Good Inside with Dr. Becky • Dr. Becky

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Kennedy explains that entitlement stems not from materialism, but an inability to endure discomfort or frustration. She explores how parents often shield children from minor inconveniences, inadvertently reinforcing a sense of indignance at having to experience negative emotions.

Kennedy provides key strategies for helping children build resilience and coping skills instead of fostering entitlement. These include exposing kids to frustrating situations, validating their feelings while reinforcing their capacity to endure discomfort, and allowing them to push through challenges rather than solving problems for them. The discussion highlights the importance of facing adversity to cultivate resilience from a young age.

On this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Kennedy examines deeply feeling kids - children who experience emotions more intensely than their peers. She outlines their key traits, such as sudden dramatic mood shifts, resistance to comfort when upset, and extreme reactions like growling or scratching.

Kennedy explains why traditional parenting approaches often backfire with these children, as their sensitivity causes them to perceive punishment as threatening. She addresses misconceptions, clarifying that while some deeply feeling traits alone don't define the profile, neurodivergence can co-exist with it. Kennedy expresses optimism that, with the right strategies, these kids can channel their intensity positively and highlights how many parents see rapid improvement using her "Deeply Feeling Kids" approach.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Dr. Becky Kennedy delves into the powerful emotion of shame and its impact on self-identity and self-worth. She explains the distinction between shame and guilt, highlighting how shame can lead to global negative self-judgments and defensiveness, hindering personal growth.

Dr. Kennedy provides strategies to help parents detect and address shame in their children. The discussion covers recognizing the signs of shame, such as overreactions, avoidance of challenges, and negative self-talk. Additionally, Dr. Kennedy offers guidance on fostering a safe emotional environment through empathy, building frustration tolerance, and encouraging a growth mindset, which can nurture self-worth and resilience in children.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Dr. Becky Kennedy explores the root causes of children's sleep struggles, revealing that these issues often stem from separation anxiety rather than defiance. She highlights the conflicting desires of parents and children at bedtime, with parents longing for alone time while children crave more connection and attention.

Dr. Kennedy provides insights into how routine changes and transitions can exacerbate a child's separation anxiety and disrupt sleep patterns. The episode offers empathetic guidance for parents on addressing these challenges, emphasizing the importance of self-care during difficult sleep phases to maintain patience and effectively support their child's needs.

In this episode, Dr. Becky and Jonathan Haidt explore the "anxious generation" – Gen Z – and the factors contributing to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among today's youth. The discussion sheds light on how excessive tech use and lack of real-world experiences may hinder resilience and social-emotional development.

Haidt and Dr. Becky also examine the challenges parents face in setting boundaries around digital consumption and fostering independence. They highlight the need for collective action, such as delaying smartphone access and creating screen-free environments, to reshape norms and safeguard healthy childhood development.

The Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast tackles vital topics surrounding childhood self-esteem and establishing healthy social connections. Dr. Becky Kennedy draws from a caller's experiences to provide insights on navigating complicated childhood friendships.

The discussion centers on developing an intrinsic sense of self-worth and cultivating internal validation, rather than relying on external factors. Dr. Becky encourages guiding children to trust their instincts, reflect on relationships that uplift versus diminish their self-regard, and prioritize positive bonds. She also emphasizes the pivotal role parents play in modeling personal growth alongside their children, creating shared opportunities for self-improvement.

A key milestone for parents and children alike: when to provide a child with their first phone. On this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, host Becky Kennedy offers guidance to a caller navigating this decision as their child transitions to middle school.

Kennedy discusses approaches to balance the needs for communication and limiting distractions, such as an intermediary device like an Apple Watch. She stresses collaborating with children on clear boundaries and expectations before providing any technology. Kennedy also acknowledges social pressures and desires that motivate children to have the same tech as their peers.

Throughout, Kennedy shares strategies for fostering healthy tech habits, including modeling behavior, creating tech-free routines, and considering community tech norms. With her insights, parents can make informed choices during this significant developmental milestone.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, host Becky Kennedy provides guidance on striking a balance between nurturing children's emotional needs and setting firm boundaries. She explains the critical distinction between ensuring kids feel heard and granting their every desire.

The episode delves into strategies for validating feelings while instilling resilience and self-reliance. Kennedy advises framing denials in a way that conveys faith in children's capabilities, fostering a sense of competence. By tolerating momentary frustration, parents can teach lifelong coping skills, preparing kids for future challenges. The discussion offers insights into parenting approaches that nurture independence and emotional intelligence.

Confidence isn't just about feeling good—it's about self-trust. In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, a mother shares her struggles with harsh self-criticism stemming from childhood, and her fears of passing this insecurity on to her son.

Dr. Kennedy offers strategies to address the son's self-doubt and negative self-talk. She advises acknowledging and reframing the inner critical voice, fostering a self-compassionate mindset, and building confidence through self-trust rather than fixating on performance outcomes.

The conversation touches on the lasting impact of parental expectations and childhood experiences on confidence and self-perception. By sharing personal experiences and actionable techniques, this episode provides insights into nurturing a healthier relationship with one's inner critic and cultivating resilience in the face of challenges.

On this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, she explores the complexities of parent relationships as they parallel the changing friendships of their children. Kennedy emphasizes building supportive parent networks with open communication to align on values and rules. She addresses how to maintain these connections as kids' social dynamics evolve, advocating for direct and vulnerable conversations.

The episode also provides guidance on cultivating children's social-emotional well-being. Kennedy highlights nurturing self-worth beyond friendships while modeling healthy friendship patterns. Through reflective questioning, parents can foster self-awareness in kids about their needs and empower them to navigate relationships independently.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, psychologist Becky Kennedy explores ways to help intellectually advanced children manage anxious and intrusive thoughts that exceed their emotional coping skills. She shares examples of kids with "busy brains" grappling with existential and morbid fears beyond their years.

Kennedy advises parents to validate these worries instead of dismissing them, and models healthy techniques like separating anxious thoughts from one's core identity. She also recommends gradually facing fears in a supported environment to build resilience, while setting clear boundaries. By the end, parents will have tangible strategies for guiding children through intense anxieties while fostering their emotional growth.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, the host tackles the challenging issue of children's anxiety over new transitions. A parent calls in seeking guidance on her daughter's intense fear of starting school bus rides—crying whenever the bus is mentioned despite generally adapting well to past changes. Dr. Becky acknowledges the parent's internal struggle between alleviating her daughter's anxiety and prioritizing personal convenience.

The episode provides strategies for supporting children through such transitions, including validating their feelings while reinforcing their resilience. Dr. Becky also advises how parents can communicate decisions confidently and maintain a comforting presence for the child during separations. The discussion offers insight into navigating this all-too-common parenting challenge.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Laura Mae Martin shares insights on the power of setting boundaries. Martin emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating and consistently enforcing boundaries, as well as managing exceptions intentionally. The discussion explores how boundaries and routines work together to create structure and manage expectations.

Martin and Becky Kennedy also delve into redefining productivity holistically, highlighting the role of downtime and calm moments for well-being and creativity. By tuning into personal and family energy levels, they suggest aligning routines and boundaries to prevent burnout and foster a healthier lifestyle.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, a caller shares her struggles in her relationship with her nanny. The caller feels insecure and vulnerable, exacerbated by the nanny's interactions that trigger self-doubt as a parent. Communication breakdowns and defensive responses have eroded trust, making it challenging to provide feedback or set boundaries productively.

While the nanny plays a crucial role and has a strong bond with the children, the recurring conflicts and lack of safety in the relationship have raised concerns about its long-term viability. Navigating the complexities of this supportive yet fraught caregiver dynamic is a delicate balance for the caller.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Dr. Becky Kennedy and Zac Grisham delve into executive functioning, the cognitive skills that enable individuals to organize their world and manage their behavior effectively. They explain the various components of executive functioning, such as impulse inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, and how developing these skills is crucial for children's everyday lives.

The episode also explores the relationship between executive functioning and ADHD, offering strategies for building routines, fostering resilience, and improving impulse control and self-regulation. Grisham and Kennedy provide practical tips for parents and caregivers to support children in developing these essential skills, emphasizing the importance of patience, consistency, and a strengths-based approach.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, a mother seeks guidance on navigating her 7-year-old son's introverted personality, which contrasts with her own extroverted nature. While the mother values social connections, she worries her son's contentment with having one close friend could limit his future social development.

Psychologist Becky Kennedy advises the mother to create safe opportunities for her son to explore his social needs at his own pace. She emphasizes the importance of respecting the child's temperament, modeling flexibility, and providing loving guidance while allowing him to steer his own social path. The episode offers helpful insights for parents navigating differing personalities within their family.

What is true happiness, and how does one attain it? In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Arthur Brooks challenges common misconceptions about happiness. He explains that happiness is not merely a feeling or permanent state, but a combination of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning.

The conversation explores how happiness arises from meaningful social interactions, the satisfaction of overcoming struggles, and a sense of purpose in one's life. Brooks also applies these principles to parenting, emphasizing the importance of embracing imperfection, allowing children to struggle, and recognizing that parenting's short-term struggles yield long-term meaning and fulfillment.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, she discusses how to nurture a child's growth while respecting their hesitant temperament and tendency to show initial resistance to new activities. Dr. Becky explores the balance between encouraging children to expand their horizons and valuing their autonomy as they mature.

She proposes using an "internal family systems" model to help children recognize the different "parts" that influence decision-making about trying new experiences. By giving voice to both the hesitant side and the capable side, Dr. Becky advises validating children's emotions while affirming their ability to navigate challenges, drawing on past successes. The conversation centers on developing self-awareness and self-regulation to foster independence and growth.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, host Dr. Becky Kennedy explores strategies for parents navigating a child's use of profanity. She acknowledges parents' common fears of being judged while providing guidance on handling cursing in constructive ways.

Dr. Kennedy proposes allowing designated spaces for children to express themselves freely and emphasizes the importance of modeling self-control. She encourages focusing on trust and connection over strict punishment, teaching children to separate urges from actions. The episode ultimately aims to foster open communication between parents and children on this often-challenging topic.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, the host explores common parenting struggles related to personal hygiene and toilet training in young children. Dr. Becky offers a child-centered approach, encouraging parents to validate their child's perspective during bath time aversion. She also provides guidance on fostering independence during potty training by following the child's lead and celebrating their progress.

Dr. Becky also examines the impact of parental attitudes on children's perceptions of bodily functions and messiness. She emphasizes the importance of adopting a calm, matter-of-fact stance when discussing these topics to help normalize them for children and promote self-acceptance.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, guest Gretchen Rubin presents her framework of "Four Tendencies," categorizing how people respond to inner and outer expectations. The tendencies—Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel—offer insights into differences in self-motivation and reactions to external demands.

Rubin and Dr. Becky discuss how recognizing one's tendency can improve self-awareness and how understanding others' tendencies promotes empathy. They explore tailoring parenting approaches and communication styles to the individual's tendency for better outcomes. Whether seeking self-improvement or improving interpersonal dynamics, the Four Tendencies framework provides a valuable perspective on human behavior.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Kennedy and guest Debbie Reber discuss the nuances of parenting "differently wired" or "deeply feeling" kids. These children experience heightened emotional sensitivity and intensity, exhibiting elevated reactivity compared to peers.

The conversation explores the common challenges parents face, including feelings of isolation, anxiety over their child's future, and doubts about traditional parenting approaches. Kennedy and Reber offer strategies for adopting a mindset focused on possibilities, finding the appropriate balance between support and challenge for the child's needs, and being flexible rather than rigid in expectations.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, the host and her guest explore the impact of parental mental health struggles on children. They discuss the importance of acknowledgment, apology, and repair for healing in parent-child relationships, offering insights into how children often interpret a parent's behavior through a limited lens without context.

The episode delves into a caller's experience with his father's emotional distance stemming from undiagnosed depression. The caller's journey of finding closure after his father's suicide is shared, highlighting generational differences in mental health stigma. They examine the process of breaking intergenerational cycles of disconnection, and how providing validation and context for children's emotional experiences can facilitate profound healing.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Becky Kennedy explores the challenges and benefits of traveling with children. While she acknowledges the difficulties of disrupting kids' routines, she highlights how travel can expand their resilience, adaptability, and worldview.

Kennedy advises parents to reframe their anxiety about trips as an opportunity to build confidence in their coping abilities. She suggests practicing coping skills with kids in low-stress situations to prepare them for handling unexpected situations while traveling. Kennedy also shares tips for managing public meltdowns by avoiding internalizing judgment from others.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Dr. Becky Kennedy explores an alternative approach to traditional parenting methods like timeouts and punishments. She argues for a more empathetic strategy that seeks to understand the emotional roots of children's misbehavior.

Centering around the principle of nurturing children's innate goodness, Kennedy's "Good Inside" approach provides tactics for fostering positive behavioral change. Through strategies like the "most generous interpretation" and "rupture and repair," Kennedy equips parents with tools to engage thoughtfully, build connection, and guide children's emotional development.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, understanding sensory processing and its impact on parenting is explored. Guest Larissa Geleris explains how our eight sensory systems work together to provide awareness and regulate emotions. She notes that while some individuals require more sensory input, others are easily overwhelmed by it.

The discussion highlights how the abrupt sensory shifts in parenting can contribute to emotional dysregulation and reactive behavior in parents. Practical strategies are offered, such as incorporating grounding activities like crunchy foods or leaning against walls, setting reminders for these practices, and developing self-awareness of one's sensory needs and early signs of overload.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Jessica Biel and Dr. Becky Kennedy explore the importance of open discussions about periods and body confidence from an early age. They share personal stories highlighting the confusion and stigma often surrounding menstruation, and emphasize the benefits of normalizing conversations about periods and bodily functions.

The episode delves into how direct education and open environments create empathy, reduce taboos, and empower individuals to trust their bodies' signals. Biel and Kennedy also touch on building body confidence through inclusive resources, empowering narratives, and an understanding, pressure-free approach when discussing complex topics with children.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Dr. Kennedy and personal finance expert Alexa von Tobel delve into the importance of teaching kids money management skills from an early age. They explore how to instill healthy money mindsets in children, advising parents to reframe money as an empowering tool, not a source of stress.

Von Tobel and Kennedy also share practical tips for using allowances to teach goal-setting and delayed gratification. Beyond that, they emphasize the value of modeling open financial behaviors, involving kids in money discussions, and providing age-appropriate explanations of costs and spending. Their guidance aims to help parents embed financial consciousness in their children's formative years.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, the discussion focuses on a caller who chose to have one child despite initial expectations of a large family. The caller shares her journey, from facing challenges like miscarriages to making an intentional decision for an only child.

Dr. Becky offers strategies for handling unsolicited comments about the choice, such as affirming the thoughtfulness behind it and teaching the child self-affirming mantras. The episode explores how to respond confidently to others' opinions, stemming from personal biases, and emphasizes nurturing joy in one's chosen family dynamic.

On this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, Nicole Kosanke joins the host to explore how to approach the sensitive topic of substance use disorders with children. The discussion delves into understanding the nuanced behaviors and challenges surrounding these disorders, emphasizing the profound impact parental substance use can have on a child's well-being.

Kosanke and Kennedy offer principles for engaging with children on this difficult subject, including building the conversation around the child's observations, recognizing that these discussions are ongoing, responding with empathy rather than judgment, and providing age-appropriate information. They stress the importance of creating a safe space for children to express emotions, validating their feelings, and reassuring them that they are not responsible for an adult's struggles.

In this Good Inside with Dr. Becky episode exploring the challenges of teen smartphone use, Dr. Becky Kennedy offers a balanced approach to guiding children's relationship with technology. She emphasizes assessing a child's readiness for a device by evaluating their sense of responsibility and the strength of parent-child communication.

Kennedy also outlines strategies for establishing clear purposes and guidelines around smartphone usage, managing digital behavior through involved monitoring, and employing effective disciplinary tactics. Advocating for a coaching mentality over punishment, the episode suggests collaborative solutions to help children develop responsibility with technology.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, the hosts explore the premise of Abigail Schrier's book "Bad Therapy" – that modern parenting approaches prioritizing children's emotions over fostering resilience may contribute to rising youth mental health issues. The discussion delves into finding a balance between validating children's feelings and establishing necessary boundaries and age-appropriate challenges.

Dr. Becky Kennedy and Emily Oster examine the importance of allowing children to face manageable discomforts and develop problem-solving skills. They address the documented increase in anxiety and depression among young people, considering potential factors like technology and social media pressures.

Parental rejection can bring up difficult and complex emotions for both children and parents. On this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, a mother details her feelings of inadequacy when her young children explicitly prefer her husband over her in moments of distress. Dr. Becky Kennedy offers strategies for coping with these situations, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and reframing one's perspective.

Rather than suppressing feelings of embarrassment or self-doubt, Kennedy encourages parents to acknowledge and validate their emotions while using techniques like empathy and humor to connect with the child's underlying needs. This episode aims to help caregivers navigate the emotional terrain of parental preference with greater self-awareness and understanding.

On an episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Jonathan Haidt explores how the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media platforms between 2010-2015 displaced critical real-world experiences in childhood development. He highlights the negative impacts, including social deprivation from lack of peer interaction, sleep deficiencies hindering cognitive functioning, fragmented attention impairing engaged thinking, and compulsive usage mirroring behavioral addiction.

The episode also examines gender differences in technology's effects: Social media fuels insecurities and cyberbullying risks for girls seeking social connection, while digital spaces like video games appeal to boys' desires for agency but still lack crucial real-world interaction. Haidt and Dr. Becky Kennedy provide strategies for parents to set appropriate tech boundaries through collective action, gradual controlled access, and prioritizing hands-on experiences to nurture child development.

Is your tween acting distant and withdrawn? Dr. Becky Kennedy provides guidance on this common concern. In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Kennedy explains how pre-teens' increasing need for independence often manifests through less communication and sharing with parents—a natural part of their development, though understandably worrisome.

She advises parents to adjust their expectations for closeness and adopt new strategies to stay connected. Rather than interrogations, she suggests engaging with tweens' interests to open conversations and build shared experiences. With patience and understanding, parents can navigate this transitional phase without panic.

In this episode, Dr. Becky Kennedy and Dan Harris explore the benefits of meditation for managing anxiety, maintaining focus, and staying present - especially for busy parents. They recommend incorporating brief mindfulness practices throughout the day, stressing consistency over perfection. Harris shares his evolution from a skeptic to an advocate of meditation's scientifically-backed mental health benefits.

He discusses how meditation helps him as a parent, grounding him in the present moment with his child. The episode offers practical tips on integrating meditation into daily routines and leading by example for kids.

Dive into the complexities of co-parenting with "Good Inside with Dr. Becky," as host Becky Kennedy welcomes Carmela to discuss the intricacies of navigating different parenting styles within a family. The episode delves into the challenge faced by Carmela, who finds that boundaries are easier to uphold when her husband is not present, highlighting a frequent occurrence where parents may exhibit varying degrees of strictness.

As the conversation unfolds, Dr. Becky brings her expert perspective to the forefront, accentuating the importance of constructive communication in mitigating the disparities in co-parenting approaches. She employs insightful analogies to better explain the dynamic between parents who differ in their boundary-setting. The episode also touches upon the deep-seated influence of one's upbringing on present parenting methods, advocating for open dialogue as a pathway to understanding and alignment. Listen as they tackle the emotional labor imbalances often encountered in co-parenting scenarios, with Dr. Becky advocating for mutual support and acknowledgment between partners, aiming to pave the way for a more equitable and supportive parenting partnership.

In the latest episode of "Good Inside with Dr. Becky," host Becky Kennedy, alongside Pooja Lakshman, dives into the intricate world of self-care, discussing the nuances between superficial acts and truly nurturing practices. The episode dissects the concept that while contemporary culture may champion activities like bubble baths as self-care, it's the internal work—like boundary-setting and self-compassion—that constitutes genuine self-maintenance. Beyond just indulging in external treatments, listeners are guided to explore self-care as an active, internal process that sustains and improves one’s well-being.

The episode goes on to challenge parents to redefine self-care as a fundamental necessity, rather than an added checklist item, to maintain their humanity and thrive in their roles. From fostering self-compassion to establishing personal boundaries, this discussion shines a light on the importance of building a robust internal dialogue and creating a supportive community network. It empowers parents with strategies to identify core values and integrate them into daily life, ensuring that self-care is woven into the very fabric of their existence, aiding them in taking back control from societal pressures and expectations.

In this insightful episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, psychologist Becky Kennedy tackles the intricate issue of sibling rivalry and the unique challenges of deeply feeling children (DFKs). As she converses with callers, Kennedy offers practical guidance for parents to navigate their children's intense emotional landscapes. Through a blend of storytelling and expert advice, she shines a light on how to distinguish between feelings and behaviors, and the importance of creating environments where each child can flourish individually and as part of the sibling dynamic.

Kennedy's approach blends compassion with strategy, as she suggests tools like visualization to help children understand the boundary between having emotions and acting upon them. During the podcast, listeners gain valuable insights into reframing the complexities of birth order and jealousy, carving out safe spaces for emotional expression, and intelligently separating activities to nurture self-esteem. By treating emotional regulation as a skill to be developed, Kennedy equips parents with the knowledge to bolster their children's emotional resilience, ensuring they grow into confident individuals capable of handling the emotional intricacies of relationships with their siblings.

Dive into a refreshing take on stress management with "Good Inside with Dr. Becky" as Dr. Becky Kennedy and guest speaker Jenny Tates reveal quick and effective techniques to soothe the mind and body. In an engaging discussion, they explore the STOP skill and anchoring techniques that can be practiced without resorting to long meditations or medication. Tates's acclaimed work, "Stress Resets, How to Soothe Your Mind and Body in Minutes," is praised for its approach designed to help, especially in the context of parenting, demonstrating how simple methods can empower individuals with immediate stress control, leading to a sense of calm and mastery.

Rather than viewing stress as a negative force, the episode presents it as a valuable opportunity to fortify personal values. Tates and Kennedy talk about changing stress mindsets, reinforcing the idea that stress can act as a "workout for your values," and that emotions, like waves, are transient and manageable. Further exploring the link between actions and emotions, they discuss the profound effects of opposite action and the concept of 'little joy snacks' for emotional well-being. This conversation is a guide to understanding how tiny self-care practices and aligning behaviors and thoughts can disrupt the stress cycle and lead to healthier emotional states.

Join Dr. Becky Kennedy and her esteemed guest Richard C. Schwartz on "Good Inside with Dr. Becky" as they delve into the intricacies of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and its application in both self-understanding and parenting. The episode unpacks the composition of our internal mental systems, explaining how various "parts" like Exiles, Protectors, and Firefighters interact and influence our behaviors and emotions. As they navigate through these psychological facets, they highlight the pivotal role of the "Self" and its eight Cs—compassion, creativity, curiosity, confidence, calm, connectedness, and clarity—in fostering a healed and harmonious inner world.

The conversation then transitions to practical parenting strategies rooted in the principles of IFS, offering transformative insight for those raising children facing emotional and behavioral challenges. Kennedy and Schwartz emphasize the power of self-leadership and its eight corresponding qualities as vital tools for nurturing and repairing the parent-child bond. Through real-life examples and discussions, including insights shared by callers, the episode sheds light on the importance of compassionate self-reflection and the acts of repair that fortify relationships and teach valuable life lessons. Whether you're a parent seeking guidance or simply interested in personal growth, this exploration of IFS provides a roadmap to nurturing healthier and more resilient connections—both within oneself and with others.

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, the host examines the distinctions between "gentle" and "sturdy" parenting approaches. She argues that consequences and punishments often hinder children's emotional growth, and advises guiding development through empathetic conversations and positive reinforcement.

Kennedy advocates identifying needs and skill deficits to address behaviors sustainably. Unlock strategies for fostering independence and resilience—from sharing personal experiences to allowing natural consequences. The ultimate goal is nurturing self-regulation and problem-solving abilities in children to prepare them for life's challenges, not merely controlling immediate conduct.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Kennedy examines the challenge of raising children who have an abundance of opportunities and material goods, and the risk of cultivating a sense of entitlement or lack of gratitude. She describes how being shielded from mundane frustrations and limited access can make it difficult for privileged kids to appreciate life's ordinary moments and others' efforts.

Kennedy lays out strategies for fostering genuine gratitude in children, including exposing them to appropriate frustration, modeling mindfulness for everyday pleasures, and developing empathy and emotional skills. With empathy and guidance through life's obstacles, parents can help their kids move beyond superficial "thank yous" and cultivate a heartfelt recognition of life's specialness, regardless of privilege.

In this episode of the Good Inside with Dr. Becky podcast, Becky Kennedy and Alex Reed delve into the concept of neurodivergence and explore the significant overlap between recognized neurodivergent conditions like ADHD and autism, and what Kennedy terms "deeply feeling kids" (DFKs) — children who struggle intensely with emotional regulation, even if they don't meet clinical diagnostic criteria.

They discuss common traits across the neurodivergent spectrum and DFKs, including difficulties with emotional regulation, sensory overload, and explosive behaviors. Kennedy and Reed emphasize the need for specialized parenting approaches tailored to these children's unique needs, moving away from traditional strategies that often escalate challenging situations. The conversation also touches on the importance of parental self-regulation and gaining an empathetic framework for understanding a child's experience, with or without an official diagnosis.