Raising Awe-Seekers: A Must-Read Book on Helping Kids Thrive
What if cultivating awe was just as important as teaching algebra or the periodic table?
If it wasn’t something we stumbled into by chance—but something we could intentionally nurture in our kids?
I just finished an amazing new book that had me asking these questions and so many more. I had to share it here with you because I know you too will find your own inspiration in its pages. “Raising Awe-Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive” by Deborah Farmer Kris. (affiliate link)
This isn’t just another feel-good parenting book—though it will absolutely leave you feeling hopeful. “Raising Awe-Seekers” is a science-grounded, story-filled invitation to look at parenting through a different lens: one that sees everyday moments as opportunities to spark awe, wonder, and connection. If you’ve been here for a while, you know I’m all about reframing!
As a parent coach, I spend a lot of time helping families navigate what’s hard at home and at school—anxiety, emotional outbursts, academic challenges, school resistance. Those things matter, of course. But this book reminded me in a beautiful way that support doesn’t always have to mean doing more or “fixing” things. Sometimes, the most powerful shift is simply making room to experience the things in front of us and the things we enjoy most.
Kris makes a compelling case that awe deserves a central place in how we parent and support our kids, not as an occasional bonus when life slows down, but as an essential part of their emotional and cognitive development.
Through both research and real-life stories, she shows how moments of awe can strengthen mental health, deepen learning, foster empathy, and even support self-regulation. Awe isn’t a luxury—it’s a powerful, practical resource that helps kids thrive in a world that often feels overwhelming.
Powerful ideas I took from the book:
1. Awe is all around us.
You don’t need an expensive trip to Paris or the Grand Canyon to experience awe. Everyday moments—a butterfly spotted on your evening walk, a powerful piece of music that hits you just right, a question with no easy answer that begs you to think beyond yourself —can also offer kids (and adults) that same expansive feeling.
2. There are many ways to access wonder & awe.
She outlines not just a few, but 7 main sources of wonder, all backed by science. So whether music or nature piques your interest, or you find meaning in big questions about the world or in a community around you, there’s research to support how important these are. Opening up the possibilities on how we access awe and wonder made it feel all the easier to achieve for myself and my kids.
3. Wonder helps us reach our parenting goals.
Cultivating wonder might not be the first strategy that comes to mind when you're trying to manage big feelings, school challenges, or the daily chaos or parenting, but it’s often a surprising shortcut to the outcomes we want most. When kids feel curious, connected, and emotionally grounded, they’re more able to learn, regulate, and engage—and that moves us closer to the heart of our bigger parenting goals.
Why This Book Matters Right Now
For parents of kids with ADHD, learning differences, or other neurodivergent traits, “Raising Awe-Seekers” offers a powerful reframe—one that shifts the focus from what’s hard to what sparks connection, curiosity, and joy. Instead of adding more to your parenting to-do list, it invites you to notice more, wonder more, and reconnect with what makes your child come alive.
But even more than that, it’s a meaningful reminder that as adults, we need awe and wonder in our lives just as much as kids do. It might seem easy for a wide-eyed young child to experience it, but what if it’s just as easy for all of us? That’s the challenge I took from the book.
What This Could Look Like in Your Family?
If you’ve been caught in the daily grind of parenting stress, behavior struggles, or school-related challenges, “Raising Awe-Seekers” offers a gentle but powerful shift. It’s a reminder that you don’t always need to do more—you just need to notice more. By inviting more curiosity and connection into your child’s days, you can foster emotional regulation, resilience, and joy.
This perspective is deeply aligned with my work as a parent coach. I help families move from overwhelm to confidence by tuning into what lights their child up—not just what’s broken. Uncovering your child’s unique strengths, emotional triggers, and learning style often starts with stepping back, seeing the whole picture, and creating room for awe to do some of the heavy lifting.
You can find “Raising Awe-Seekers” here or wherever you get your books (affiliate link).
If you want support bringing this mindset into your child’s school life, whether that means building a plan, navigating school systems, or just figuring out what your child really needs, I’m here. You can book a free 30 minute Let’s See If I Can Help Call to talk through what’s going on and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Looking for more insights? Check out my blog post Five Core Shifts to Transform Your Child’s School Experience, where I explore key reframes that deepen connection and create space for growth.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no cost to you—if you choose to purchase through it. I only recommend books I truly believe in and think will support the families I work with.
