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

Ep. 165 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Smoothing over friction in friendship | Friendship advice for kids
FREE guide for parents: 12 ways to help your child make friends
https://drfriendtastic.com/gift/
Parents, check out my online workshops for kids at workshops.eileenkennedymoore.com.
Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast?
SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC at https://DrFriendtastic.com/submit (Obviously, this is not psychotherapy, and it’s not for emergency situations.)
For an easy-to-read TRANSCRIPT, go to: https://DrFriendtastic.com/podcast/
Like the podcast? Check out my books at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.
Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus articles for parents.
*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What does friction mean? Why is it always part of friendship?
- What do you expect from a close friend (versus a stranger)? What could you do if a friend doesn’t meet those expectations?
- When (not if) a friend does something you don’t like, why is it NOT helpful to assume that means they are a mean and terrible friend?
- Why is it not a good idea to insist that a friend always has to play only with you? (Hint: How might that make the friend feel?)
= How could caring about a friend help smooth out friction between the two of you?

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



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

Ep. 164 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Avoiding empathy blindspots | 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:
- Sometimes kids think they only have to be kind to people they know and like. What could you say to argue against that idea?
- What do you expect from a close friend? What do you expect from someone who is not your friend? How and why are these expectations different?
- Why would it be unkind to have a party and invite everyone in a group except one person? What could you do instead?
- What is an empathy blindspot?
- How might being mean to someone end up hurting you?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:
Ep. 154 - Friends say she’s bossy, but they’re bossy (Lola, Age 8)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/friends-say-shes-bossy-but-theyre
Ep. 141 - Can we be friends with anyone? (Michael, Age 9)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep141-can-we-be-friends-with-anyone-michael-age9
Ep. 71 - Is she a friend or not? (Tali, Age 11)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep71-tali-age-11-is-she-a-friend-or-not



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

Ep. 163 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Why friends lie and what to do about it | 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:
- Why is it sometimes hard for kids to tell the truth? (Hint: What might they be afraid could happen if they tell the truth?)
- What’s the difference between lying and saying something that’s not true? (Hint: What are some examples of statements that are not true but also not a lie?)
- How might telling lies hurt a friendship?
- Do you think telling a lie can ever be a kind thing to do? Why or why not?
- Why is it not a good idea to accuse a friend of being a liar?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:
Ep. 140 - Friend lies and boasts (Martha, Age 9)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep140-friend-lies-and-boasts-martha-age-9
Ep. 20 - Lying friend (Anna, Age 9)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-20-anna
Ep. 115 - Her lies hurt her friendship (Sofia, Age 8)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep115-her-lies-hurt-her-friendships-sofia-age8



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

Ep. 162 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Prevent conflict from exploding into drama | 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’s the difference between friendship drama versus conflict?
- Why do you think some people get involved in more friendship drama than others?
- What are some ways to prevent conflict from turning into drama?
- Dr. Friendtastic suggests avoiding saying “You always…”, or “You never…” or “You think…” or “You’re just trying to…” Why are these comments unhelpful? (Hint: How would your friend be likely to respond if you said them?)

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:
Ep. 91 - Arguments with a friend (Kenna & Scarlett, Age 8)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep91-kenna-and-scarlett-age-8-arguments-with-a-friend
Ep. 155 - Friend is jealous and possessive (Miranda, Age 8)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep155-friend-is-jealous-and-possessive-miranda-age8
Ep. 59 - Get rid of toxic friends? (Jessie, Age 13)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep59-jessie-age-13 



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

Ep. 161 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Is there a kind way to reject someone? | 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:
- How do you decide whether to share your opinion or keep it to yourself?
- Have you ever been in a situation where someone wanted to be friends with you, but you weren’t interested in being friends with them? How did you handle it?
- Have you ever had someone reject your efforts to be friends with them or just not like you as much as you like them? How did they let you know? How do you wish they’d let you know? How did you respond?
- Dr. Friendtastic said, “Everyone has a right to be treated with kindness and respect.” What does that mean you should do with people who are not your friends?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:
Ep. 141 - Can we be friends with anyone? (Michael, Age 9)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep141-can-we-be-friends-with-anyone-michael-age9
Ep. 129 - Kindest way to break up with a friend (Audrey, Age 9)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep129-kindest-way-to-break-up-with-a-friend-audrey-age-9
Ep. 12 - Get rid of toxic friends? (Jessie, Age 13)
https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep59-jessie-age-13



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