I babysat for my wealthy neighbor’s 5-year-old daughter, who seemed to have a perfect life in their huge house. One day, however, she quietly told me, “My mom locks me in the dark room when I’m bad.” My stomach immediately dropped, so I asked her to show me the room.

She led me down the hallway to a closed door. When I opened it, I discovered a cozy sensory room with dim lighting, weighted blankets, and calming music. It quickly became clear that the room was not a punishment at all.

The little girl sometimes has meltdowns, and the “dark room” was actually her safe space—a place she could go when she needed to calm down, and one she would even ask to use herself. I couldn’t help but laugh at the misunderstanding.

Kids can be tiny truth tellers. They often say exactly what is on their hearts without understanding what adults consider private. Sometimes, their innocent honesty brings out a truth, a compliment, a feeling, or a secret that someone was too shy to say themselves.