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.
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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 reconnect with old friends (Georgia, Age 10) | 152
    Jun 27 2026

    Ep. 152 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Why reaching out to former friends is scary and also kind | 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 friends might fall out of touch (even if they still live nearby)?

    - Do you have any old friends you’ve lost touch with? Would you want to reconnect with them? Why or why not? How could you reach out to them? How do you think they’d respond?

    - How would you respond if an old friend you hadn’t heard from in a while reached out to you?

    - To expand your friendship circle, you could make new friends or reach out to old friends you haven’t connected with in a while. Which do you think is easier? Why?

    - Why do you think kids are sometimes reluctant to reach out to old friends? What could you say to a friend to encourage them to reach out to their former friends?

    *** You might also like these podcast episodes:

    Ep. 82 - Expand friend group without hurting best friend (Paa, Age 12)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep82-paa-age-12-expand-friend-group-without-hurting-best-friend

    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

    Ep. 67 - Choosing good friends (Paul, Age 12)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/paul-age-12-choosing-friends-who



    Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
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    7 mins
  • Why is it so hard to say “I’m sorry”? (Minta, Age almost 10) | 151
    Jun 20 2026

    Ep. 151 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: An apology is an expression of caring | 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:

    - Is it hard or easy for you to apologize? Why? Why do you think kids sometimes struggle to apologize?

    - Think of a time when you apologized to someone. How did you feel? How did that person respond?

    - Think of a time when you wanted someone to apologize to you. What happened? Did they apologize? How did you feel?

    - Why does Dr. Friendtastic suggest, “The person who is least wrong should apologize first”?

    - Sometimes people say, “An apology isn’t good enough!” What do you think they might be looking for beyond the words “I’m sorry”?

    *** You might also like these podcast episodes:

    Ep. 111 - Friend won’t forgive her (Thea, Age 11)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep111-friend-wont-forgive-her-thea-age11

    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. 14 - Feeling guilty, wanting to make up with a friend (Rowan, Age 12)

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-14-rowan



    Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Celebrating 150 episodes!!!
    Jun 13 2026

    Ep. 150 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Puzzlers about conflict | 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 do you think would happen if you put 150 penguins on two school buses?

    - Why is it a good idea to try to be friendly with your friend’s other friends?

    - What does it mean to “assume good intent”? How can this help a friendship?

    - Why is it important to help your friends understand what you think, feel, or need?

    - Which is easier for you to move past, when you make a mistake with a friend or when a friend makes a mistake with you? Why? Why is it important to be able to move past both types of mistakes? (Hint: How could it hurt a friendship if you hold onto either resentment or guilt?)

    *** You might also like these podcast episodes:

    Ep. 33 - Richard, Age 11: Best ways to show empathy

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-dr-friendtastic-ep-33-richard

    Ep. 86 - Sally, Age 14: How to know if you can trust a friend?

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep86-sally-age-14-how-to-know-if-you-can-trust-a-friend

    Ep. 100 - Celebrating Episode 100!!!

    https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/ep100-celebrating



    Get full access to Dr. Friendtastic for Parents at drfriendtastic.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
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