The Follow-Up: Helping Kids Feel Proud

The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Kids & Family, Health & Fitness, Parenting

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2025

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Raising kids who feel proud of who they are, not just what they do, is one of the biggest gifts we can give them. In this Follow-Up episode, I revisit my conversation with Dr. Becky Kennedy, recorded back when I was a new mom trying to understand how to raise a confident child. Now, with Ryaan heading into six, these lessons hit even deeper. We talk about what real confidence looks like for kids, why outcome-based praise can backfire, and how to help our children find pride from the inside out. Dr. Becky breaks down how to shift the focus from grades, goals, and achievements to the qualities that matter most: effort, curiosity, and the internal spark that keeps them trying. You’ll hear: Why kids who shine early aren’t always the ones with the strongest sense of self How over-relying on praise tied to performance can lead to pressure or perfectionism Simple swaps you can use today to build true confidence The power of noticing the process, not the product How to shift your questions so your child learns that good feelings start from within, not from outside approval Want more? Listen to the full, original episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to the follow-up, where we revisit one of your favorite Pete's Doc Talk podcast episodes
0:07.8	in less time than it takes your child to explain why they absolutely need a new pencil case for school.
0:13.5	I'm Dr. Mona, and this week we're going back to a conversation I had with Dr. Becky Kennedy.
0:18.0	Before she became the Dr. Becky, the parenting guidance superstar she is today.
0:23.6	At the time of this original recording, I was a new mom with a 20-month-old, Ryan,
0:27.9	just beginning to think about what it really means to raise a confident child.
0:31.8	Now with Ryan being almost six, I see every day how much these lessons matter,
0:36.4	raising kids who don't fear failure, who can feel
0:38.9	proud of their effort, and who love themselves for who they are, not what they achieve.
0:43.8	So as we head deeper into the school year, I wanted to bring this one back as a reminder
0:48.0	that while academics matter, our kids' confidence, resilience, and sense of self matter
0:53.6	even more.
0:54.9	In this episode, Dr. Becky and I talk about how to praise kids in a way that builds real confidence,
0:59.7	how to avoid the traps that lead to perfectionism or pressure,
1:02.8	and what it means to help kids find pride from the inside out.
1:06.7	Don't forget to download the full episode and tag at the Pete's Doc Talk podcast, at Pete's Doc Talk, and at Dr. Becky at Goodenside when you share your favorite moment or takeaway.
1:17.2	Let's get into it.
1:22.5	I think all of us want our children to feel proud of success.
1:25.8	We want them to feel confident.
1:27.4	But how can we
1:28.5	balance that confidence with also, you know, not affecting their self-esteem and self-confidence?
1:34.0	Yeah. So I think it's really tricky, right, in that we often are fed the idea or picked up
	...

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