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

Ep. 167 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with an inconsistent friend | 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:
- If a friend is sometimes kind and sometimes mean, would you give more importance to their kind actions or their mean ones? Why?
- Sometimes kids act mean because they don’t like someone, but that’s not the only possible reason. What are some other reasons why they might do something mean?
- Why does Dr. Friendtastic recommend talking to a friend privately (when it’s just the two of you) when you have a friendship rough spot? (Hint: How could having other people around make it harder to solve things?)
- Why is being mean not a good way to deal with a friendship rough spot?

*** 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-not
Ep. 59 - Get rid of toxic friends? (Jessie, Age 13)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep59-jessie-age-13
Ep. 160 - Friends punish her?! (River, Age 9)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep160-friends-punish-her-river-age9



Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 166 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: True and false humility | 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 kids might say negative things about themselves?
- How could it hurt a friendship if someone keeps putting themselves down?
- What does “fishing for compliments” mean? Why is it NOT a good idea?
- If you were feeling uncertain or unconfident about yourself and wanted some reassurance from a friend, what could you say to ask for that reassurance?
- If a friend criticizes themselves, how could you figure out if it’s just temporary upset, a bad habit, or a serious problem? How would you respond to each of these?

*** 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. 50 - A common belief that blocks friendship
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep50-magnet-myth
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-when



Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Re-release of Ep. 108 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Strategies for facing fears | 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 learn.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 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 prefer and why?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:
Ep. 95 - Handling embarrassing moments (Sara, Age 7)
Ep. 112 - How to Show Openness to Friendship
Ep. 72 - Making friends in a new school (Nora, Age 8)


Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Re-release of Ep. 125 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Adding to the fun | 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 learn.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 to pick teams that are fair and kind to everyone?
– Why is it sometimes hard for kids to be a good sport?
– How do you decide who to play with at recess? (Hint: What might make you choose to try to join one group of kids but not another?)
– Have you ever "started the fun" at recess? If so, what did you do? If not, what fun game or activity could you try to start with other kids?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:
Ep. 124 - How to Join Kids Playing (Amelia, Age 8)
Ep. 98 - How to join a group when not everyone wants you in (Jessica, Age 9)
Ep. 7 – Emma, Age 11: Friend is a poor sport



Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 165 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Smoothing over friction in 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 does friction mean? Why is it always part of friendship?
- What do you expect from a close friend (versus a stranger)? What could you do if a friend doesn’t meet those expectations?
- When (not if) a friend does something you don’t like, why is it NOT helpful to assume that means they are a mean and terrible friend?
- Why is it not a good idea to insist that a friend always has to play only with you? (Hint: How might that make the friend feel?)
= How could caring about a friend help smooth out friction between the two of you?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:
Ep. 143 - Friend won’d play the game he likes (Akiva, Age 5)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep143-friends-wont-play-the-game-he-likes-akiva-age-5
Ep. 127 - Friend wants space (Sloane, Age 6)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep127-friend-wants-space-sloane-age-6
Ep. 5 - Friend doesn’t do what I want (Edith, Age 8)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-af3



Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe