
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 often accompany the tween and teen years? We talk about how frustrating interactions can indicate that our kids have reached a new stage of development and share ways to teach them how to express themselves better as they get older. In the second half of the podcast, we discuss tips for blending an adoptive or foster child into your family. Author Kelle Hampton joins the conversation as we explore ways to teach kids to communicate and help them feel secure, even amid transition.
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 life in a specific and sometimes inexplicable way.
Child psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and author Amy Olrick are co-authors of the book, The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents & Kids through the Science of Connection. Together they run GrowingConnected.com, where they share faith-affirming and scientifically grounded information for parents and kids. They live in New Zealand with their three children.