use story and science to seamlessly blend attachment, child development, and faith, clearly leading parents through the six needs of every child. This is more than a “how to do” parenting book; it’s a “how to be” parenting book that encourages parents to embrace their unique challenges and strengths, imperfectly sharing the love of God with their children.”
See something wrong on this page? Report a problem