Gen Muir's book, Little People, Big Feelings, offer parents a comprehensive guide to connected and emotionally intelligent parenting. The book emphasizes that children need connection, boundaries, and emotional validation to develop securely, often using the metaphor of an "emotional cup" that can overflow when needs are unmet. A core tenet is co-regulation, where parents help children manage big emotions since their brains are not fully developed until their mid-twenties, and the book strongly advises against punitive measures like timeouts or physical punishment, citing research that links such discipline to negative outcomes. Finally, the book offers practical advice for common struggles, such as sibling rivalry, meltdowns, and drop-offs, stressing the importance of self-compassion and repairing mistakes as crucial elements of effective parenting.
