Rooted Parent Top Ten February 2026

Welcome to the Rooted Parent Top Ten, a curated list of resources from across the web that we believe will be helpful to parents. Here you’ll find articles, podcasts, and videos to support you in gospel-centered discipleship and interpreting youth culture. While most are gospel-focused, others are included because they share a message of common grace. (Please note: the opinions presented in these articles do not necessarily reflect the position of Rooted Ministry.) At the end, you’ll find Rooted resources compiled from the last month’s new offerings. We hope this resource is helpful!

Gospel-Centered

The Goodness of Caring for Other People’s Children by Elizabeth Stice (Mere Orthodoxy)

“It is right and good to have “skin in the game” with young people, whether or not you are related to them. That will not solve all our social crises, but it would help us move in the right direction.”

Teach Your Kids What To Think by Jacob Crouch (Aliens and Pilgrims)

“If I’m not purposeful with my teaching, then the world will gladly fill their minds…We want to teach them how to process information, but all in light of the truth of God’s word.”

Books to Help Parents With Tech by Tim Challies (Challies)

A helpful roundup of resources for parents who are trying to think through shepherding their kids in a technology-driven world.

The Need for Father-Scholars by Ian Harber (Mere Orthodoxy)

“In order to wisely train our children in the wisdom that begins in the fear of the Lord, we must be both teachers to our children and scholars ourselves.”

Why Motherhood Can Feel Impossible by Alan Noble (You Are Not Your Own Substack)

“Sometimes I think that mothers can be afraid to publicly express how hard it is to be a young mom because they don’t want to discourage motherhood or seem ungrateful (especially since some women are unable to become pregnant). Other times they may be afraid to express the difficulty out of shame. They don’t want to give the impression that they aren’t enjoying their children.”

Are We Seeing Our Children Through God’s Eyes? by Katie Polski (The Promises and Practices of Scripture Substack)

“As parents, we must ask ourselves if we are guiding our children to use the gifts God has given them, or if we are encouraging them to pursue accomplishments that satisfy our own expectations.”

Youth Culture

‘Bigorexia’ Is On The Rise. Here’s What Parents Should Know. by Caroline Bologna (HuffPost)

“A 2019 study indicated that 22% of adolescent boys engaged in “muscularity-oriented disordered eating behaviors” in an attempt to bulk up or gain weight and found that supplements, dietary changes and even steroid use were common among young adult males.”

Teens Are Trying the ‘Morning Shed’ Trend—Should Parents Worry? by Jana Pollack (Parents)

“Cam Caswell, PhD… does see the morning shed as part of a long line of trends targeting teenage girls that sells the same message: If you fix this one thing, you’ll finally feel good about yourself.”

‘Eldest daughter syndrome’ went viral. Eldest sons feel the pressure too. by Mikaela Conley (Yahoo! Life)

“A 2024 report from Epic Research found that oldest children (and only children) are at higher risk of experiencing anxiety and depression as adults, which may be due to parentification and the pressure to be a perfect example for their siblings.”

Parents Let Their Son Fail on Purpose—Internet Backs ‘Devastating’ Decision by Daniella Gray (Newsweek)

“One parent shared that their own son, academically gifted but heavily supported through high school, is now struggling in college. Looking back, they felt they should have allowed him to fail earlier, calling the poster’s decision the right—if painful—move.”