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

Jaksot

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  He doesn’t want to be friends with someone (Julian, Age 8) | 161 12.09.2026 7min

  Ep. 161 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Is there a kind way to reject someone? | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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:- How do you decide whether to share your opinion or keep it to yourself? - Have you ever been in a situation where someone wanted to be friends with you, but you weren’t interested in being friends with them? How did you handle it?- Have you ever had someone reject your efforts to be friends with them or just not like you as much as you like them? How did they let you know? How do you wish they’d let you know? How did you respond? - Dr. Friendtastic said, “Everyone has a right to be treated with kindness and respect.” What does that mean you should do with people who are not your friends? *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 141 - Can we be friends with anyone? (Michael, Age 9) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep141-can-we-be-friends-with-anyone-michael-age9 Ep. 129 - Kindest way to break up with a friend (Audrey, Age 9) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep129-kindest-way-to-break-up-with-a-friend-audrey-age-9 Ep. 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
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  How to say no to a friend without feeling bad (Blaire, Age 12) 05.09.2026 5min

  Re-release of Ep. 55 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Saying no can save a friendship | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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:- Think of a time you had to say no to a friend. What happened? How hard or easy was it for you to say no? How did your friend react? - Why is it important to say no to friends sometimes? How can saying no help a friendship? How can NOT saying no sometimes hurt a friendship? - Why do you think kids are sometimes nervous or uncomfortable about saying no to a friend? - What could you say if a friend is disappointed or annoyed when you say no? - When is it okay to say yes to a friend, even if it’s not exactly what you want? *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 154 - Friends say she’s bossy, but they’re bossy (Lola, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/friends-say-shes-bossy-but-theyreEp. 109 - What does it mean to be yourself? (Charlotte, Age 11)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep109-what-does-it-mean-to-be-true-to-self-charlotte-age11Ep. 79 - Sending and receiving Stop Signals (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
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  Friends punish her?! (River, Age 9)| 160 29.08.2026 6min

  Ep. 160- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Recognizing stop signs | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 message does it send a friend if you ignore that friend’s stop sign? - Why do kids sometimes have trouble responding to stop signs from their friends? - Have you ever asked someone to stop and they didn’t listen? How did you feel? Why do you think they didn’t stop? How did you handle the situation? - Why is it not okay for friends to punish each other? How is punishment different from a logical consequence? (Hint: A logical consequence is the natural result of an action. For instance, if you are mean to a friend, the logical consequence is that the friend won’t want to be around you. If you blab a friend’s secret, the logical consequence is that friend won’t trust you with another secret. ) *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 43 - Friend cut her hair! (Beatrix, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/beatrix-age-8-friend-cuts-her-hair Ep. 41 - Friends won't listen to stop or no (Tessa, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/tessa-age-9-boundariesEp. 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
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  Losing her best friend! (Ellie, Age 10) | 159 22.08.2026 6min

  Ep. 159- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What to do when a friendship is fading | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 kids’ friendships sometimes fall apart? - What would you do if you noticed a friend was suddenly acting more distant? - Why do friends sometimes refuse to tell you what’s wrong when there’s a problem between you? (Hint: What might they be afraid of?) - If a friend told you they were mad at you because of something you did, what could you do to make things better between you? What should you avoid doing in that situation? - What do you think it means to show up as your best self? Why is that important? *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 151 - Why is it so hard to say, “I’m sorry”? (Minta, Age 10)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep151-why-is-it-so-hard-to-say-im-sorry-minta-age-almost-10Ep. 77 - Friend is nicer to someone else (Maya, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep77-maya-age-8-friend-is-nicer-to-someone-elseEp. 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
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  A false story about him! (Erik, Age 7) | 158 15.08.2026 7min

  Ep. 158- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Truth, falsehood, and different perspectives | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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:- Students and teachers can have important and deeply caring relationships, but they can’t be friends. Why not? - What is the lesson of the story about three blind men describing an elephant? - How might understanding that different people can have different views about the same situation or event help you deal with a friendship rough spot? - Why do players in a sport agree to go along with what the umpire decides, even if they don’t agree? - Dr. Friendtastic said, “We can’t always win a game, but we can always win the fun.” How do you win the fun while playing with friends? *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 75: Upset when he loses a game (Alex, Age 10)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep75-alex-age-a10-upset-when-he-loses-a-game Ep. 140 - Friend lies and boasts (Martha, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep140-friend-lies-and-boasts-martha-age-9 Ep. 20 - Lying friend (Anna, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-20-anna Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Will she lose her friends in a different classroom? (Lily, Age 11) | 157 08.08.2026 5min

  Ep. 157- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Staying connected when you're not together | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 a friend in a different classroom? What did you do to try to stay connected? Why is it sometimes hard for friends in different classrooms to stay close? - What are some things you do or would like to do with friends outside of school? - Why is it important to ask friends about what’s happening in their lives when you’re not around and tell them about what’s happening in your life when they’re not around? What’s the difference between being nosy and being an interested friend? - What do you think Dr. Friendtastic means when she suggests that Lily try to open-hearted? (Hint: She mentions Lily making other friends, and Lily’s friend making other friends.) *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 110 - Being apart from a friend (Matilda, Age 5)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep110-being-apart-from-a-friend-matilda-age5 Ep 120 - Best friend is playing with someone else (Metis, Age 6)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep120-best-friend-playing-with-someone-else-metis-6-dutchEp. 136. How long should you keep a friend (Matthew, Age 7)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/how-long-should-you-keep-a-friend Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Friend’s new friend doesn’t like him (Ian, Age 11) | 156 01.08.2026 7min

  Ep. 156- Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Having another friend isn't a betrayal | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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:- If you’re having a conflict with someone, do you think your friend has to be on your side, against the other kid? Why or why not? Why might your friend not want to take sides? - Have you ever been in a situation where another kid didn’t like you? Why didn’t they like you? How did you feel about them? How did things end up between you? - Dr. Friendtastic lists a bunch of things that could make the situation worse: Criticizing the friend’s other friend, acting grumpy around the friend, or insisting that the friend has to choose sides. Why are these NOT good options? (Hint: How is the friend likely to react?) - Why does Dr. Friendtastic encourage Ian to try to imagine the other kids’ feelings? (Hint: How might that be helpful for Ian?) Why does she focus on what Ian could do, rather than what the friend should do? *** 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. 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-other Ep. 77 - Friend is nicer to someone else (Maya, Age 8) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep77-maya-age-8-friend-is-nicer-to-someone-else  Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Friend is jealous and possessive (Miranda, Age 8) | 155 25.07.2026 6min

  Ep. 155 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Finding a balance between caring and freedom | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 is your favorite possession and why? Would you feel comfortable letting another kid use or borrow it? Why or why not? - What does Dr. Friendtastic mean when she says we can’t own friends? - Would you continue to be friends with someone who hit you? Why or why not? - Why do you think the friend felt upset when Miranda played with someone else? What could the friend have done to handle the situation better? - Have you ever worried that you might lose a friend to someone else? How did you handle that? *** 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. 121 - Close friend and new friend leave her out (Sara, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep121-close-friend-and-new-friend-leave-her-out-sara-age8Ep. 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
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  Friends say she’s bossy, but they’re bossy (Lola, Age 8) | 154 18.07.2026 7min

  Ep. 154 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Listen to be heard | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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’s the difference between being bossy and being a leader?What are some not-so-good ways that kids might try to get another kid to do what they want? What could they do instead?Why is an “I” statement easier for people to hear than a “You” accusation?What does it mean to look for agreement rather than control with friends? *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 149 Friends aren’t listening to her! (Bella, Age 10) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep149-friends-arent-listening-to-her-bella-age-10 Ep. 126 - How to have a conversation - for kids https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/replay-ep126-how-to-have-a-conversation-for-kids 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
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  Not invited to the sleepover! (Jim, Age 12) | Ep. 153 11.07.2026 8min

  Ep. 153 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Don't give up a good friendship because it's not perfect | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 is the difference between not invited versus excluded? Why does that difference matter? (Hint: Think about the intention of the host.) - What are some non-mean reasons why you might do something with one friend but not another? - Why is it not a good idea to yell at someone for not inviting you? - All-or-nothing thinking means believing something has to be perfect or it’s worthless. Why is this not a useful way to think about friendship? - Dr. Friendtastic said, “What your friends do when you’re not around is not your concern.” What does that mean? Do you agree? Why or why not?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 4 - One friend feels left out (Thomas, Age 13) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-71f Ep. 51 - Mean comment said behind her back (Saoirse, Age 8) https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/saoirse-age-8-mean-comment-said-behind Ep. 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
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  How to be a good friend | re-release Ep. 42 04.07.2026 6min

  Re-release Ep. 42 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: 4 Areas of Friendship | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 ways that you are a good friend? (Hint: what do you do to show your friends you like and care about them?)- Why is it sometimes hard to be a good friend?- Thinking about the different friendship areas Dr. Friendtastic highlighted, fun, support, closeness, and handling conflicts, which do you think is the hardest to do well? Why?- What could you do to try to become an even better friend? (Think about all the areas and questions mentioned in the podcast episode.)*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 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 136 - How long should you keep a friend (Matthew, Age 7)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/how-long-should-you-keep-a-friendEp. 124 - How to Join Kids Playing (Amelia, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep124-how-to-join-kids-playing-amelia-age9 Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  How to reconnect with old friends (Georgia, Age 10) | 152 27.06.2026 7min

  Ep. 152 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Why reaching out to former friends is scary and also kind | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 friends might fall out of touch (even if they still live nearby)?- Do you have any old friends you’ve lost touch with? Would you want to reconnect with them? Why or why not? How could you reach out to them? How do you think they’d respond?- How would you respond if an old friend you hadn’t heard from in a while reached out to you?- To expand your friendship circle, you could make new friends or reach out to old friends you haven’t connected with in a while. Which do you think is easier? Why?- Why do you think kids are sometimes reluctant to reach out to old friends? What could you say to a friend to encourage them to reach out to their former friends?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 82 - Expand friend group without hurting best friend (Paa, Age 12)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep82-paa-age-12-expand-friend-group-without-hurting-best-friendEp. 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. 67 - Choosing good friends (Paul, Age 12)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/paul-age-12-choosing-friends-who Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Why is it so hard to say “I’m sorry”? (Minta, Age almost 10) | 151 20.06.2026 5min

  Ep. 151 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: An apology is an expression of caring | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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:- Is it hard or easy for you to apologize? Why? Why do you think kids sometimes struggle to apologize?- Think of a time when you apologized to someone. How did you feel? How did that person respond?- Think of a time when you wanted someone to apologize to you. What happened? Did they apologize? How did you feel?- Why does Dr. Friendtastic suggest, “The person who is least wrong should apologize first”?- Sometimes people say, “An apology isn’t good enough!” What do you think they might be looking for beyond the words “I’m sorry”?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 111 - Friend won’t forgive her (Thea, Age 11)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep111-friend-wont-forgive-her-thea-age11Ep. 91 - Arguments with a friend (Kenna & Scarlett, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep91-kenna-and-scarlett-age-8-arguments-with-a-friendEp. 14 - Feeling guilty, wanting to make up with a friend (Rowan, Age 12)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-14-rowan Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Celebrating 150 episodes!!! 13.06.2026 7min

  Ep. 150 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Puzzlers about conflict | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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 do you think would happen if you put 150 penguins on two school buses?- Why is it a good idea to try to be friendly with your friend’s other friends?- What does it mean to “assume good intent”? How can this help a friendship?- Why is it important to help your friends understand what you think, feel, or need?- Which is easier for you to move past, when you make a mistake with a friend or when a friend makes a mistake with you? Why? Why is it important to be able to move past both types of mistakes? (Hint: How could it hurt a friendship if you hold onto either resentment or guilt?)*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 33 - Richard, Age 11: Best ways to show empathy https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-33-richard Ep. 86 - Sally, Age 14: How to know if you can trust a friend? https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep86-sally-age-14-how-to-know-if-you-can-trust-a-friend Ep. 100 - Celebrating Episode 100!!! https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep100-celebrating Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Friends aren’t listening to her! (Bella, Age 10) | Ep. 149 06.06.2026 7min

  Ep. 149 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to make yourself heard | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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
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  Understanding a friend’s feelings (Anna, Age 7) | Ep. 148 30.05.2026 7min

  Ep. 148 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: 7 clues to figure out how a friend feels | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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
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  Avoiding conflict with friends (Zen, Age 6) | re-release Ep. 57 23.05.2026 6min

  Re-release Ep. 57 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: The upside of disagreements | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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
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  Teased because of his looks! (Milo, Age 9) | 147 16.05.2026 8min

  Ep. 147 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendly versus unfriendly teasing | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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-7Ep. 29 - Dealing with teasing (Abby, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-29-abbyEp. 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
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  She took something that didn’t belong to her (River, Age 9) | 146 09.05.2026 6min

  Ep. 146 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Moving past guilt | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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-loyalEp. 111 - Friend won’t forgive her (Thea, Age 11)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep111-friend-wont-forgive-her-thea-age11Ep. 1 – Naomi, Age 7: Friendship ends over small thinghttps://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-1 Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  He doesn’t like one kid in the group (Joe, Age 9) | 145 02.05.2026 6min

  Ep. 145 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: He doesn’t like one kid in the group (Joe, Age 9) | Friendship advice for kidsFREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friendshttps://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-age11Ep. 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