Ep. 71 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with a Hot-and-Cold Friend

Tali is trying to figure out whether a friend who runs hot-and-cold–sometimes kind, sometimes unkind–is really her friend.

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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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- How does a close friendship differ from a casual friendship?

- Why do you think kids sometimes stick with a not-so-kind friend?

- What does it mean to you to be a “Steady-Warm Friend”?

- Everybody makes mistakes. How would you decide if a friendship is worth continuing after a friend does something you don’t like?

- What are some ways you could use good communication to handle a friendship rough spot or conflict?  

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 1 - Naomi, age 7: Friendship ends over small thing https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-1

Ep. 67 - Paul, age 12: Choosing good friends https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/paul-age-12-choosing-friends-who

Ep. 15 - Evie, age 9: What is a close friend https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-15-evie

Ep. 70 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Sending and receiving Stop Signals

Owen asks about Stop Signals, which are all the verbal and nonverbal ways people tell someone to stop. Sending and receiving Stop Signals effectively can protect a friendship!

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Why are Stop Signals important for protecting friendships? (Hint: What could happen if you want a friend to stop doing something, but you don’t say anything? What could happen if your friend gives you a Stop Signal and you ignore it?) 

- Describe a time when a friend asked you to stop doing something. How did you feel about being asked to stop? How did you respond? 

- Describe a time when you wanted a friend to stop doing something. How did you handle it? How did your friend respond?

- Why do you think kids sometimes ignore Stop Signals?

- What are some things you could do if you ask someone to stop but they don’t listen? 

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 41 - Tessa, Age 9: Friends won't listen to stop or no https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/tessa-age-9-boundaries

Ep. 18 – Kai, Age 9: Friends call him bossy https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-18-kai

Ep. 43 - Beatrix, Age 8: Friend cut her hair! https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/beatrix-age-8-friend-cuts-her-hair

Ep. 61 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with being excluded.

Brothers and sisters can be a lot of fun, but sometimes they’re hard to live with. Lucy wants to know how to fight less with your brother.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Why do you think it’s sometimes harder for kids to get along with a sibling than a friend?

- When a kid does something that annoys us, it’s tempting to do the same thing–or something worse–right back to them. Why is this usually not a good idea? (HINT: Why do both kids lose in a “contest” of who can be meanest?)

- Dr. Friendtastic said “If you’ve asked a sibling [or other kid] to stop two times, and they haven’t listened, they’re probably not going to listen,” so your goal should shift “to taking care of yourself.” How could you do that?

- Do you think it’s easiest to be an only child, an oldest sibling, a youngest sibling, or a middle sibling? Why?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 30 - Michael, Age 10: Why do some kids push others around?

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-30-michael

Ep. 31 - Mila, Age 10: When someone tries to be annoying

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-31-mila

Ep. 40 - Vihan, Age 6: Friendly brother also acts wild

https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/vihaan-age-6-friendly-brother-acts-wild

Ep. 60 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with being excluded.

What should Henry do when a kid invites his friends to play but not him?

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Why do you think kids sometimes exclude other kids?

- Have you ever felt excluded? What happened? How did you respond?

- Why is it not a good idea to beg or bribe another kid to include you?

- What do you think of the rule “You can’t say someone can’t play”? Are there any situations where it’s OK to exclude someone? What could you do if someone was wrecking the game, being too rough, or refusing to follow the rules? How could you handle it if lots of kids wanted to play a game that’s only for a few people?

- Being “the boss” can be fun and exciting. What could someone do to be a “good boss” or a true leader? (Hint: What could a leader do or not do to make the people who are getting directions feel good?)

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 4 - Thomas, Age 13: One friend feels left out

Ep. 8 - Blake, Age 11: Excluded by friends

Ep. 39 - Maya, Age 8: Replaced by a friend’s new friend

Ep. 59 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dumping a friend or working things out by changing the dance.

Jessie wants to get out of some painful relationships.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Have you ever wanted to end a friendship? What happened?

- In your own words, how would you explain this comment from Dr. Friendtastic? “I don’t believe people can be poison [toxic]. What I do believe is that sometimes people get into patterns of interacting that are hurtful for one or both of them.”

- How is a friendship like an old-fashioned dance, where people hold onto each other? What are some ways you could change a friendship dance if you didn’t like what was happening?

- Why is it not a good idea to suddenly stop talking to a friend, with no explanation?

Ep. 58 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Safety first

Keara wonders what to do to keep a friend safe.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Have you ever been in a situation where you thought a friend was in danger? What happened? How did you handle it?

- What are some reasons why kids sometimes do things that are unsafe?

- Safety is important, but sometimes kids can be too careful, meaning they don’t want to do things if there’s even a tiny possibility of danger or discomfort. What do you think would be an example of being too careful? How could being too careful be a problem?

- Dr. Friendtastic says, “Preventing dangerous situations is usually easier than dealing with them after they’ve happened.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

- Why might standing near a teacher or a group of friends be useful for preventing problems with someone who is acting too rough?

Ep. 57 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: The upside of disagreements.

Zen wants to know how to avoid conflicts, but what if conflicts are sometimes helpful?

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts 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?

Ep. 56 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Showing openness to friendship.

Diego wants to know what he can do to make friends.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Think of a time when you had to make new friends. What did you do? How did other kids respond?

- Why does Dr. Friendtastic emphasize trying to make friends with kids who like to do the same things you like to do?  

- Why do you think some kids only want to be friends with the most popular kids? What are some possible problems with this approach to friendship?  

- What do you think it means to show that you’re open to friendship? What are some ways to do this? What actions would signal that you’re NOT open to friendship?  

- Why is it a good thing to invite someone to get together with you, even if they say no, they can’t because they’re busy? (Hint: What message do you give the other kid with your invitation?)

Ep. 55 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How saying no can save a friendship.

Blaire feels bad about saying no to friends. How can she think about things differently?

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts 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?

Ep. 54 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Showing up for friends the way they want.

Dimitri wants to what he can do to support a friend who is dealing with hard times.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Think of a hard time you’ve been through. What kind of support from friends did you find helpful (or not helpful) during that time?

- How could giving advice hurt a friendship?

- What does Dr. Friendtastic mean when she says that your friend knows best what kind of support they need?

- Why might listening be a good way to support a friend who is going through a hard time? 

- What could you do to support a friend who doesn’t feel like talking about their problems?

Ep. 53 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Knowing the difference between bragging and sharing good news

Bragging is annoying because it carries an implied putdown: “I’m better than you!” Lillian wants to know how to stay calm when someone is bragging. But are they bragging or just sharing good news?

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Why is bragging NOT a good way to make friends? (Hint: How does it make other people feel?) What are some better ways to make friends?

What does Dr. Friendtastic mean when she says, “Most of the time, when people are bragging, there is no contest”? Why might keeping that in mind be helpful for staying calm when someone is bragging?

Have you ever felt envious of something good that happened to a friend? What was the thing that made you feel envious? How did you handle it? How did it affect your friendship?

Has anyone ever told you, “Quit bragging!”? Do you think you were bragging? Why or why not? What did you do after that?

Ep. 52 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with hearsay

Tyler wonders how to fix things when his friend’s parents don’t like him.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Have you ever tried to change how someone (kid or adult) views you? What happened? Why do you think reputations can be hard to change? 

- Why is it a good idea to try to get along well with your friends’ parents? 

- What are some ways that kids can show they are being respectful toward adults?

- Which of your friends do your grown-ups like the most? Why?

- When you make a mistake, why do you think it’s important to think honestly about what you did wrong? (Hint: What does that enable you to do?)

Ep. 69 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Is an imperfect friendship worth keeping?

Phoebe feels excluded when her friends hang out without her.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Have you ever felt left out? How did you handle it?

- Why is it unfair (and unkind) to insist, “I’ll only be your friend if you never do anything without me!”?

- Why is it sometimes worth keeping an imperfect friendship with someone who is usually kind and fun?

- Dr. Friendtastic said that doing activities together, inviting someone over, or saying, “I’d love to do that with you sometime!” could be good ways to deepen a friendship. What have you done to try to become closer friends with someone?

- Why might adding a fourth friend to the group be helpful?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 26 - Abigail, Age 10 - Friendship doesn't have to be all or nothing https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-26-abigail

Ep. 8 - Blake, Age 11: Excluded by friends https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-1b6

Ep. 66 - Adeline, Age 8: Friends don't invite her https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/146810575/b3524087ba7d2f24c11daf518984e212.mp3

Ep. 51 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with hearsay

Saoirse wonders what to do when a friend tells her another girl called her weird.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Have you ever been in a situation where you found out that someone was saying something mean about you behind your back? What were they saying? How did you handle it?

- Why does Dr. Friendtastic say it’s freeing to realize that what people say about you when you’re not around is none of your business? (Hint: What are some possible downsides of always trying to find out what people are saying about you when you’re not there?)

- How does repeating someone’s mean comment to someone else spread meanness? 

- What are some good ways that you’re “weird” (i.e., different from other kids you know)?

Ep. 50 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Beyond the Magnet Myth of Friendship

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- What is the Magnet Myth of Friendship? Why is the Magnet Myth NOT true?

- How are friends different from fans?

- Why does bragging not help you make friends? (Hint: How are other kids likely to react?)

- How might worrying about not being “good enough” get in the way of making friends? 

- Dr. Friendtastic says to “focus on being interested rather than interesting.” What do you think that means? How could you show someone that you are interested in them?

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes plus posts for parents sent to your email address.

Ep. 49 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Feeling Different and Rejected

Charlotte wonders what to do when her differences separate her from her peers.

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.)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- We are all different. What are some ways that you are different from other kids around you? Do you feel proud, neutral, or ashamed about those differences? How do those differences affect your friendships?

- What are some examples of visible differences (that people see immediately)? What are some examples of invisible differences (meaning the differences are real and important but other people don’t necessarily realize they’re there when they first meet someone)?

- Dr. Friendtastic says, “A shared activity can bridge differences and build connection.” What does this mean?

- Why do you think some kids don’t want to be around kids who are different from them? How could this attitude hurt them?

For a formatted TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Ep. 48 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Attraction versus closeness

Lily wonders how to understand a friend who claims instant intimacy.

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.)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- In your own words, how would you describe the difference between attraction and closeness?

- Have you ever had someone try to influence you by saying, “I’ll be your best friend…” or “I won’t be your best friend…”? What did they want you to do? How did you respond?

- Have you ever met someone and immediately thought, “We’re going to be good friends!” Did you end up becoming close friends? Why or why not?

- How could saying something like “No thanks” or “I’m not comfortable doing that” deepen your friendship?

For a formatted TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Ep. 47 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friends matter. Here's why.

We all know friends are important, but Brayden wants to know why. In this week’s episode, I spell out some research findings about the importance of friends and also some ideas about how to be a good friend.

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.)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Why do you think having good friends makes it easier for kids to cope with stress? How has a friend been kind or helpful to you when you’ve had to deal with difficult situations?

- How can too much conflict hurt a friendship?

- Why do you think kids sometimes stick with a low-quality friendship (where there’s a lot of conflict and not much fun or closeness)?

- What are some examples of things you’ve done to support or care for a friend?

- Think of a time you had a friendship rough spot. How did you handle it?

- Dr. Friendtastic says that learning to be a good friend “is a step toward peace and justice in the world.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

For a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Ep. 46 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Building closer friendships

When they see that other kids paired off with a best friend, and they don’t have one, kids can feel like they’re missing out. Anna wants to know what she can do to get a best friend.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Who do you consider your closest friends? How did you become close?

- Has anyone ever said to you, “I’ll be your best friend if you..”? If so, how did that make you feel? Why is this NOT a good way to make close friends?

- What do you think Dr. Friendtastic means when she says, “Friends are people, not possessions”? (Hint: She also talks about building a close friendship together, with time and effort.)

- Why do you think Dr. Friendtastic likes the term “close friend” more than “best friend”?

- Thinking about the kids you know now, who is someone you’d like to become closer friends with? How could you do that?

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Ep. 45 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Gets angry at classmates

Reid asks about a common problem: getting mad at his peers. Hear what does–and doesn’t–work to manage anger.

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 a TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Think of a recent time that you felt angry with another kid. What happened? How did you handle it?

- What are some reasons why it’s not a good idea to act rough when you’re angry? (Hint: How are other people likely to react? How would you feel about yourself?)

- Why do you think crossing your arms and taking two steps back are the first steps for emergency coping with anger? (Hint: what might that prevent?

- Dr. Friendtastic lists a bunch of possible distraction strategies to use for emergency coping with anger, including saying the alphabet in your mind, counting by even numbers, doing math, or remembering the words to a song. Which of these would you like to try,? What else could you do to distract yourself when you’re mad?

- The coping thoughts that Dr. Friendtastic mentions, such as “I don’t like this, but I can handle it,” recognize that the situation is hard AND that you can cope with it. What coping statements do you think might be useful for you to think about when you start to feel angry?

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Ep. 44 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being true to our authentic self

Vera wants to know if we have to change ourselves to make friends.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Think about yourself two or three years ago. How have you changed? How have you stayed the same?

- Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you had to hide your real self from other kids? What made you think you had to do that? How did the other kids react? How did you feel while doing it or after doing it? 

- Describe some times when you’ve done something that wasn’t exactly what you wanted because you cared about a friend. How did your friend respond? How did you feel while doing it or after doing it? 

- Dr. Friendtastic says friendship is about knowing and caring for each other. What do you think that means in terms of what you should do or not do to build a close friendship with another kid? Why do we need both ingredients, knowing and caring, for friendship?

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Ep. 43 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Learning to say “No.”

Beatrix somehow agreed to let her friend snip a tiny bit of her hair but was shocked when the friend cut a big chunk! How can she protect her hair and the friendship?

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever had a situation where you went along with what a friend wanted but later regretted it? What happened? How did you handle it with your friend?

- Why do you think it’s sometimes hard to say no to a friend?

- Why do you think friends sometimes don’t listen or keep arguing after they’ve heard no?

- Have you ever felt envious of a friend–wishing you had something they do or could be more like them? What did you envy? How did it affect your friendship?

- If you were in Beatrix’s situation, would you be able to forgive a friend who cut more of your hair than you expected? Why or why not?

Books mentioned in the podcast: Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 42 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to Be a Good Friend.

In this year-end wrap-up, Dr. Friendtastic describes 4 areas of friendship that are necessary for becoming a good friend.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

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.)

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 68 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Avoiding the demand-withdraw pattern

Maya wonders how to handle a friend who runs away and ignores her.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Have you ever been in a situation like Maya’s, where someone was running away from you? Have you ever run away from someone? What happened? 

- Why does Dr. Friendtastic suggest NOT chasing a friend who is running away (unless it’s a fun game of tag!)? (Hint: What should you look for in a friendship?)

- Why do you think kids sometimes avoid discussing problems? How might that hurt a friendship? What could friends do to make problem discussions easier? (Hint: What are things you could say or avoid saying to make a conflict less painful?)

- Why might it be a good idea for the person who is LEAST wrong to apologize first?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 32 - Tara, Age 12: Friend is pulling away https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-32-tara

Ep. 45 - Reid, Age 5: Gets angry at classmates https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/reid-age-5-gets-angry-at-classmates

Ep. 60 - Henry, Age 8: Friends invited but not him https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-drfriendtastic-ep60-henry-age-8

Ep. 41 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Understanding and communicating about boundaries.

Tessa wonders how to handle things when her friends don’t respect her boundaries.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Describe a time when someone crossed a boundary of your. Why do you think they did that? How did you handle it?

- Dr. Friendtastic said, “Good boundaries can save friendships.” What does that mean? What could happen if you don’t talk with your friends about boundaries?

- Communicating about your communication can be difficult. How do you think your friends would react if you said, ““I’ve asked you twice to stop, but you keep doing that. What’s going on?” Why might it be a good idea to ask “What’s going on?” rather than just yelling at them? (Hint: how is your friend likely to respond to those comments?

- If a friend crosses your boundaries, does that mean the friendship has to end? What oculd you do instead? Boundaries can vary depending on the situation, our culture, and our relationship with others. Sometimes they even chage over time. What are some good ways to figure out what someone else’s boundaries are?

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 40 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Imagining the feelings behind wild behavior.

Vihaan’s brother is his best friend, but sometimes he acts wild. How can Vihaan handle this?

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you been around a friend or sibling who acts wild? What do you think helps or doesn’t help in that situation?

- Has anyone told you that you were acting too wild? What feelings were behind your wild behavior? (In other words, how were you feeling at that time?)

- Dr. Friendtastic explained that there are a bunch of different reasons why someone might be acting wild, including being overexcited, not wanting the fun to end, feeling lonely or bored, or feeling frustrated. Why do you think it’s important to figure out why smeone is acting wild?

- When should you try to handle a friend or sibling’s misbehavior by yourself, and when should you get a grown-up involved?

- What does Dr. Friendtastic mean when she says, “Winning and losing only last about two seconds”? Why is that an important thing to understand?

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 39 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with jealousy about a friend’s other friend.

Maya wants to know how to reconnect with a friend who seems to have moved on to a new best friend.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever been in a situation like Maya’s, where you felt jealous of a friend’s other friend? What happened? How did you handle it?

- Dr. Friendtastic mentions three things that would NOT help in this situation: yelling at the friend, being mean to the new friend, and trying to divide the friend evenly. Why do you think those would NOT be good choices? (Hint: How would they make the friend feel?)

- Why is it important to try to be “good company” when you’re with a friend, so they enjoy being with you? What are some ways to be good company?

- What are some reasons why it’s good to have more than one friend?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMooreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 38 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Popular kids aren’t necessarily well-liked.

Richard wants to know how to become popular.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Which kids do you know whom you consider to be popular? What do you think makes them popular? Are they also well-liked by other kids? Why or why not?

- Which kids do you know who are well-liked by other kids? What do you think makes them well-liked?

- Why do kids sometimes want to be popular? Do you think that’s an important goal? Why or why not?

- Why do you think popular kids tend to be more anxious and sad than kids who have a few close friends?

- What does this statement mean: “Kindness is about how the other person feels and what they want”?

- What are some examples of kind things you’ve done for other kids? Why is it a good idea to do at least one kind action every day? (Hint: How does it make other people feel? How does it make you feel?)

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 37 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Balancing giving and getting.

Saanvi isn’t sure how to respond to a friend who gives her expensive gifts.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- What is the best gift you ever received from a friend? What makes you think it’s the best?

- Why do you think Saanvi’s parents don’t want her to give her friend and expensive gift? What are some reasons why giving a friend an expensive gift might not be a good idea?

- What is something you gave to a friend that didn’t cost any money, but the friend really liked it?

- Dr. Friendtastic listed a bunch of ideas of possible gifts for a friend that cost little or no money: teaching the friend something, helping a friend with chores, makin a drawing or a craft, yummy food, a photo collage, a slide show, or a video about the two of you, writing a letter or a card telling the friend how much they mean to you. Which of those would you most like to receive? Which of these–or another idea–would you most like to give to a friend?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 36 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Learning to say "no."

Ann wants to know how to avoid letting her friends drag her into doing something she knows she shouldn’t do.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- What are some positive ways your friends have influenced you?

- Have you ever had friends or other kids try to influence you to do something that wasn’t smart or kind? What happened?

- Why do you think it’s sometimes hard for kids to say no to friends?

- Have you ever tried to influence a friend to do something? What was it? Why did you want your friend to do it? How did you try to influence your friend? How did your friend respond?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 35 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Figuring out whose opinion matters to you

Ryan feels hurt when a classmate boos his efforts and punches his example owl.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Whose opinion matters to you? In other words, who are the special people in your life that you want to think well of you? (Hint: These are people who care about you!)

- Have you ever been in a situation like Ryan, where someone said something mean about your efforts? What did they say? Why do you think they said that? How did you respond?

- Ryan has been thinking about his classmate’s mean comments for months. What does Dr. Friendtastic mean when she tells him, “Don’t give this kid that much power?”

- Why do you think it’s not worth arguing or trying to defend yourself when someone whose opinion doesn’t matter to you says something mean?

- What would you say to comfort a friend who got booed or heard mean comments about their efforts? 

- Dr. Friendtastic says, “You can’t please everyone.” She can’t, either! Why is it NOT a good idea to try to please everyone?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 34 - Chloe, Age 9: Upset by name-calling | Communicating about communicating

Chloe’s friend doesn’t listen when she asks him to stop calling her names

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever been called names you didn’t like? What happened? How did you handle it?

- Why is it important to stop when a friend asks us to stop? What are some reasons why kids sometimes don’t stop when asked?

- Dr. Friendtastic mentioned communicating about your communication by describing the pattern you see and asking what’s going on. Why might this be a helpful thing to do in a friendship? (Hint: Why is it useful to describe the pattern? Why is it useful to ask what’s going on?")

- What does this statement mean: “How you think affects how you feel”? 

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 33 – Richard, Age 11: Best ways to show empathy | Turning caring into action

Richard wants to know how to show more empathy for other kids.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Which do you think is the hardest part of showing empathy: Paying attention, imagining the other person’s perspective, caring, or caring action? Why?

- Why do you think friends who are feeling upset often don’t want advice? What do you think they might want instead? What does Dr. Friendtastic mean when she says, “Unwanted advice can come across as criticism”? 

- How might showing empathy look different with a close friend versus someone you don’t know well?

- Why is it a good idea to say “you” rather than “I” when you’re empathizing with a friend? (Hint: Where do you want the focus to be?) How might feeling very emotional yourself get in the way of offering empathy for a friend?

- Why is it important to ask, “What can I do to help?”

- Dr. Friendtastic mentions a bunch of examples of small acts of kindness to show you care about someone. What are some small acts of kindness you’ve done to show your friends you care? 

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 32 – Tara, Age 12: Friend is pulling away | TTrying to reconnect when a friendship starts to fade

Tara wonders what to do when a friend becomes less interested in hanging out with the group.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever switched friendship groups? What led to that change? How did it work out? To what extent did you stay in touch with your previous friend group?

- Were you surprised to learn how often kids’ friendships don’t last a full school year? Why or why not? What are some reasons why friends might grow apart?

- What are two things you should definitely NOT do when you sense a friend is pulling away?

- Why does Dr. Friendtastic recommend talking to the leaning-away friend one-on-one? Why might that work out better than having the whole group confront this friend?

- Have you ever reconnected with a friend after you grew apart? What led to you reconnecting?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 67 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Peer pressure vs. peer influence

Paul asks how to find the right friends to surround himself with.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- What are some ways that you’ve been influenced by your friends? Do you think that influence has been positive (good for you) or negative (bad for you)? Why? 

- Have you ever been in a situation where a friend tried to pressure you to do something you didn't want to do? What happened?

- What three words would you use to describe the five (or so) friends you spend the most time with? Do you think those three words also describe you? Why or why not?

- Dr. Friendtastic said, “However your friends might influence or even pressure you, you’re in charge of deciding what’s the right thing for you to do.” What does that mean?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 16 - Sam, Age 13: Joining a new group of friends https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-16-sam

Ep. 36 - Ann, Age 9: Dealing with peer pressure https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ann-age-9-dealing-with-peer-pressure

Ep. 43 - Beatrix, Age 8: Friend cut her hair! https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/beatrix-age-8-friend-cuts-her-hair

Ep. 31 – Mila, Age 9: When someone tries to be annoying | Taking care of yourself versus trying to change others

What can Mila and her friends do about a kid who keeps bothering them?

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Do you or someone you know fit the description of a high-energy kid who has trouble sitting still and tends to act without thinking about what might happen or how others might react? What are some good things about having a lot of energy? In what ways can it cause problems with adults or other kids?

- What does compassion mean? Why can imagining what life is like for someone else help us gain compassion for that person? Why is it important to try to find compassion even for people who annoy us?

- Dr. Friendtastic said, “If you’ve asked a kid politely to stop doing something two times, and they haven’t listened, they’re probably not going to listen.” Why is this a useful guideline? (Hint: What does it prevent you from doing? What does it allow you to focus on instead?)

- We can’t control what others do, but we can control how we think about our situation. How can deciding that something someone else does isn’t important be a way of taking care of yourself? 

- How do you know when to ignore other kids’ misbehavior and when to go to the teacher or other adult for help?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 30 – Michael, Age 10: Why do some kids push others around? | Getting positive versus negative attention

Michael wants to know why some kids think it’s okay to physically push others.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever gotten negative attention from other kids? (In other words, were kids talking or yelling at you because they were annoyed about something you were doing?) What’s a good way to handle things when that happens?

- Do you know a kid like the one Michael describes? Why do you think that kid does what he does? How does this kid’s actions affect their friendships?

- Michael says the pushing happens “every time” this kid goes on the slide. Why do you think asking a grown-up to stand near the slide at the beginning of recess, before anything bad has happened, could be a useful idea? How might this be better than complaining after someone has been pushed?

- Why might it be easier for the other kid to listen if Michael says, “Everyone needs to wait their turn” instead of “YOU need to wait your turn!”?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 29 – Abby, Age 9: Dealing with Teasing | Dealing with spill-over anger. 

Avni asks what to do when a friend is angry about someone or something else but takes it out on her.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Do you have strong feelings about bananas? Why or why not? (OK, that question doesn’t have anything to do with friendship, but it’s fun to think about!)

- What are some reasons why kids tease? 

- Can you think of a time that someone teased you in a friendly way? How could you tell it was friendly rather than mean teasing?

- Have you ever been the target of mean teasing? What happened? How did you respond?

- Have you ever teased someone in what you thought was a fun and friendly way but the other kid got upset? What happened? Why do you think that kid was bothered by what you said? What did you do to help the other kid feel better?

- Why is it important to tell a friend if their teasing bothers you? What could happen to your friendship if you don’t say anything about that?

- Dr. Friendtastic gave lots of examples of neutral or boring responses to teasing. Why might those work better than yelling at the teaser? Which of those comments would you feel comfortable saying if you were teased?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 28 – Avni, Age 11: Being unfairly targeted by a friend’s anger | Dealing with spill-over anger. 

Avni asks what to do when a friend is angry about someone or something else but takes it out on her.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Spill-over anger is when you’re mad at one person but take it out on someone else. What are some reasons why kids (and adults!) sometimes do that? Have you ever unfairly taken your anger out on someone? Have you ever been the target of someone’s spill-over anger? What happened?

- Why is acting aggressively and yelling at people NOT a good way to deal with feeling angry? (Hint: What would that likely do to your friendships?)

- What do you think are some good ways to tell a friend that what they’re doing bothers you?

- How do you decide when you’re going to forgive a friend’s mistake and when their mistake means the friendship is over?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 27 – Dr. Friendtastic's Friendship League: Josh Martin

Dr. Friendtastic’s Friendship League is made up of adults who care about kids and have volunteered to share with you about a friendship rough spot they faced as a kid plus a kind thing a friend did for them.

In this episode, Josh Martin, who is the voice of Dragon Ball Z’s Majin Buu, talks about coping with being the new kid. Learn more about Josh at https://www.instagram.com/originalbuu/?hl=en.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Being “the new kid” can happen when we move homes or when we join a new group or activity. Have you ever felt like “the new kid”? How did you handle that?

- Dr. Friendtastic says that common ground is where friendships grow. What does that mean to you? What are some ways to find or create common ground with other kids?

- Which activities have you done that have been most helpful to you for making friends?

- Being kind doesn’t guarantee that someone will become our friend. Why is it a good idea to be kind, anyway?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 26 – Abigail, Age 10: Feeling like a second-choice friend | Friendship doesn’t have to be all or nothing

Abigail wonders what to do when her two friends would rather play with each other than with her.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever felt like a second-choice friend? How did you handle it? Do you think it’s possible to be good friends with someone if they like someone else more than they like you? Why or why not?

- Has a friend ever told you that they feel left out or jealous of your other friend? How did you respond?

- What does “all-or-nothing thinking” mean, when it comes to friendship? Why is it not a good idea?

- Saying, “You’re mean!” is not a good way to encourage someone to be kinder to you. Why do you think kids sometimes accuse friends of being mean? What are some better ways to communicate so your friends will want to listen when you tell them about a problem?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 25 – Bryson, Age 10: Handling teasing about religion | Moving past us-versus-them thinking

Bryson wants to know why kids are sometimes mean about religion.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- How many different religions can you name? What do you know about them?

- What examples can you think of in your life of us-versus-them thinking or in-group bias (meaning kids prefer people in their own group compared to another group)? What do you think might help these groups get along better?

- Have you ever been picked on or treated unfairly because of your religion? Have you ever heard someone else getting picked on because of their religion? How did you handle it?

- Do you think kids or adults are more accepting of differences? Why?

- Why is it wonderful that everyone is not exactly like you?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 24 – Olivia, Age 13: Fake friends versus real friends | Some friendships have limits 

Olivia wants to know how to recognize a fake friendship.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Why do you think kids sometimes pretend to like someone when they don’t?

- Think of a time when a friend made a mistake that hurt or upset you. How did you handle it? How would you want a friend to respond if you made a mistake?

- How is a limited friendship different from a fake friendship? Do you think it’s possible to like someone and enjoy their company if you only have a limited friendship? Why or why not?

- Why does Dr. Friendtastic suggest lowering your expectations in a limited friendship? What do you think that means? How might that help the friendship? How might lower expectations help you?

- What do you think are the essential ingredients of all friendships, whether they’re very close or more limited? (In other words, what are the basic expectations for a friendship that you should never lower?)

- How could mind-reading hurt a friendship? What might happen if you guess wrong about what someone else is thinking or trying to do?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 23 – Gage, Age 9: Getting pushed around at recess | Play fighting versus real fighting 

Gage wonders what to do about a kid who throws him to the ground at recess.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- Have you ever had someone be physically too rough with you? What happened? How did you respond? 

- How do you feel about play fighting? Why do you think some kids like it? Why do you think some kids don’t like it?

- Why is it important to be able to tell the difference between play fighting and real fighting? What do you think are the main differences?

- Why might social control (using the group’s disapproval to rein someone in) be an effective way to deal with someone who is being too rough?

- Why is it important to tell a trusted grown-up if someone bigger, stronger, tougher, or more socially powerful than you is picking on you? If you were being bullied, who would you tell? 

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 22 – Scarlett, Age 13: Changing a bad first impression | Managing your social reputation

Scarlett wants to know what to do to change someone’s first impression of her.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever changed your mind about what you think of someone and started to like them, even though you didn’t at first? If so, what led to that change?

- What are some reasons why it’s hard to change a first impression?

- Dr. Friendtastic said, “We can’t force someone to like us.” What does this statement mean to you? 

- What impression do you think most people have of you when they first meet you? Is that similar or different from how your close friends see you?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 66 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What’s behind a friend wanting to control you?

Adeline wishes her friends would invite her to play during recess, but she doesn’t have to wait for an invitation.

Scroll down for discussion questions.

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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Have you ever had a controlling friend? If so, why do you think your friend was trying to control you? How did you handle it?

- Has anyone ever told you that you were being bossy or controlling? If so, what happened? What are some signs that you might be pushing a friend too hard and need to stop?

- Rigid thinkers tend to believe that there is “one right way” to do things. How could that hurt a friendship? (Hint: How might a friend feel if they want to do things differently?)

- What does it mean to “agree to disagree”? Why is it sometimes good to do this in a friendship?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 60 - Henry, Age 8: Friends invited but not him https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-drfriendtastic-ep60-henry-age-8

Ep. 39 - Maya, Age 8: Replaced by a friend's new friend https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/maya-age-8-replaced-by-a-friends

Ep. 26 - Abigail, Age 10: Friendship doesn't have to be all or nothing https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-26-abigail

Ep. 21 – Eugene, Age 13: Wanting to be more popular | Popularity is not the same as friendship

Eugene wonders how to become friends with someone more popular than he is.

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Popular kids are socially powerful. What do you think that means? How is that different from being well-liked? 

- How can someone be “cool” if they are also unkind? Do you know anyone like that? How do other kids react to that kid?  

- Why do you think some kids care a lot about being popular? What do you think about popularity?

- What are some ways that kids could try to increase how well-liked they are?

- Think of the happiest kids you know. Would you say they are very popular,  medium popular, or unpopular? Do many, some, or few kids like them? Do they have close friends? What do your observations suggest about how happiness is related to popularity and friendship?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 20 – Anna, Age 9: Lying friend | Why might a friend not tell you the truth?

Anna is upset about a friend lying to her. What should she do?

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Have you ever caught a friend in a lie? How did you feel? Why do you think the friend lied to you? How did it affect your friendship?

- Have you ever told a lie to a friend? What got in the way of you telling the truth? Did your friend ever find out the truth? What happened? 

- Why do you think Dr. Friendtastic suggested NOT calling a friend a liar even if they did tell a lie? What’s the difference between telling a lie and being a liar? How is a friend likely to react to being called a liar?

- Why do you think Dr. Friendtastic focuses on what Anna could do instead of what her friend did wrong?

- How could you make it easy for a friend to tell you the truth? What responses might make it harder for a friend to tell the truth?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 19 – Dr. Friendtastic's Friendship League: Jason Griffith

Dr. Friendtastic’s Friendship League is made up of adults who care about kids and have volunteered to share with you about a friendship rough spot they faced as a kid plus a kind thing a friend did for them. In this episode, Jason Griffith, who was the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, tells a powerful story about overcoming being bullied. Learn more about Jason at https://www.instagram.com/real_jasongriffith/

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Rich was the ringleader in picking on Jason. Why do you think the other kids joined in on the meanness? 

- If you were getting picked on like Jason was, which adults could you go to for help?

- Why did Rich tell the other kids to stop picking on Jason? What do you think Rich felt or realized that changed his mind?

- Have you ever stood up for someone who was getting picked on? If it’s not safe for you to speak up directly, in the moment, what are some other ways you could support someone who is getting bullied?

- What do you think about the fact that the person who was meanest and kindest to Jason when he was a kid was the same person?

- Redemption means freeing ourselves from a bad situation or bad actions. We can always choose to move forward in kinder ways. Rich made a big change, but all of us can work on being kinder in our daily lives. What is one way you could be kinder?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic

Ep. 18 – Kai, Age 9: Friends call him bossy | Building great leadership skills

Kai wonders what to do when his friends say he’s being bossy. How can he get his ideas across?

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 a TRANSCRIPT go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

- Do you know a kid who seems bossy? Have you ever been called bossy? 

- What do you think the difference is between being bossy and being a leader?

- Why do you think it’s a good idea to respond to being called bossy by asking a question, such as “What would you like to do?” How might that question make the other person feel?

- Why do kids sometimes have trouble compromising?

- Have you ever given in and done what a friend wanted, even though you thought your idea was better? Why might that sometimes be a good thing to do? Why is it not a good idea to do that all the time?

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Growing Friendships: A Kids' Guide to making and Keeping Friends https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-friendships/

Growing Feelings: A Kids' Guide to Dealing with Emotions about Friends and Other Kids https://eileenkennedymoore.com/child-development-books/growing-feelings/

Like the podcast? Check out my books and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus posts for parents.

Connect with me on social media for more useful and entertaining content for parents:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfriendtastic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenKennedyMoore

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfriendtastic