Latest news with #BeckyKennedy
Daily Record
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Parenting expert explains why you should never try and 'end' your child's tantrum
Tantrums can be tough to handle and a parenting psychologist has shared some advice about how to deal with a child mid-tantrum and what parents should and shouldn't do No parent relishes the moments when their children have tantrums, yet it's a common occurrence. Toddlers often resort to this behaviour because they lack the verbal skills to express their needs or frustrations. Today (Sunday, July 27) we celebrate Parents' Day, a day to appreciate parents for their unwavering love and commitment to nurturing their children, but it also serves as an opportunity for mums and dads to enhance their parenting techniques, such as managing tantrums. American parenting psychologist Dr Becky Kennedy has offered insights on how to cope with a child's meltdown and what actions to avoid. In a TikTok video posted by Thrive Parenting Network, Dr Kennedy emphasised that a parent's role is " not to end a tantrum ever." She elaborated: "The more energy I put into ending a tantrum the more my kid thinks I'm scared of their tantrum." The child psychology specialist pointed out that when parents attempt to stop a tantrum, they inadvertently project their own anxiety onto their child, resulting in heightened fear and a prolonged, more intense tantrum. She likened a tantrum to a "kind of explosion" and clarified that a parent's duty is to act as a "container" maintaining composure and ensuring the safety of their child. Dr Kennedy went on to say: "When I mean safe, sometimes during tantrums kids will start like throwing things or like I don't know they'll, you know, get something in their room." She emphasised that parents must put an end to certain behaviours, highlighting the significance of the phrase "I won't let you" as opposed to softer alternatives like "we don't" or "please stop". The parenting psychologist illustrated her point with the example: "I'm not gonna let you throw that vase." She went on to explain: "That's the boundary, and then what I'm going to say to myself honestly is like a mantra while I kind of just wait it out. "I might say to myself 'I'm safe, this isn't an emergency, I can cope with this.' That's actually my favourite mantra because the only reason we get activated during our kids' tantrums is because our body kind of confuses whose feelings are whose." She further explained that when parents feel their own bodies becoming unsafe, it's often a reaction to wanting to "shut down" the child's tantrum. Reiterating her advice, she said that reassuring yourself of safety is effective, as the body "responds really well to being told this." The TikTok video has amassed 62,400 views and more than 4,500 likes, along with numerous comments from parents sharing their experiences. One parent remarked: "I like this. It's probably hardest when the tantrum happens in the middle of trying to get a time-sensitive chore or thing done." They added the challenge of dealing with a tantrum while juggling responsibilities: "Like a tantrum in the middle of trying to get to school, after which I need to get to work.." Another expressed gratitude, saying: "Your 'this is not an emergency' line might have made motherhood 1000x better for me." A third shared their struggle: "Keep your body calm sounds so simple but feels impossible in the moment."
Time Magazine
23-07-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
'Good Inside With Dr. Becky' Is on The 100 Best Podcasts of All Time
Society Clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy made her name as a guru in the so-called gentle-parenting movement. Her book, podcast, and app, all called 'Good Inside,' argue that even a kid in the middle of an epic, full-body tantrum is well-intentioned and just struggling to express himself. She offers strategies on how to draw boundaries, but also make a child feel heard in order to improve challenging behaviors. Dr. Becky's actionable advice comes in the form of interviews with experts or famous fellow parents as well as monologues in front of a camera that break down her personal parenting challenges. Topics range from handling screentime to managing sibling rivalries. Not every parent will find Dr. Becky's methodology convincing. Still, occasionally I wonder if Dr. Becky has a direct line into my brain and those of my fellow moms to probe our anxieties, as evidenced by a recent episode about why a messy house stresses out moms more than dads—spoiler alert: women's cortisol levels spike higher than men's when confronted with clutter. The episode threw every spat I've ever had with my husband about dirty dishes in the sink into perspective. We were able to listen to the podcast together and talk about strategies for reducing anxiety around cleaning—a prime example of a podcast with the power to change lives, one tantrum or tiff at a time.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Good Inside With Dr. Becky
Credit - Clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy made her name as a guru in the so-called gentle-parenting movement. Her book, podcast, and app, all called 'Good Inside,' argue that even a kid in the middle of an epic, full-body tantrum is well-intentioned and just struggling to express himself. She offers strategies on how to draw boundaries, but also make a child feel heard in order to improve challenging behaviors. Dr. Becky's actionable advice comes in the form of interviews with experts or famous fellow parents as well as monologues in front of a camera that break down her personal parenting challenges. Topics range from handling screentime to managing sibling rivalries. Not every parent will find Dr. Becky's methodology convincing. Still, occasionally I wonder if Dr. Becky has a direct line into my brain and those of my fellow moms to probe our anxieties, as evidenced by a recent episode about why a messy house stresses out moms more than dads—spoiler alert: women's cortisol levels spike higher than men's when confronted with clutter. The episode threw every spat I've ever had with my husband about dirty dishes in the sink into perspective. We were able to listen to the podcast together and talk about strategies for reducing anxiety around cleaning—a prime example of a podcast with the power to change lives, one tantrum or tiff at a time. Write to Eliana Dockterman at Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dr. Becky: TIME100 Creators 2025
Credit - Melanie Dunea During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy emerged as a modern-day Dr. Spock for a new generation of anxious, overwhelmed parents. The 42-year-old mother of three is known for speaking directly to the camera—often on New York City streets after dropping off her children at school or a sports game—and sharing personal parenting anecdotes and practical advice with an audience of more than 3.4 million across Instagram and TikTok. Kennedy's philosophy centers on the belief that every child, even one who's mid-tantrum, is 'good inside'—a phrase that's evolved into the title of her chart-topping podcast, best-selling book, and parenting platform, which offers paid workshops on everything from screentime to sibling rivalry. Rather than focusing on punishment, Kennedy equips parents with scripts and strategies to help their kids feel seen, heard, and understood. For millions of Millennials, Dr. Becky has become the go-to voice of reason in the chaos of child-rearing. Data and insights powered by #paid Write to Eliana Dockterman at
Economic Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Are you 'too soft' on your child? Ivy League-trained psychologist says compassion builds resilience, not 'snowflakes'
The Surprising Truth About 'Soft' Parenting You Might Also Like: Silent damage: How parental screen time is rewiring young minds and fueling mental chaos? Study reveals Compassion is Not Coddling—It's Coaching Why Self-Compassion Is the Real Superpower Softness Today, Strength Tomorrow You're in the middle of the grocery store, and your child is on the floor wailing because you didn't buy the frosted cereal. Eyes turn. Embarrassment creeps in. Your instinct might be to discipline—or even scold. But what if the real answer is not toughness, but tenderness?A new wave of parenting wisdom suggests that showing compassion—even in the middle of a meltdown—isn't spoiling your child. It might just be building the foundation for a resilient, emotionally strong adult. Dr. Becky Kennedy , an Ivy League-trained clinical psychologist and bestselling author, wants parents to know they don't have to fear being 'too soft.' In a recent episode of her popular podcast Good Inside, she addressed a common misconception: that compassion in parenting leads to emotional fragility.'It's almost like we view compassion as dangerous,' said Kennedy, who holds a PhD from Columbia University. 'We think it's going to lead to kids being soft, being snowflakes.'But Kennedy challenges that assumption with both research and personal experience. As a mother of three, she admits she once believed that calm parenting in the face of tantrums might reinforce bad behavior. Over time, she discovered the opposite.'When I add my criticism, my invalidation, the feeling just gets bigger. It's so counterproductive,' she of reacting with frustration, Kennedy suggests that parents acknowledge their child's emotions—even the explosive ones. Simple affirming phrases like, 'It makes sense you're upset,' or 'I know you'll get through this,' can do goal is not to excuse the behavior, but to validate the emotion behind it. Psychotherapist Amy Morin supports this approach, writing that parents can say, 'It's OK to feel upset, but not OK to act this way,' reinforcing emotional awareness while gently guiding method helps children learn that feelings like anger, sadness, or disappointment are normal—but expressing them destructively is not. Over time, it cultivates emotional intelligence and equips kids with the tools to handle life's inevitable emphasizes that a child's inner voice often echoes what they've heard from their parents. If criticism and dismissal dominate the early years, children may grow up internalizing those voices as adults—resulting in self-doubt, shame, or paralysis in the face of failure.'A parent's voice becomes a child's self-talk,' she explains. 'If that voice is critical, it'll be that much harder for a child to find their feet, confidence, or resilience later.'The antidote? Teaching self-compassion. According to psychologist Kristin Neff's research, this quality is crucial not only for emotional health, but also for personal growth. People who respond to failure with compassion are more likely to try again, take responsibility, and avoid spiraling into negativity.'Compassion after failure makes people more likely to persevere and try again,' Kennedy says. 'It helps people take responsibility for mistakes without spiraling into shame. That's huge.'In a culture that often glorifies grit and discipline, Kennedy's approach feels like a breath of fresh air. She isn't advocating permissiveness—but rather mindful parenting that sees emotional outbursts not as misbehavior, but as opportunities to teach empathy, resilience, and the next time your child screams over the wrong color of sippy cup, take a breath. Offer compassion, not correction. You're not raising a snowflake—you're helping sculpt a human being who knows how to weather the storm.
