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

Ep. 109:Two kinds of fitting in | Friendship advice for kidsFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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 is different between the current you vs you three or four years ago? What is still the same?- What do you think it means to “be yourself”?- In what situations have you felt less like yourself? Why?- Why is just walking up to someone and telling them everything about you not a good strategy for making friends or fitting in? (Hint: How is that likely to feel if you did that?)- When have you experienced the cozy kind of fitting in??*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 44 - Change self to make friends? (Vera, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/vera-age-8-change-self-to-make-friendsEp. 95 - Knowing when and how to stop (Owen, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep70-owen-age-8-stop-signalsEp. 12 - Get rid of toxic friends? (Jessie, Age 13)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep59-jessie-age-13 Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 108: Strategies for facing fears | Friendship advice for kidsFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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 were you afraid of when you were younger but aren’t afraid of now? How did you become unafraid of that?Think of a time when you felt anxious in a social situation. What thoughts were going through your mind (i.e., what were you afraid might happen)? How did you handle the situation?Dr. Friendtastic said, “Feeling anxious can lead them to avoid social situations, but that guarantees they’re not going to build the friendships they want.” How could you explain that in your own words?There are two main ways to cope with anxiety: Jump right in or go in toe-by-toe. Which do you generally pregfer and 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-friendsEp. 95 - Handling embarrassing moments (Sara, Age 7)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep95-handling-embarrassing-moments-sara-age-7Ep. 12 - Kid bullies him at recess (Adrian, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-12-adrian Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Re-release of Ep. 47 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic | Friendship advice for kidsFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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 having good friends makes it easier for kids to cope with stress? How has a friend been kind or helpful to you when you’ve had to deal with difficult situations?- How can too much conflict hurt a friendship?- Why do you think kids sometimes stick with a low-quality friendship (where there’s a lot of conflict and not much fun or closeness)?- What are some examples of things you’ve done to support or care for a friend?- Think of a time you had a friendship rough spot. How did you handle it?- Dr. Friendtastic says that learning to be a good friend “is a step toward peace and justice in the world.” Do you agree? Why or why not?*** 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-friendsEp. 92 - What to say when a friend is feeling down (Mason, Age 13)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep92-mason-age-13-what-to-say-when-a-friend-feels-downEp. 44 - Change self to make friends? (Vera, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/vera-age-8-change-self-to-make-friends Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 107: Strategies for making wise choices FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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:- Think of a time when you were able to do what was right even though you were tempted to do something else. How did you do that? What helped you have self-control? - Why do you think it’s sometimes hard to have self-control? - Dr. Friendtastic mentioned three strategies for self-control: 1) change the situation, 2) replace the behavior (do something else), and 3) use self-talk. Which do you think is the easiest strategy to use? Which have you found to be the most helpful? - Think of an area in your life where you’d like to have more self-control. (Hint: It could be related to a bad habit you have or something you’ve done in the past that has caused problems in your relationships.) If you were going to use self-talk to give yourself a pep talk about doing the right thing in this area from now on, what would you say to yourself *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 53 - How to stay calm when someone is bragging (Lillian, Age 11)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/lillian-age-11-how-to-stay-calm-whenEp. 52 - Friend's parents don't like him (Tyler, Age 12)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/tyler-age-12-friends-parents-dontEp. 70 - Knowing when and how to stop (Owen, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep70-owen-age-8-stop-signals Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 106: Different Kinds of FriendsFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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:- Think of two situations involving other people where you act differently (e.g., at home vs. at school, with close friends vs. casual friends, at a party with friends vs. at a party with your grandparents). How and why do you act differently in these two situations?- Not every friend will be a close friend. What are some good reasons to have casual friends?- Have you ever felt uncomfortable around people you didn’t know well? What did you do? What could someone have done in that situation to help you feel more comfortable? Have you ever done that for someone else?- Dr. Friendtastic often talks about many possible reasons why someone might have done something, other than trying to be mean. Why is this a good thing to do when you have a problem with a friend? (HINT: How might it affect how you respond?)*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 71 - Is she a friend or not? (Tali, Age 11) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep71-tali-age-11-is-she-a-friend-or-notEp. 60 - Friends invited but not him (Henry, Age 8) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-drfriendtastic-ep60-henry-age-8Ep. 26 - Friendship doesn't have to be all or nothing (Abigail, Age 10) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-26-abigail Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 105 How to speak up for yourselfFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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 a good idea to think about your role in the problem when you’re mad at someone?How do you decide whether to try to solve a problem on your own or get a grown-up involved?What does assertiveness mean? Why does it matter in a friendship?When you’re mad at a friend, why is it important to ask for what you want them to do from now on?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 96 - Dealing with a bossy friend (Grace, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/dealing-with-a-bossy-friend-graceEp. 93 - Not invited to the party! (Alice, Age 6)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep93-alice-age-6-not-invited-to-a-partyEp. 89 - Getting in trouble (Noah, Age 7)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep89-noah-age-7-getting-in-trouble Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 104 Pretend fighting vs. real fightingFREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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:- Play fighting or rough-and-tumble play can come in many forms: wrestling, tag, pretend sword fights, snowball fights… How do you feel about those? Why do some kids like play fighting?- What are some differences between play fighting and real fighting?- What are some good reasons to talk about a problem with a friend when it’s actually happening? What are some good reasons for discussing a problem at a neutral time, when it’s not happening? - How and why should your goal shift if you’ve asked a kid to stop doing something, but they don’t stop? (HINT: What should you focus on, instead?)*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 99 - Best friend makes a big mistake! (Rosetta, Age 5)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep99-best-friend-makes-a-big-mistake-rosetta-age5Ep. 74 - Friend hits her! (Aubrey, Age 6)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep74-aubrey-age-6-friend-hits-herEp. 70 - Knowing when and how to stop (Owen, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep70-owen-age-8-stop-signals Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 103 - Dealing with Nosy Friends FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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:- Would you ever want to try phone booth stuffing? Why or why not? - Why is it a good idea to discuss a problem with a friend privately (with just the two of you)? (Hint: how might “audience participation” make the situation worse?)- Why do you think kids sometimes talk to a friend about a conflict they’re having with someone else? What are some ways that might be helpful? How could this make the problem worse?- Who do you confide in when you feel overwhelmed by a conflict or other problem?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 83 - One friend feels left out (Eloise, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/eloise-age-8-fights-with-close-friendsEp. 78 - How to confront a friendhttps://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep78-how-to-confront-a-friendEp. 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 Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Re-release of Ep. 13 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friend doesn't want her to have other friends (Mara, Age 9)FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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 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?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 84 - Torn between two friends who don’t like each other (Jennifer, Age 10)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep84-jennifer-age-10-torn-between-two-friends-who-dont-like-each-otherEp. 4 - One friend feels left out (Thomas, Age 13)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-71fEp. 17 - Balancing a best friend and another friend (Sophie, Age 10)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-16-sophie Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 102 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Why both negative and positive feelings help us build strong friendshipsAida wants to know how to express her feelings with friends. Learn tips for what is most likely to get a good response...or not!FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098fWould 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 and webinars 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 expressing both positive and negative feelings important for building a strong friendship?- What are some unhelpful ways to express negative feelings? What should you do instead?- Use the “I feel…when you… because… Please…” formula to create an example of how you might express negative feelings to a friend. Why is this a useful formula? (Hint: What information does it give your friend?)- What are some reasons why kids sometimes have trouble expressing positive feelings to a friend? Why do they sometimes have trouble expressing negative feelings to a friend? (Hint: What are they be afraid might happen?)*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 67 - Choosing good friends (Paul, Age 12)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/paul-age-12-choosing-friends-whoEp. 45 - Gets angry at classmates (Reid, Age 5)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/reid-age-5-gets-angry-at-classmatesEp. 86 - How to know if you can trust a friend (Sally, Age 14) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep86-sally-age-14-how-to-know-if-you-can-trust-a-friend Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe