Welcome to the Rooted Parent Top Ten, a curated list of resources from across the web that we believe will be helpful to parents raising teenagers. 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 include a message of common grace. (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!
On Being a Playful Father by Alan Noble, You Are Not Your Own substack. “At its heart, playfulness accepts that God has created the world good, and God desires us to delight in his creation—which includes each other’s company, and that God is providentially caring for us so that we have the freedom to rest and play.”
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Counseling? By Julie Lowe, New Growth Press. “Yet there are also times when difficulties rise to a level that requires more support. How do you discern when that time has come? To answer that question, it’s helpful to consider these three categories: frequency, intensity, and duration.”
Bluey Lost the Baby Race, and It’s OK by Amy Mantravadi, Mockingbird. “Parents don’t just need advice. They need absolution.”
The Trap of Fear-Based Parenting by John Beeson, The Bee Hive. “In the face of a threat, we tend toward one of the three classic responses: fight, flight, or freeze. To fight is to try to control—your child, your circumstances. When we take flight, we jump to appeasement. Freezing is shutting down and withdrawing.”
Am I Overdiscipling My Children? By Chap Bettis, The Disciple-Making Parent. “…there can be a joylessness and fear that does not honor Christ. And it makes Christianity unattractive to our children.”
Sports, Sunday Mornings, and the Meaning of ‘Neglect’ by Jonny Reid, Desiring God. “So, what should you do? Begin by asking, “What does faithfulness to God look like in our situation?” Then work out what changes might be required.”
Teen Culture
College, parent Facebook groups and when helicopter parenting goes too far by Rachel Hale, USA Today. “As a Stanford dean, Lythcott-Haims witnessed parents bypass their children to get involved in roommate disputes and continue to review every piece of their child’s homework.”
Let the Kids Have “Six Seven” by Bryan Jarrell, Mockingbird. “Six Seven is a reminder that our children aren’t under our authoritative control, that they are not extensions of our own relevance, and that our relevance is fading as quickly as this fad certainly will.”
8 ‘joyful’ phrases people with high emotional intelligence say by Chris Schembra, CNBC. For the parent who feels like they nag or criticize too much, this article offers some ways to reframe. Not written for parents, but some common grace wisdom here.
The AI Revolution is Coming for Our Kids by Clare Morell, Preserving Our Humanity. You may have discerned from the clickbait title that this article is disturbing. It uncovers some terrible information about chatbots interacting with children. Read to be informed, but remember that God is not surprised or overwhelmed by AI. In Christ, we have nothing to fear. Please also see our article on Rooted this month: A Gospel Framework for AI: A Guide for Parents by Joshua Madl.
On Rooted
The Gift of the Unexpected in Parenting by Connie Leung Nelson
Gospel Hope for Parents of Boys Struggling with Motivation by Jon Lilley
Running On Empty: Finding Rest in Parenting Burnout by Katie Polski
The Gift Of Present Parenting by Anna Joy Snuggs
A New Resource for Mentoring Teenagers: Mike McGarry’s ‘Iconic: Being God’s Image in Your World’ by Tim Franks
How Spiritual Formation Practices Help to Address Teenage Mental Health by Rich Griffith
Rooted Parent Podcast: I AM the Good Parent
Rooted Parent Podcast: Jesus Is the Bread of Life for Dissatisfied Parents
