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

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

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

By: Eileen Kennedy-Moore PhD author psychologist focusing on children's feelings children's friendships parenting mental health.
Listen for free

About this listen

 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.comEileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD
Episodes
  • How to join a group (Addison, Age 9 1/2) | 144

    How to join a group (Addison, Age 9 1/2) | 144
    Apr 25 2026

    Ep. 144 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: You don't have to stay on the outside looking in | Friendship advice for kids

    FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends

    https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/

    Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.

    Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?

    SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)

    For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

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

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

    *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

    - What are some reasons why it’s sometimes hard to join a group of kids?

    - Why is it important to match the emotional tone of a conversation if you want to join a group?

    - What do you look for when you decide whether to try to join a group?

    - Do you think you are open to having kids join you if you are hanging out with friends at school or at an activity? What could you do to make another kid feel welcome?

    - Do you always have to include people who want to join your group? Why or why not?

    *** You might also like these podcast episodes:

    Ep. 112 - How to Show Openness to Friendship

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep112-how-to-show-openness-to-friendship

    Ep. 85 - Fitting in versus being true to yourself (Nev, Age 11)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep85-nev-age-11-fitting-in-versus-being-true-to-yourself

    Ep. 98 - How to join a group when not everyone wants you in (Jessica, Age 9)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep98-jessica-age9-how-to-join-a-group-when-not-everyone-wants-you-in



    Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • Friends won't play the game he likes (Akiva, Age 5 3/4) | 143

    Friends won't play the game he likes (Akiva, Age 5 3/4) | 143
    Apr 18 2026

    Ep. 143 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being flexible with friends | Friendship advice for kids

    Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.

    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 situations.)

    For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

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

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

    *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

    - When a person is flexible, it means they can adjust to new, unexpected, or unwanted situations. What is an example of someone being flexible with friends? What is an example of someone being rigid with friends?

    - How do these two styles (flexible or rigid) affect friendships?

    - Does being flexible mean you never get to do what you want? Why or why not?

    - Why is it hard to be flexible when we’re upset?

    *** You might also like these podcast episodes:

    Ep. 5 - Friend doesn’t do what I want (Edith, Age 8)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-episode-af3

    Ep. 18 - Building great leadership skills (Kai, Age 9)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-18-kai

    Ep. 28 - Dealing with spill-over anger (Avni, Age 11)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-28-avni



    Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
  • Best friend replaces her! (Alice, Age 6) | 142

    Best friend replaces her! (Alice, Age 6) | 142
    Apr 11 2026

    Ep. 142 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Being friendly vs. being friends | Friendship advice for kids

    Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.

    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 situations.)

    For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/

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

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

    *** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

    - If you could be any age, what age would you choose to be and why?

    - Have you ever moved or had a friend move away from you? What happened?

    - Do you think it’s fair that Alice’s best friend found a new best friend after Alice moved away? Why or why not?

    - What would you do if you found out that you and your family had to move far away from where you live now? How would you try to stay in touch with old friends? How would you make new friends?

    - How is life (and friendship) like a leaf, floating downstream?

    *** You might also like these podcast episodes:

    Ep. 72 - Making friends in a new school (Nora, Age 8)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep72-nora-age-8-making-friends-new-schl

    Ep. 117 - How to tell if a friend is loyal (Julian, Age 12)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/how-to-tell-if-a-friend-is-loyal

    Ep. 62: All About Forgiveness

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep62-all-about-forgiveness



    Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.