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

Ep. 23 – Gage, Age 9: Getting pushed around at recess | Play fighting versus real fighting Gage wonders what to do about a kid who throws him to the ground at recess.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever had someone be physically too rough with you? What happened? How did you respond? - How do you feel about play fighting? Why do you think some kids like it? Why do you think some kids don’t like it?- Why is it important to be able to tell the difference between play fighting and real fighting? What do you think are the main differences?- Why might social control (using the group’s disapproval to rein someone in) be an effective way to deal with someone who is being too rough?- Why is it important to tell a trusted grown-up if someone bigger, stronger, tougher, or more socially powerful than you is picking on you? If you were being bullied, who would you tell? Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 22 – Scarlett, Age 13: Changing a bad first impression | Managing your social reputationScarlett wants to know what to do to change someone’s first impression of her.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever changed your mind about what you think of someone and started to like them, even though you didn’t at first? If so, what led to that change?- What are some reasons why it’s hard to change a first impression?- Dr. Friendtastic said, “We can’t force someone to like us.” What does this statement mean to you? - What impression do you think most people have of you when they first meet you? Is that similar or different from how your close friends see you?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 21 – Eugene, Age 13: Wanting to be more popular | Popularity is not the same as friendshipEugene wonders how to become friends with someone more popular than he is.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Popular kids are socially powerful. What do you think that means? How is that different from being well-liked? - How can someone be “cool” if they are also unkind? Do you know anyone like that? How do other kids react to that kid? - Why do you think some kids care a lot about being popular? What do you think about popularity?- What are some ways that kids could try to increase how well-liked they are?- Think of the happiest kids you know. Would you say they are very popular, medium popular, or unpopular? Do many, some, or few kids like them? Do they have close friends? What do your observations suggest about how happiness is related to popularity and friendship?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 20 – Anna, Age 9: Lying friend | Why might a friend not tell you the truth?Anna is upset about a friend lying to her. What should she do?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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever caught a friend in a lie? How did you feel? Why do you think the friend lied to you? How did it affect your friendship?- Have you ever told a lie to a friend? What got in the way of you telling the truth? Did your friend ever find out the truth? What happened? - Why do you think Dr. Friendtastic suggested NOT calling a friend a liar even if they did tell a lie? What’s the difference between telling a lie and being a liar? How is a friend likely to react to being called a liar?- Why do you think Dr. Friendtastic focuses on what Anna could do instead of what her friend did wrong?- How could you make it easy for a friend to tell you the truth? What responses might make it harder for a friend to tell the truth?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 19 – Dr. Friendtastic's Friendship League: Jason GriffithDr. Friendtastic’s Friendship League is made up of adults who care about kids and have volunteered to share with you about a friendship rough spot they faced as a kid plus a kind thing a friend did for them. In this episode, Jason Griffith, who was the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, tells a powerful story about overcoming being bullied. Learn more about Jason at https://www.instagram.com/real_jasongriffith/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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Rich was the ringleader in picking on Jason. Why do you think the other kids joined in on the meanness? - If you were getting picked on like Jason was, which adults could you go to for help?- Why did Rich tell the other kids to stop picking on Jason? What do you think Rich felt or realized that changed his mind?- Have you ever stood up for someone who was getting picked on? If it’s not safe for you to speak up directly, in the moment, what are some other ways you could support someone who is getting bullied?- What do you think about the fact that the person who was meanest and kindest to Jason when he was a kid was the same person?- Redemption means freeing ourselves from a bad situation or bad actions. We can always choose to move forward in kinder ways. Rich made a big change, but all of us can work on being kinder in our daily lives. What is one way you could be kinder?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 18 – Kai, Age 9: Friends call him bossy | Building great leadership skillsKai wonders what to do when his friends say he’s being bossy. How can he get his ideas across?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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Do you know a kid who seems bossy? Have you ever been called bossy? - What do you think the difference is between being bossy and being a leader?- Why do you think it’s a good idea to respond to being called bossy by asking a question, such as “What would you like to do?” How might that question make the other person feel?- Why do kids sometimes have trouble compromising?- Have you ever given in and done what a friend wanted, even though you thought your idea was better? Why might that sometimes be a good thing to do? Why is it not a good idea to do that all the time?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 17 – Sophie, Age 10: Balancing a best friend and another friend | Appreciating different flavors of friendsSophie is deciding whether to sit on the bus with her close friend or a new friend. Scroll down for discussion questions, a transcript, and how to submit your child's question.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever felt torn between two friends? How did you handle it? What would you do in Sophie’s situation?- Why is it a good idea to have more than one friend?- How does Dr. Friendtastic suggest that you can “soften a no”? Why might you want to do that? (Hink: How might the other person feel?)- Have you ever worried about losing a friend if you spent time apart? What does it mean to “Trust that your friendship is strong enough to handle a bit of time apart”? Why is this important for a friendship?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 16 – Sam, Age 13: Joining a new group of friends | Understanding the difference between fitting in and belongingSam wants to know how he can tell if he’s become friends with a new group.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- What are some ways that friendship groups can be more complicated than individual friendships?- Have you ever tried to change friendship groups? Why did you want to make the change? How did it go?- Why does Dr. Friendtastic recommend belonging to more than one friendship group?- Why do you think kids sometimes try to hide or change something about themselves to fit in? How is that different from belonging?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 15 – Evie, Age 9: What is a close friend? | Valuing close friends and other friendsEvie wonders how to tell if she has a close friend.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why do you think it’s important to enjoy casual friends as well as close friends?- Can you think of someone who is not a close friend but still makes your life more enjoyable? Who is that, and how do they add to your life?- Can you think of someone who started out as a casual friend and became a close friend of yours over time? How did that happen? - How about the reverse? Have you ever known someone who used to be a close friend of yours, and then you grew apart? What happened?- What do you think Dr. Friendtastic meant when she said, “The best way to get closeness is to give it”?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 14 – Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to apologize wellRowan feels guilty about doing something mean to his friend. What can he do to repair the friendship?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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever felt guilty about something you did (or didn’t do) to a friend? How did you handle that? Were you able to make up with the friend?- Why do you think some kids have a hard time apologizing? How hard or easy is it for you to apologize?- Think about a time that someone apologized to you. Do you think they were genuinely sorry? How could you tell?- Dr. Friendtastic says that guilt can be a useful emotion, even though it’s uncomfortable. Do you agree? Why or why not?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 13 – Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with an Octopus FriendMara wonders how to handle a friend who wants to keep her all to herself.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever had an Octopus friend, someone who wanted to keep you all to themselves? How did you handle it?- Why do you think trying to hold on tightly to a friend because you’re scared of losing them makes it more likely that you’ll lose them?- Have you ever had a friendship where you liked the other person more than they liked you? How did you feel? What did you do?- Having more than one friend can be tricky. How do you decide which friend(s) to play with and when?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 12 – Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Knowing when to get adult helpAdrian wonders what to do when a kid picks on him every day at recess.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 a TRANSCRIPT and go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- What is the difference between bullying and ordinary meanness? Why does this matter? How would you respond to these situations differently?- If someone is not listening when you ask them to stop, why does it make sense to stop trying to make them change what they’re doing and instead focus on taking care of yourself?- How could standing near an adult or staying near friends make you less likely to get picked on?- What do you think is likely to happen if you try to get even with someone who was mean to you?- Why do you think some kids are mean to other kids?- Have you ever been bullied?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 11 – Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Speaking up for a friendViolet wonders how to stand up for her friend when other friends make racist comments.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why do you think it’s important to speak up if you hear someone say something mean about your friend? What would you do if you heard someone say something mean about a kid you don’t know well? What would you do if the mean comments were about a kid you know but don’t like?- What, if anything, have you learned at school about race and racism? What have you learned about those topics from adult family members?- Do you think it matters whether someone said a racist comment on purpose, trying to be hurtful, versus saying it without realizing the comment is hurtful? Why or why not?- How do you know when it’s important to talk to an adult about mean or racist comments versus handling the situation yourself?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 10, Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Speaking up for yourself in kind waysIsaac wonders what to do when another kid treats him and his toys in disrespectful ways. Does that mean the friendship is over?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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. How do you know when your friend’s mistake is something you need to forgive or work through and when it means the end of your friendship?- Think of a time when you needed to explain to a friend what you were thinking or feeling. What did you say? How did the friend react? - Why are “I” statements a powerful way to deal with friendship problems? What makes them more effective than a “You” statement? (Hint: How do you think a friend would respond if you talked about a problem by saying “I want…” versus “You always…”?)- Why do you think it’s sometimes hard for kids to tell friends about what they think, feel, or want? How could NOT telling friends about your thoughts and feelings hurt a friendship? - Can you think of a situation when NOT telling a friend what you think or feel might be the kind thing to do? For example, if you don’t like your friend’s haircut or outfit, do you need to tell your friend or is it better to keep that opinion to yourself? Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep 9 – Ava, age 9: Friendly actions in public versus private settings.Ava has two friends who want to play only with each other. What should she do?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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why do you think Ava’s friends wanted to play only with each other? Why does Dr. Friendtastic think it matters whether they are in a private or public setting?- Have you ever had someone tell you that you couldn’t play? What did you do?- What do you think of the rule: “You can’t say anyone can’t play”? Do you think it would help kids be kinder and include others? Why or why not?- Are there any situations where you think it’s okay not to include someone? What would you do if a kid was being mean or trying to wreck your game?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 8 – Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: On the edge of a friendship group?Blake’s question is about what to do when friends get together without him. This event could mean nothing at all, or it could be a sign of problems in his friendships.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever felt left out of your group of friends? What happened? How did you handle it?- What are some unhurtful reasons why kids might get together with some of their friends in a group but not all of them?- Excluding just one kid from a group get-together is likely to hurt that kid’s feelings. If you like that kid, what are some ways you could help that kid feel less hurt? If you don’t like that kid, what are some kinder ways to handle that?- Why do you think it’s not a good idea to yell at your friends if they get together without you?- What are some fun ideas of things you could invite a group of friends to do with you?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 7 – Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Choosing how to respond to a frustrating friend.Emma asks what to do when a friend is a poor sport and can’t handle being “it” in a game of tag.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why do you think kids sometimes have trouble handling winning and losing? What have you found useful to comfort yourself when you lose a game?- Have you ever had the experience of being the “worst” player in a game? How did you feel? What did you do?- Do you have a friend who has a habit you find annoying? How have you handled that?- Has anyone ever told you that something you do is annoying or frustrating? What happened? How did you respond?- Why do you think a one-on-one conversation about a problem is likely to go better than a whole group confronting someone about what they’re doing wrong?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 6 – Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Empathy blind spots.Jayden wonders why kids bully other kids.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever been bullied or seen someone get bullied? Has anyone ever accused you of bullying them? What happened?- There are lots of different kinds of bullying: physical (such as hitting or kicking), verbal (such as yelling at someone or calling them mean names), relational (such as excluding someone or spreading rumors about them), and cyberbullying (putting mean comments or photos online). Which do you things is worst and why?- Why do you think kids often don’t speak up when they see bullying? Why do they sometimes not want to tell an adult about bullying?- Sometimes friends get mad at each other and say or do mean things. Do you think that’s bullying? How can you tell the difference between an argument and bullying?- Does your school do anything to try to stop bullying? Do you think those efforts are helpful? Why or why not?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 5, Kids Ask Dr Friendtastic: Watch out for shoulds.Edith wants to know how to handle things when a friend doesn’t do what she wants.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- What is the “danger of shoulds”? How can “shoulds” hurt a friendship?- Can you think of a time when a friend did something you didn’t like, but you were able to accept it and move on? Why is that a useful thing to be able to do?- Have you ever had a friend get mad at you because you did something they didn’t like? How did you and your friend handle it?- Sometimes it’s important just to accept it when a friend doesn’t do what we want, and sometimes it’s important to talk to the friend about what happened and explain what you want from now on and why it matters to you. How can you tell when to accept and when to speak up?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 4 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with a friendship threesome.It is hard to make everyone happy in a friendship group of three, so Thomas wonders what he can do.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why do you think it might be easier to have a group of four friends rather than three friends?- Have you ever felt left out of a small group? How did you handle it?- If you thought two of your friends were excluding you, you’d probably feel hurt and angry. You might be tempted to yell at your friends and call them mean. Why is that not a smart or kind thing to do? How would your friends be likely to respond if you did that?- Which do you like best: getting together with just one friend or a group of friends? Why?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 3 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Be curious about what others think or want.Noelle wonders what she should do when another kid keeps interrupting her game.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why is it usually important to try to get along with people, even if you don’t like them?- Some kids think it’s funny if other kids get mad and yell at them. What do you think is the best way to deal with these kids?- Trying to annoy kids is not a good way to join a game. What’s a friendlier way to join in?- How do you decide when to go to a teacher or other adult about a problem with another kid and when to try to handle it yourself?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 2 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What does it mean to be a good friend?Brayden wants to be a best friend to his little brother and wonders how he can make that happen.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why do you think it’s sometimes hard for brothers and sisters to get along?- Do you think it’s easier to be an oldest, middle, or youngest sibling? (“Sibling” means brother or sister.) Why?- If you have a brother or sister, what fun things do you like to do together?- Do you have a close friendship with someone who isn’t a sibling but feels like a brother or sister (maybe a cousin or friend)? What makes that relationship so close?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 1 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Different points of view.Naomi wonders how something small could end a friendship.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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Why do you think kids sometimes say, "I don't want to be your friend anymore!"?- What can you do if a friend is mad at you?- How do you handle it when you feel mad at a friend?- Why is it sometimes hard for kids to apologize (say they're sorry)? Have you ever apologized to a friend?- Have you ever made up with a friend after an argument? How did you do that? What are some good ways to make up with a friend?Books mentioned in the podcast:Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.comSubscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe