Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8)

Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health.
  • 4.7 (91)
  • Education for Kids
  • Updated Weekly

Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic is a weekly, 5-min. podcast for children about making and keeping friends. Each episode features an audio recording of a question about friendship from a kid (gr. K-8) plus a practical and thought-provoking answer from Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, (aka Dr. Friendtastic,) an author and clinical psychologist based in Princeton, NJ. For transcripts and discussion questions: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast. To submit a question: https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit. For parent resources: https://EileenKennedyMoore.com drfriendtastic.substack.com

  1. Friends aren’t listening to her! (Bella, Age 10) | Ep. 149

    5d ago

    Friends aren’t listening to her! (Bella, Age 10) | Ep. 149

    Ep. 149 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to make yourself heard | Friendship advice for kids FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/ Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - Have you ever felt like a friend wasn’t hearing you? How did you handle it? - Why is listening an important part of friendship? - What does Dr. Friendtastic mean when she says, “The lounder you yell, the harder it is for people to hear you”? - What is a Yes-No argument? Why do you think kids sometimes get stuck in those? What could they do instead? *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 97 - How and why to understand a friend’s feelings (Zoya, Age 7) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep97-how-and-why-to-understand-a-friends Ep. 78 - How to confront a friend https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep78-how-to-confront-a-friend Ep. 18 - Building great leadership skills (Kai, Age 9) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-18-kai Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  2. Understanding a friend’s feelings (Anna, Age 7) | Ep. 148

    May 30

    Understanding a friend’s feelings (Anna, Age 7) | Ep. 148

    Ep. 148 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: 7 clues to figure out how a friend feels | Friendship advice for kids FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/ Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - Why is it important to try to understand how a friend is feeling? - What are the seven clues that can tell us how someone is feeling? - Think about a time when someone didn’t understand how you were feeling. How did you handle that situation? - Some people are better than others at communicating about their feelings. Think of the people you know. Whose feelings are easiest to understand? Whose are hardest to guess? Why? *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 102 - How to express your feelings with friends (Aida, Age 5) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep102-how-to-express-your-feelings-with-friends Ep. 97 - How and why to understand a friend’s feelings (Zoya, Age 5) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep97-how-and-why-to-understand-a-friends Ep. 33 - Best ways to show empathy (Richard, Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-33-richard Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min
  3. Avoiding conflict with friends (Zen, Age 6) | re-release Ep. 57

    May 23

    Avoiding conflict with friends (Zen, Age 6) | re-release Ep. 57

    Re-release Ep. 57 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: The upside of disagreements | Friendship advice for kids FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/ Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - Describe a conflict you had with a friend. What happened? What was your friend’s point of view and what was yours? How did the conflict affect your friendship? - Dr. Friendtastic says that conflict can be a way for friends to learn about each other. What does that mean? - When might it be a good idea to give in and do what your friend wants, even though it isn’t exactly what you want? When is it NOT a good idea to do this? - Why is it important to try to understand what a friend is thinking or feeling? (Hint: What could happen if we just insist on what we want?) - What are some things you can do or not do to make conflicts with a friend less painful? *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 73 - Best friend suddenly stops playing with him (J.J., Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep73-jj-age-11-best-friend-stops-playing-with-him Ep. 103 - Friend butt into conflict with other friend (Grace, Age 8) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep103-friends-butt-into-conflict-with-other-friend Ep. 132 - Friend won’t talk about problem (Monet, Age 9) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep132-friend-wont-talk-about-problem-monet-age-9 Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    6 min
  4. Teased because of his looks! (Milo, Age 9) | 147

    May 16

    Teased because of his looks! (Milo, Age 9) | 147

    Ep. 147 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendly versus unfriendly teasing | Friendship advice for kids FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/ Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - Do you have a nickname? If so, who calls you that, and how do you feel about it? If not, would you like a nickname? Why or why not? - Have you ever been teased in a way you found hurtful? What happened? How did you handle it? - What are some reasons a good friend might accidentally say something hurtful? - How might you handle things differently if a hurtful name or comment came from a friend versus someone who is not a friend? - Dr. Friendtastic says you should only criticize someone’s appearance if it’s something they can quickly fix, and you can mention it privately. Why are these important guidelines? (Hint: How are people likely to feel if they can’t easily fix whatever it is, or if other people hear your negative comments?) *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 95 - Handling embarrassing moments (Sara, Age 7) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep95-handling-embarrassing-moments-sara-age-7 Ep. 29 - Dealing with teasing (Abby, Age 9) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-29-abby Ep. 25 - Moving past us-versus-them thinking (Bryson, Age 10) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-25-bryson Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min
  5. She took something that didn’t belong to her (River, Age 9) | 146

    May 9

    She took something that didn’t belong to her (River, Age 9) | 146

    Ep. 146 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Moving past guilt | Friendship advice for kids FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/ Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - Why do you think kids sometimes take things that don’t belong to them? Why is stealing not a good idea? - Describe a time when you were tempted to do something you knew was wrong but didn’t. How did you resist the temptation? - What does “make amends” mean? Why is it a good thing to do in relationships? What could you do to make amends if you accidentally broke a friend’s toy? - Dr. Friendtastic says, “Situational control is always easier than self-control.” What does that mean? How could you set up your situation to make sure you get dressed quickly in the morning? How could you set up your situation to make sure you do your work instead of getting distracted at school? *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 117 - How to tell if a friend is loyal (Julian, Age 12) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/how-to-tell-if-a-friend-is-loyal Ep. 111 - Friend won’t forgive her (Thea, Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep111-friend-wont-forgive-her-thea-age11 Ep. 1 – Naomi, Age 7: Friendship ends over small thing https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-1 Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  6. He doesn’t like one kid in the group (Joe, Age 9) | 145

    May 2

    He doesn’t like one kid in the group (Joe, Age 9) | 145

    Ep. 145 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: He doesn’t like one kid in the group (Joe, Age 9) | Friendship advice for kids FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/ Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - Have you ever had to get along with someone you don’t particularly like? How did you handle that? - How can disliking someone (and telling people you don’t like that person!) hurt your friendships with other kids? - Dr. Friendtastic said that staying away from a group because you don’t like one person “would be giving this one kid a lot of power to influence who you play with and what you do.” What does this mean? - Why is trying to kick someone out of a group an unkind thing to do? - Why might flooding someone you don’t like with kindness be a useful strategy? (Hint: How are they likely to respond?) When would this strategy not be a good idea? *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 138 - When joking is mean, not funny (Seb, Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep138-when-joking-is-mean-not-funny-seb-age11 Ep. 12 - Kid bullies him at recess (Adrian, Age 8) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-12-adrian Ep. 3 - Kid tries to wreck game (Noelle, Age 10) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-4b8 Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  7. How to join a group (Addison, Age 9 1/2) | 144

    Apr 25

    How to join a group (Addison, Age 9 1/2) | 144

    Ep. 144 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: You don't have to stay on the outside looking in | Friendship advice for kids FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/ Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - What are some reasons why it’s sometimes hard to join a group of kids? - Why is it important to match the emotional tone of a conversation if you want to join a group? - What do you look for when you decide whether to try to join a group? - Do you think you are open to having kids join you if you are hanging out with friends at school or at an activity? What could you do to make another kid feel welcome? - Do you always have to include people who want to join your group? Why or why not? *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 112 - How to Show Openness to Friendship https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep112-how-to-show-openness-to-friendship Ep. 85 - Fitting in versus being true to yourself (Nev, Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep85-nev-age-11-fitting-in-versus-being-true-to-yourself Ep. 98 - How to join a group when not everyone wants you in (Jessica, Age 9) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep98-jessica-age9-how-to-join-a-group-when-not-everyone-wants-you-in Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  8. Friends won't play the game he likes (Akiva, Age 5 3/4) | 143

    Apr 18

    Friends won't play the game he likes (Akiva, Age 5 3/4) | 143

    Ep. 143 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being flexible with friends | Friendship advice for kids Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.) For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/ Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com. Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents. *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: - When a person is flexible, it means they can adjust to new, unexpected, or unwanted situations. What is an example of someone being flexible with friends? What is an example of someone being rigid with friends? - How do these two styles (flexible or rigid) affect friendships? - Does being flexible mean you never get to do what you want? Why or why not? - Why is it hard to be flexible when we’re upset? *** You might also like these podcast episodes: Ep. 5 - Friend doesn’t do what I want (Edith, Age 8) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-af3 Ep. 18 - Building great leadership skills (Kai, Age 9) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-18-kai Ep. 28 - Dealing with spill-over anger (Avni, Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-28-avni Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min
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Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic is a weekly, 5-min. podcast for children about making and keeping friends. Each episode features an audio recording of a question about friendship from a kid (gr. K-8) plus a practical and thought-provoking answer from Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, (aka Dr. Friendtastic,) an author and clinical psychologist based in Princeton, NJ. For transcripts and discussion questions: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast. To submit a question: https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit. For parent resources: https://EileenKennedyMoore.com drfriendtastic.substack.com

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