• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Tricia Goyer HomepageTricia Goyer

Living God’s Word One Step at a Time

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About
    • My Testimony
    • Online Archives
    • My Family
    • Professional Bio
    • Adoption
    • Homeschooling
    • Mentoring
    • Speaking
    • Close
  • Blog
  • Courses
  • Books
  • Media
  • Podcast
  • Write that Book
  • Shop
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Podcast / Walk it Out #108: Needs of Every Child with Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick

June 12, 2020 by Tricia Goyer 4 Comments

Walk it Out #108: Needs of Every Child with Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS

In this episode of Walk it Out, I'm chatting about the needs of every child with Dr. Jeffery and Amy Olrick. This is such a great parenting episode! Can't wait for you to listen in!

Needs of Every Child with Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick

Today on Walk it Out, I’m chatting with Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick about their new book The 6 Needs of Every Child.

I’m not a huge fighter. I’m more likely to back down from a fight. I’d rather give in than stir up trouble, but there are a few things worth fighting for. For me, that’s my kids adopted from foster care.

From the moment my kids entered my care, I wanted to make sure they got the help and support they needed to find stability and be able to thrive. I emersed myself in being trauma-informed, and I learned how to parent differently. Helping my kids has meant understanding my kids. It’s seeing connection as a key in helping my kids to be emotionally regulated and stable.

“Faith teaches that we are made for and formed by relationship. Science powerfully reveals this to be true,” says Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick, authors of The 6 Needs of Every Child. “And the most foundational of all human relationships is the relationship between parent and child. WE ARE MADE TO CONNECT.”

By far the hardest thing I’ve ever faced as a parent is attempting to build a bond with kids who fight against that very thing. They want to feel loved, but their hurt puts up walls. They desire connection, but having an adult draw close fills them with anxiety and fear.

And as someone who’s also raised kids without these struggles, how I parent takes a complete shift in thinking. I’ve learned how to get kids to obey. Instead of figuring out the best discipline methods when kids act out, I’ve learned how to pause and really take note of what’s going on inside of my child’s heart, mind, and emotions. When kids feel seen, heard, understood, and loved they will want to do the right thing. They will want to obey.

I’ve also learned that obedience shouldn’t be our ultimate goal as parents: connection is. The relationships we build now will prepare our kids for every other relationship in their life. (No pressure there!)

Because I’m learning to parent in a whole new way, some of my go-to parenting advice from times past just doesn’t apply. And that’s why I’m so excited when I discover authors who “get it.” I have to say as I started reading The 6 Needs of Every Child, my mind was saying over and over again, “Yes, yes, yes!”

The amazing thing is, the parenting techniques that help to parent kids from trauma are wonderful techniques that any parent can use. I shared a lot of what I learned in my book Calming Angry Kids, and my advice lines up perfectly with the advice given within the pages of The 6 Needs of Every Child.

There are many things we can “do” as a parent, but what our kids really need is less of us doing together and more about us being together—about drawing close. It’s not about finding the answers to problems, it’s about finding each other. It’s seeing the hard stuff of parenting as reminders to lean into God and each other. It’s discovering how to connect with another person, even when you just want to throw up your hands walk away. We talk about all these things on this Walk It Out Podcast.

I love with Jeffery and Amy wrote on a recent Facebook post, “The difficult patches of life are just part of it. Traveling faithfully through the hard times is how we arrive somewhere true. Accepting your imperfect self and your imperfect life and loving your imperfect people, even in the hard moments, will establish a foundation of joy and peace for your family that will extend generations.”

And they give these examples:

“So if that tantruming toddler is yours, sit quietly on the floor close to him until he cries himself out. When he gets tired enough, he’ll probably crawl over to your lap and collapse in your arms.”

“Is the sulky teenager in your house tonight? Try making a cup of tea and setting it outside her door, then tap to let her know that it’s there and you love her. She still might not want to talk, but she’ll remember you were there, and she might crack a smile in the morning.”

“Fighting for” my kids can be summoned up with this: getting over myself and my right to be heard/obeyed/respected in emotional moments, and fighting to connect with my kids instead.

It’s understanding that in emotion-laced moments “winning” is figuring out how to connect with my kid’s heart instead of attempting to control the kid or the situation. My kids do not need a consequence or a lecture, in a hard moment, but rather a hug or an understanding look. (Yes, it’s okay to save those talks about obeying, caring, and listening for the next day, once big emotions have settled down.)

I’ve become more of a fighter as I parent these kids, and that’s good. I’m fighting for the right things—I’m fighting for their hearts and not just obedient kids. In the end, this is always worth fighting for. You’re going to LOVE this podcast!

Who is Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Orlick?

Dr. Jeffrey Olrick is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children and families. Dr. Olrick has over twenty years of experience working in a variety of settings, including the University of Virginia, residential treatment, the public school system, community mental health, and private practice. He lives in New Zealand with his wife and their three children.

Amy Olrick is an author and a techie who has spent her professional life working with organizations to build social movements grounded in the ethic of love. Her work and writing have been featured in The Guardian and USA Today. She lives in New Zealand with her husband and their three children.

You can order The 6 Needs of Every Child HERE.

About the Book:

Faith teaches that we are made for and formed by relationship. Science powerfully reveals this to be true. And the most foundational of all human relationships is the relationship between parent and child.

WE ARE MADE TO CONNECT.

Drawing on decades of psychological research, neuroscience, and our own experience as parents and people of faith, The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents and Kids through the Science of Connection presents 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.

Walk It Out Scripture

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103:13

If you are enjoying the show, I have a quick favor to ask! If you haven’t yet hit the subscribe button and left a rating and a review on iTunes, please take a moment and do so! I love reading your reviews and it keeps the algorithms happy so new listeners can find the podcast as well!

In this episode of Walk it Out, I'm chatting about the needs of every child with Dr. Jeffery and Amy Olrick. This is such a great parenting episode! Can't wait for you to listen in!

Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:

  • The 6 Needs of Every Child

Connect with Dr. Jeffrey and Amy Olrick

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Connect with Tricia

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub



See more of Tricia’s Favorites here!

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Amy Olrick, Christian, faith, Jeffrey Olrick, Life, parenting, Podcast, podcasting, prayer, The 6 Needs of Every Child, walk it out


Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sharon Paavola says

    June 23, 2020 at 6:33 pm

    Tricia,
    I really want to hear this podcast. I subscribe to your podcast and I have all of yours but it leaves out #108. My daughter and her husband are experiencing severe meltdowns, hitting, spitting, and rage from my normally darling 4 year old grandson. I’ve witnessed his angry kicking of my daughter who is pregnant. I want to listen to this podcast and hopefully allow them to hear it but can’t find a link on this page or the podcast. Please, help!

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      June 29, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      Thank you SO much for letting me know that is wasn’t working! It is working now!

      Reply
  2. Sharon Paavola says

    June 24, 2020 at 1:36 am

    It (the podcast # 108) showed up on my podcast list this late this afternoon. I listened to it and really appreciate the input! Excellent information and useable behavior for dealing with children. Thank you!

    Sharon Paavola

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      June 29, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      You’re welcome!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© Tricia Goyer | Privacy Policy

Made with by SA Designs