PARENT RESOURCES

In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the “play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies.

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Youth anxiety and depression rates are rising. No parent wants their kid to suffer from despair. This book contains essential information about the dynamics of despair in kids and teens in a clear and understandable way. In each page, you will find helpful information about why the kid or teen in your life might be struggling, but also comfort in knowing how you can help. Throughout each chapter, you will learn about different tools of connection and the critical steps you can take to help kids and teens feel seen so that they can find confidence in who God has called them to be.

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Anxiety is a normal human response to stressful circumstances. But sometimes anxiety takes more control over us than we would like, and we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of fear and anxious thoughts. That cycle (sometimes called the spiral of anxiety) can leave us feeling overwhelmed, helpless, and exhausted.

Teenagers and young adults already have a lot on their minds, with the pressures of keeping up grades, navigating their future, and keeping their social life intact. Anxiety can make life even more difficult.

They need to discover that anxiety doesn’t have to own or define them and that they can move beyond the spiral of anxiety. If you know a teenager or young adult looking for help to manage their anxiety, and you’re discouraged by dismissive answers like, “you should just pray more and worry less,” this book is for them.

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You long for tender moments with your children--but do you ever find yourself too busy to stop, make eye contact, and say something you really mean? Daily habits are powerful ways to shape the heart--but do you find yourself giving in to screen time just to get through the day? You want to parent with purpose--but do you know how to start?

Award-winning author and father of four Justin Whitmel Earley understands the tension between how you long to parent and what your daily life actually looks like. In Habits of the Household, Earley gives you the tools you need to create structure--from mealtimes to bedtimes--that free you to parent toddlers, kids, and teens with purpose. Learn how to:

• Develop a bedtime liturgy to settle your little ones and ground them in God's love
• Discover a new framework for discipline as discipleship
• Acquire simple practices for more regular and meaningful family mealtimes
• Open your eyes to the spirituality of parenting, seeing small moments as big opportunities for spiritual formation
• Develop a custom age chart for your family to more intentionally plan your shared years under the same roof

Each chapter in Habits of the Household ends with practical patterns, prayers, or liturgies that your family can put into practice right away. As you create liberating rhythms around your everyday routines, you will find your family has a greater sense of peace and purpose as your home becomes a place where, above all, you learn how to love.

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Making good choices about technology in our families is more than just using internet filters and determining screen-time limits for our children. It's about building character, wisdom, and courage rather than accepting technology's promises of ease and instant gratification. It's about developing our heart, mind, soul, and strength when we're tempted to settle for entertainment and consumer satisfaction. And it's definitely not just about the kids.

Alongside in-depth original research from Barna Group, Andy Crouch shows you there's a way to choose a better life than you've imagined, by:

● making the mission of your family to cultivate wisdom and courage
● putting the development of character and creativity at the heart of the home
● building regular rhythms into your lives that make it possible to know one another, God, and our world in deeper ways
● implementing daily disciplines for a healthier life with technology
● prioritizing what matters most

Anyone who has felt their family relationships suffer or their time slip away amid technology's distractions will find in this book a path forward to reclaiming their real life in a world of devices.

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In this digital age, children spend more time interacting with screens and less time playing outside, reading a book, or interacting with family. Though technology has its benefits, it also has its harms.

In Screen Kids Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane will empower you with the tools you need to make positive changes. Through stories, science, and wisdom, you’ll discover how to take back your home from an overdependence on screens. Plus, you’ll learn to teach the five A+ skills that every child needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention.

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It's surprising to find a girl who doesn't struggle with anxiety and worry--either in short episodes or for longer periods. For a variety of reasons, childhood anxiety rates are soaring, especially among girls. Today's parents need to know what contributes to anxiety and worry and how they can empower their daughters to overcome fears and live more courageously.

In this immensely practical book, veteran counselor Sissy Goff shares how you can instill bravery and strength in your daughter. Addressing common age-specific issues, Goff gives you the tools to help you and your child

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Prioritizing connection over correction, Parenting Generation Screen is a guide for parents that will equip you with key questions and conversations to help you process screen limits with and for your kids. You’ll learn how to dialogue in meaningful ways about social media, entertainment, and screen time so your children can learn to be wise in the digital world.

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The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices will help you navigate the digital world with 21 refreshingly honest and humorous tips that will not only inform, but that also just might change the way you think about your social media interaction.

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Smartphones are a great resource for many things but often are more harmful than good for adolescents. Below are a couple of alternative options to the standard smartphone for your child.

gabb: link to the website here 
bark: link to the website here

Suppose you are looking for more than a book to read or a couple of changes to your rhythms of life and feel the next best step for your family is seeking professional counseling. In that case, this is an organization we suggest that provides Christian-based counseling. See more information about this organization at their website linked below. 

Radiant Life Counseling

Axis equips parents for gospel-centered conversations with their teen about faith and culture.

Axis.org