In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, we dive into the magic of imaginative play - why it’s so important for kids, and why it can feel surprisingly challenging for parents to join in.

Dr. Becky explores how pretend play nurtures curiosity, problem-solving, and emotional growth, giving children the space to wonder, dream, and practice being in the world. But she also normalizes the truth for many parents: stepping into a child’s world of imagination isn’t always easy, and that doesn’t make you a bad parent.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not loving playtime, this episode will change the way you see both yourself and your child’s incredible capacity for imagination.

Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzk

Your Good Inside membership might be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement! To learn more about how to get your membership reimbursed, check out the link here: https://www.goodinside.com/fsa-hsa-eligibility/

Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside

Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter

For a full transcript of the episode, go to goodinside.com/podcast.

This episode is brought to you by the Play-Doh brand. If you’re anything like me, you’re running out of summer activity ideas for your kids…Well, exciting news for parents everywhere: Good Inside just teamed up with the Play-Doh brand to bring you a video series on how to help kids build life-long skills like imagination, confidence, and frustration tolerance - all through open-ended play! The best part: I promise this isn’t another thing to add to your already packed plate as a parent. No hours of prep, no need for picture-perfect setups. All you need is a Play-Doh can or two.

We also made a one-page cheat sheet with “5 Strategies for Open-Ended Play” you can literally download and try today. (Full disclosure: I printed the guide out and stuck it on my fridge as a reminder for myself - after all, my kids get “mom” at home, not Dr. Becky!) Head to walmart.com/playdoh to watch the video and download the guide. That’s walmart.com/playdoh. I can’t wait to hear what your kid creates.

Consent. It’s a word that feels loaded, emotionally charged, and deeply important. In this episode, Dr. Becky lays the groundwork for what it means to model consent in everyday parenting - helping kids build self-trust, practice setting boundaries, and know their voice matters. She offers practical language, powerful reframes, and grounded guidance for walking the line between honoring a child’s autonomy and staying steady in your role as the parent. With warmth and clarity, Dr. Becky unpacks the emotional weight consent can carry- and shows how even the smallest moments can help our kids feel safe, seen, and respected.

Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzk

Your Good Inside membership might be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement! To learn more about how to get your membership reimbursed, check out the link here: https://www.goodinside.com/fsa-hsa-eligibility/

Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside

Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter

For a full transcript of the episode, go to goodinside.com/podcast.

This episode is brought to you by Chomps. When it comes to school snacks, I’ve never been the “pack my kid a portable charcuterie board” kind of parent. If you are, more power to you. I’m more of a “grab-and-go” type - I want something simple, nutritious, and easy for my kids to reach for as we’re heading out the door.

That’s why I like Chomps. Their full-size meat sticks have 10 grams of protein and zero sugar. They’re filling and made from real ingredients, so it’s one less thing to think about. And if you’ve ever opened your kid’s backpack to find a half-eaten snack from who-knows-when still wrapped up in there, Chomplings are great. They’re smaller sticks (the right size to toss in a lunchbox or that little front backpack pocket) with 4 grams of protein and zero sugar. Chomps are made of high-quality ingredients like 100% grass-fed beef, venison, and antibiotic-free turkey. They’re also free from the top nine allergens, so you don’t have to worry about sending them to school.

Check out all the sizes and delicious flavors at Chomps.com/DRBECKY for 15% off plus free shipping. This episode is brought to you by Skylight Calendar. I had this moment last year where I thought maybe my kids’ school calendar was going to get the best of me. Picture day, volunteer sign-ups, early dismissal on Tuesday... wait, which kid has which game? If that sounds familiar, let me tell you about a life-saver: Skylight Calendar. It's designed to bring calm to your family's chaotic schedule. It pulls everyone's appointments, events, tasks, and lists into one simple touchscreen - right there in your home.

Skylight Calendar syncs seamlessly with all of your existing calendars - Google, Apple, Outlook, even directly from your email - giving you custom views for daily, weekly, or monthly planning. My favorite feature? “Tasks” helps kids build healthy routines, and you can even assign colors to each family member (“I always choose Good Inside yellow for myself”), eliminating confusion and those endless "I just forgot!” And with the Skylight app, you can instantly add or update anything on the go.

Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to Skylight Cal dot com slash BECKY. Go to Skylight Cal dot com slash BECKY for $30 off your 15 inch Calendar.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Becky sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times science reporter Matt Richtel to explore the urgent mental health crisis facing today’s teens—and the science behind what’s really going on in the adolescent brain.

Expanding on his acclaimed reporting, Matt shares insights from his groundbreaking new book How We Grow Up, diving deep into the neurological, biological, and social transformations that define adolescence.

This episode is brought you by Chomps. When it comes to school snacks, I’ve never been the “pack my kid a portable charcuterie board” kind of parent. If you are, more power to you. I’m more of a “grab-and-go” type - I want something simple, nutritious, and easy for my kids to reach for as we’re heading out the door.

That’s why I like Chomps. Their full-size meat sticks have 10 grams of protein and zero sugar. They’re filling and made from real ingredients, so it’s one less thing to think about. And if you’ve ever opened your kid’s backpack to find a half-eaten snack from who-knows-when still wrapped up in there, Chomplings are great. They’re smaller sticks (the right size to toss in a lunchbox or that little front backpack pocket) with 4 grams of protein and zero sugar.

Chomps are made of high-quality ingredients like 100% grass-fed beef, venison, and antibiotic-free turkey. They’re also free from the top nine allergens, so you don’t have to worry about sending them to school. Check out all the sizes and delicious flavors at Chomps.com/DRBECKY for 15% off plus free shipping.

Good Inside is now eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity! We’re partnering with Truemed to make the process easy - go to https://www.goodinside.com/fsa-hsa-eligibility/ to learn more.

Good Inside Members, love the podcast and want to keep the conversation going? Starting Tuesday, August 5th, join us every Tuesday at 10:30am for Podcast Club to dive deeper, share reflections, and connect with other listeners.

Get the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzk

Your Good Inside membership might be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement! To learn more about how to get your membership reimbursed, check out the link here: https://www.goodinside.com/fsa-hsa-eligibility/

Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside

Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter

For a full transcript of the episode, go to goodinside.com/podcast.