The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents and Kids Through the Science of Connection

Psychologist Jeffrey and journalist Amy Olrick, who are married, offer a useful framework for finding compassionate and forgiving ways to interact with one’s children. Exploring attachment parenting philosophy grounded within the Christian faith, the authors posit that basic human needs “form a compass” with six points: exploration through delight, support, boundaries; and reliability through protection, comfort, and equipping. They give advice for parents who tend to be over- or under-responsive in each mode. For instance, parents who feel uncomfortable leaving their children for long periods of time with others should ask their children if there are things they’d like to do without their parents and find compromises. They also include six common parenting types—achievement, authoritarian, free-range, helicopter, permissive, and playmate—to help readers situate themselves. Amy’s sections describe the experience of parenting their three sons, often highlighting “God moments” that helped to ground her in right action (such as times she’s apologized for being too strict or protective), whereas Jeffrey focuses on child psychology. Though the integration of faith language with clinical study can be awkward, the Olricks’ method will aid Christian parents in diagnosing their parenting strengths and weaknesses. (June)