Good Inside

Good Inside
AuthorBecky Kennedy
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon-fiction
Publication dateSeptember 13, 2022
Publication placeUnited States
ISBN9780063159488

Good Inside or the full title, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be is a 2022 parenting book by American clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy.[1][2] The book received significant media coverage with Time Magazine calling Kennedy, "the millennial parent whisperer."[1]

Background

Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist and mother of three based in New York City.[3] Kennedy also hosts hosts the Good Inside parenting podcast and runs the affiliated online community of the same name.[4][1][5] Kennedy rejects the label "gentle parenting" as a descriptor of her approach, preferring the term "sturdy parenting."[6][1]

Synopsis

The book's central theme is that children are fundamentally "good inside," meaning they have good intentions and have the desire to do the right thing.[7][3] A strategy Kennedy stresses in the book is a "connection-first" approach. Kennedy advises against using time-outs or punitive measures,[8] or even positive reinforcement like sticker charts.[9] Instead, she advises parents to first acknowledge their child's emotional state and attempt to understand what is driving the behavior.[10] For example, she suggests language such as "You're having a hard time. I'm here. We're going to figure it out together."[2]

Kennedy often uses the metaphor of a "sturdy pilot" to describe the composure parents should aim to model during a child's emotional distress. She describes three types of pilots, one dismissive, one panicked, and one calm and steady. She argues that the third type is the parenting ideal, communicating to a child: "I believe your intense feelings. I'm not scared of them."[10][1]

Reception

Kennedy appeared on NBC's Today show on September 13, 2022, the day of the book's release. She answered parenting questions and discussed the mindset she recommends for parents approaching conflict.[11] In 2025, Kennedy made another appearance on the Today show following the release of her children's book, “That's My Truck! A Good Inside Story About Hitting,” which draws from the themes of Good Inside.[12] Forbes also included her book in an article entitled, "The 30 Best Parenting Books To Guide You Through Life With Kids." The article states, " this book teaches parents how to connect with their kids."[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Novak, JoAnna (2026-05-10). "I Tried a Weekslong Experiment to Become a Better Mom. I Was Shocked That It Kind of Worked". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  2. 1 2 "How Dr. Becky Spends Her Sundays". 2022-09-17. Archived from the original on 2022-09-17. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  3. 1 2 E; l; i; s; e; H; u (2024-07-09). "Is your kid misbehaving? Instead of time-out, try 'connecting' with them first". NPR. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  4. ↑ Jonze, Tim (2022-02-20). "How Dr Becky Kennedy became Instagram's favourite 'parent whisperer'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  5. ↑ Jezer-Morton, Kathryn. "How Dr. Becky Professionalized Parenting". The Cut. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  6. ↑ Egan, Elisabeth (October 13, 2022). "When It Comes to Sturdy Kids, Becky Kennedy Has You Covered". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  7. ↑ Tribune, Chicago (2022-10-07). "Column: Dr. Becky is revolutionizing parenting with a simple reminder: Your kids are good, even when their behavior is bad". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  8. ↑ "Is your kid misbehaving? Instead of time-out, try 'connecting' with them first | KQED". www.kqed.org. 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  9. ↑ Brunner, Jeryl (2026-08-03). "Becky Kennedy's Parenting Quote and What It Means". Parade. Archived from the original on 2026-08-04. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  10. 1 2 Nast, Condé (2023-10-22). "Dr. Becky Kennedy Wants to Help Parents Land the Plane". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  11. ↑ "Get answers to some of the most-asked parenting questions". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  12. ↑ "Dr. Becky shares first children's book and offers parenting tips". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
  13. ↑ Betz, Alicia. "Best Parenting Books 2024 - Forbes Vetted". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
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