Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health.

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

Kids EN ↓ 165 episodes

Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic is a weekly, 5-min. podcast for children about making and keeping friends. Each episode features an audio recording of a question about friendship from a kid (gr. K-8) plus a practical and thought-provoking answer from Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, (aka Dr. Friendtastic,) an author and clinical psychologist based in Princeton, NJ. For transcripts and discussion questions: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast. To submit a question: https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit. For parent resources: https://EileenKennedyMoore.com drfriendtastic.substack.com

Author

Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health.

Episodes

Getting in trouble (Noah, Age 7) 01.02.2025 6:27

Ep. 89 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to deal with an angry person Noah is frustrated that he got in trouble. How can he handle it? FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f 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 fo...

How to support an injured friend (Sophia, Age 7) 25.01.2025 3:55

Ep. 88 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Practical support, emotional support, and the importance of on-going support. Sophia wants to know how to support a friend who has broken her leg. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obvi...

People passing notes about her (Leni, Age 9) 18.01.2025 5:01

Ep. 87 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Figuring out what we can and can’t control. Leni feels hurt and angry that kids are passing notes about her. What can she do? FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f 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 ps...

How to know if you can trust a friend (Sally, Age 14) 11.01.2025 5:17

Ep. 86 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: What makes a trustworthy friend? Sally wants to know how she can tell if a friend is trustworthy. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f 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 fo...

Fitting in versus being true to yourself (Nev, Age 11) 21.12.2024 5:36

Ep. 85 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: No friend group has more power than you. Nev wonders what her mom means when she says, "No friend group has more power than you." FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is...

Torn between two friends who don’t like each other (Jennifer, Age 10) 14.12.2024 4:51

Ep. 84 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with a friendship tug-of-war. Jennifer wants to know what to do when two friends who don't like each other each want to be her partner. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obvious...

Fights with close friends (Eloise, Age 8) 23.11.2024 4:20

Ep. 83 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to make conflict less frequent and less painful. Eloise wonders why best friends have bad fights. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f 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 no...

Expand friend group without hurting best friend (Paa, Age 12) 16.11.2024 4:38

Ep. 82 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to make new friends and keep the old. Paa wants to expand her friend group but how can she do that without hurting her best friend? FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this...

Friend’s secret could harm them (Nicoletta, Age 14) 09.11.2024 3:51

Ep. 81 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Knowing when to tell an adult Nicoletta is worried about what to do when a friend begs her to keep a secret that could harm the friend. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this...

Dealing with a manipulative friend (Laina, Age 11) 02.11.2024 5:51

Ep. 80 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with a manipulative friend Laina wonders how to deal with a manipulative friend. But what does that even mean? FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f 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 psychothe...

Is your friend a fake friend? (Mar, Age 11) 26.10.2024 4:59

Ep. 79 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Is your friend a fake friend? Mar wants to know how to recognize a fake friend. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f 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 situat...

How to Confront a Friend 19.10.2024 5:49

Ep. 78 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to confront a friend. What can you say when a friend does something that upsets you? How do you get your message across without wrecking the friendship? FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/su...

Friend is nicer to someone else (Maya, Age 8) 12.10.2024 5:25

Ep. 77 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: A friend is not a birthday cake! Maya wonders what to do when she notices her friend being nicer to someone else than to her. Scroll down for discussion questions. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic...

Welcome to the Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic podcast! 12.10.2024 0:40

Ep. 0 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Trailer Welcome! Each episode of the Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic podcast features an audio recording of a question about friendship from a kid (in grades K-8), plus a practical and thought-provoking answer. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR...

Friends ditch her (Anaya, Age 10) 05.10.2024 5:14

Ep. 76 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Not signing up for more of the same Anaya wonders what to do when friends leave her behind. Scroll down for discussion questions. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is no...

Upset when he loses a game (Alex, Age 10) 28.09.2024 6:57

Ep. 75 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Learning to be a good sport Like a lot of kids, Alex has trouble coping with losing a game. Scroll down for discussion questions. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is no...

Friend hits her (Aubrey, Age 6) 21.09.2024 6:36

Ep. 74 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: End a friendship or work it out? Aubrey wants to know what to do about a friend who hits her. Scroll down for discussion questions. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is...

Best friend suddenly stops playing with him (J.J., Age 11) 14.09.2024 6:42

Ep. 73 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: A fast (but not easy) way to repair a friendship rift J.J. feels hurt, angry, and confused because the kid he considered his best friend suddenly refuses to play with him. Scroll down for discussion questions. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION...

Making friends in a new school (Nora, Age 8) 07.09.2024 5:46

Ep. 72 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Making Friends at a New School Nora wants to know what she can do to make friends when she's starting at a new school. Scroll down for discussion questions. FREE quiz: Is Your Child a Good Friend? https://eileenkennedymoore.ck.page/e37dcc098f Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/su...

Is she a friend or not? (Tali, Age 11) 24.08.2024 5:15

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. 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...

Knowing when and how to stop (Owen, Age 8) 17.08.2024 5:30

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....

Friends get together without her (Phoebe, Age 6) 10.08.2024 4:31

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-rea...

Friend runs away from her (Maya, Age 6) 03.08.2024 4:59

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-re...

Choosing friends who are a good influence (Paul, Age 12) 27.07.2024 5:30

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 TR...

Friends don’t invite her (Adeline, Age 8) 20.07.2024 4:42

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,...