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

Friendly brother also acts wild (Vihaan, Age 6) 02.12.2023 5:43

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...

Replaced by a friend’s new friend (Maya, Age 8) 18.11.2023 5:26

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...

Wondering how to be popular (Richard, Age 11) 11.11.2023 4:59

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/ DISCUSS...

What’s the right gift for a friend? (Saanvi, Age 12) 04.11.2023 5:11

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...

Dealing with peer pressure (Ann, Age 9) 28.10.2023 5:54

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: h...

Peers put down his interests (Ryan, Age 11) 21.10.2023 5:44

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://DrF...

Upset by name-calling (Chloe, Age 9) 14.10.2023 5:05

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://DrFri...

Best ways to show empathy (Richard, Age 11) 07.10.2023 6:20

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.c...

Friend is pulling away (Tara, Age 12) 30.09.2023 5:34

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...

When someone tries to be annoying (Mila, Age 9) 23.09.2023 5:58

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 TR...

Why do some kids push others around? (Michael, Age 10) 16.09.2023 4:51

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...

Dealing with Teasing (Abby, Age 9) 09.09.2023 6:27

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 TRANSCRI...

Being unfairly targeted by a friend’s anger (Avni, Age 11) 12.08.2023 5:14

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 sit...

The new kid at school (Josh Martin aka Majin Buu) 05.08.2023 5:30

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 ab...

Feeling like a second-choice friend (Abigail, Age 10) 29.07.2023 5:17

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...

Handling teasing about religion (Bryson, Age 10) 22.07.2023 5:08

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://...

Fake friends versus real friends (Olivia, Age 13) 15.07.2023 5:47

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://DrFriendtasti...

Getting pushed around at recess (Gage, Age 9) 08.07.2023 5:21

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:...

Changing a bad first impression (Scarlett, Age 13) 24.06.2023 5:13

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...

Wanting to be more popular (Eugene, Age 13) 17.06.2023 5:02

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...

Lying friend (Anna, Age 9) 10.06.2023 6:02

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.co...

Being teased, and an act of kindness (Jason Griffith aka Sonic the Hedgehog) 03.06.2023 5:43

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. L...

Friends call him bossy (Kai, Age 9) 20.05.2023 4:45

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 g...

Balancing a best friend and another friend (Sophie, Age 10) 13.05.2023 5:38

Ep. 17 – Sophie, Age 10: Balancing a best friend and another friend | Appreciating different flavors of friends Sophie is deciding whether to sit on the bus with her close friend or a new friend. Scroll down for discussion questions, a transcript, and how to submit your child's question. Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://drfriendtas...

Joining a new group of friends (Sam, Age 13) 06.05.2023 4:30

Ep. 16 – Sam, Age 13: Joining a new group of friends | Understanding the difference between fitting in and belonging Sam wants to know how he can tell if he’s become friends with a new 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.)...