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

Ep. 153 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Don't give up a good friendship because it's not perfect | Friendship advice for kids
FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends
https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/
Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.
Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)
For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/
Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.
Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.
*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What 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

Re-release Ep. 42 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: 4 Areas of Friendship | Friendship advice for kids
FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends
https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/
Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.
Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)
For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/
Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.
Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.
*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What are some 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-down
Ep 136 - How long should you keep a friend (Matthew, Age 7)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/how-long-should-you-keep-a-friend
Ep. 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

Ep. 152 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Why reaching out to former friends is scary and also kind | Friendship advice for kids
FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends
https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/
Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.
Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)
For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/
Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.
Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.
*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What are some reasons why 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-friend
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-not
Ep. 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

Ep. 151 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: An apology is an expression of caring | Friendship advice for kids
FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends
https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/
Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.
Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)
For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/
Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.
Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.
*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- 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-age11
Ep. 91 - Arguments with a friend (Kenna & Scarlett, Age 8)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep91-kenna-and-scarlett-age-8-arguments-with-a-friend
Ep. 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

Ep. 150 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Puzzlers about conflict | Friendship advice for kids
FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends
https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/
Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.
Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)
For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/
Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.
Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.
*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What 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