How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child

By: Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD

Published by Random House, 2026-05-19

A groundbreaking approach to parenting that presents emotional maturity as the foundation for happy, resilient, successful children—from the clinical psychologist behind the New York Times bestseller Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents “The wake-up call every parent needs.”—Mel Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast Emotional maturity is the single most important quality a parent can help develop in their child—it enables a person to function autonomously, handle stress, flourish in diverse environments, form lasting relationships, and achieve personal and professional success. In How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child, Lindsay C. Gibson explains the cognitive, psychological, and social challenges children face, from forming strong attachments during infancy to dealing with emotions and achievement in early school age to establishing personal identity in the teenage years. At each stage, she offers compassionate guidance to help parents support their child’s emotional development through the lens of the Seven Parental Mindsets for Maturity, including: • My Child Is a Unique Individual With Their Own Interests • My Child is Vulnerable and Requires Protection • My Child Has Psychological and Emotional Needs That Must Be Met Identifying common traps and behaviors to avoid and explaining why striving to be a “perfect parent” is impossible and unhealthy, this book helps parents nurture their children’s emotional maturity—and feel good while doing it.