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

Epizode

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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
• 
  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
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  How to join a group (Addison, Age 9 1/2) | 144 25.04.2026 6min

  Ep. 144 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: You don't have to stay on the outside looking in | 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 it’s sometimes hard to join a group of kids?- Why is it important to match the emotional tone of a conversation if you want to join a group?- What do you look for when you decide whether to try to join a group?- Do you think you are open to having kids join you if you are hanging out with friends at school or at an activity? What could you do to make another kid feel welcome?- Do you always have to include people who want to join your group? Why or why not?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 112 - How to Show Openness to Friendshiphttps://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep112-how-to-show-openness-to-friendshipEp. 85 - Fitting in versus being true to yourself (Nev, Age 11)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep85-nev-age-11-fitting-in-versus-being-true-to-yourselfEp. 98 - How to join a group when not everyone wants you in (Jessica, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep98-jessica-age9-how-to-join-a-group-when-not-everyone-wants-you-in Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Friends won't play the game he likes (Akiva, Age 5 3/4) | 143 18.04.2026 7min

  Ep. 143 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being flexible with friends | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.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 at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:- When a person is flexible, it means they can adjust to new, unexpected, or unwanted situations. What is an example of someone being flexible with friends? What is an example of someone being rigid with friends? - How do these two styles (flexible or rigid) affect friendships? - Does being flexible mean you never get to do what you want? Why or why not? - Why is it hard to be flexible when we’re upset? *** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 5 - Friend doesn’t do what I want (Edith, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-af3 Ep. 18 - Building great leadership skills (Kai, Age 9)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-18-kai Ep. 28 - Dealing with spill-over anger (Avni, Age 11)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-28-avni Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  Best friend replaces her! (Alice, Age 6) | 142 11.04.2026 5min

  Ep. 142 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being friendly vs. being friends | Friendship advice for kidsParents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.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 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 could be any age, what age would you choose to be and why?- Have you ever moved or had a friend move away from you? What happened?- Do you think it’s fair that Alice’s best friend found a new best friend after Alice moved away? Why or why not?- What would you do if you found out that you and your family had to move far away from where you live now? How would you try to stay in touch with old friends? How would you make new friends?- How is life (and friendship) like a leaf, floating downstream?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 72 - Making friends in a new school (Nora, Age 8)https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep72-nora-age-8-making-friends-new-schlEp. 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. 62: All About Forgivenesshttps://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep62-all-about-forgiveness Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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  How to Have a Conversation - for Kids 04.04.2026 6min

  REPLAY of Ep. 126 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Talking and Listening with Friends | Friendship advice for kidsNo one is born knowing how to have a good conversation! In this episode, I share five practical tips to help kids chat more comfortably with others.🎁 My gift to you — 3 free mini-guides for parents: https://eileenkennedymoore.com/free-mini-guides/Online workshops for kids: workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.🎙️ Would YOUR KID like to be on the podcast? Submit a question at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Not psychotherapy or for emergencies.)Easy-to-read transcript: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/Like the podcast? Check out my books: https://EileenKennedyMoore.comNever miss an episode! https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:- Why do you think kids sometimes feel nervous about talking with other people? (Hint: What might they be afraid of?)- Who do you enjoy chatting with? Why? (Hint: What do they do that makes your conversation enjoyable?)- How could you answer the question “How are you?” using the “Great!”-plus-one-fact formula? (Reminder: The “one fact” should create a picture in the listener's mind.) Why might this be a useful formula for conversations?- Dr. Friendtastic says, “focus on being interested more than interesting.” What does that mean? Why might it be a helpful approach to conversations?*** You might also like these podcast episodes:Ep. 72 - Making friends in a new school (Nora, Age 8)  https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep72-nora-age-8-making-friends-new-schl Ep. 70 - Knowing when and how to stop (Owen, Age 8)  https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep70-owen-age-8-stop-signals 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-down Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe