Best friend suddenly stops playing with him (J.J., Age 11)

Best friend suddenly stops playing with him (J.J., Age 11)

Author: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, author, psychologist, focusing on children's feelings, children's friendships, parenting, mental health. September 14, 2024 Duration: 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 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 and webinars at https://EileenKennedyMoore.com.

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER, https://DrFriendtastic.substack.com, to get podcast episodes sent to your email plus online workshop announcements.

*** DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

- Why is suddenly cutting someone off and refusing to speak with them NOT a good way to deal with conflicts?

- Why does Dr. Friendtastic focus on what J.J. can do to move forward rather than what J.J.’s best friend did wrong? (Hint: Whose actions is J.J. in charge of?)

- Have you ever apologized to a friend? If so, why? How did the friend respond?

- Why is it sometimes hard for kids to apologize?

- What are some ways to apologize well? What are some examples of a not-so-good apology?

*** You might also like these podcast episodes:

Ep. 68 – Maya, Age 6: Friend runs away from her https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/maya-age-6-friend-runs-away-from

Ep. 60 – Henry, Age 8: Friends invited but not him https://drfriendtastic.substack.com/p/kids-ask-drfriendtastic-ep60-henry-age-8

Ep. 71 – Tali, Age 11: Is she a friend or not? 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

In Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8), real children from kindergarten through eighth grade send in their questions about the tricky, wonderful, and sometimes confusing world of friendships. Each week, Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore-a clinical psychologist and author known as Dr. Friendtastic-responds with a thoughtful, practical answer designed just for young listeners. The conversations in this podcast get straight to the heart of what kids experience: navigating arguments, feeling left out, trying to make a new friend, or figuring out how to be a good one themselves. Eileen Kennedy-Moore draws on her deep expertise in children's feelings and social development to offer actionable advice that respects a child's perspective. The format is brief and engaging, with each episode lasting about five minutes, making it an easy listen for a car ride or quiet moment. This isn't about lectures; it's about giving kids the tools and confidence to handle social situations with kindness and resilience. Parents and educators often find the discussions helpful, too, as the podcast naturally opens doors for deeper conversations about emotions and relationships. By focusing on real questions from real kids, the podcast creates a genuine connection, assuring young listeners that their friendship worries are normal and solvable. Tune in weekly to hear compassionate guidance that turns everyday social puzzles into opportunities for growth and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Friendship Advice for Kids (K-8)
Podcast Episodes
All About Forgiveness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:24
Ep. 62 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How to forgive friends who have hurt us.When a friend says or does something that hurts us, it’s easy to get stuck in self-righteous bitterness and resentment. But for our own sake, as…
How to fight less with brother (Lucy, Age 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:55
Ep. 61 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with being excluded.Brothers and sisters can be a lot of fun, but sometimes they’re hard to live with. Lucy wants to know how to fight less with your brother.Scroll down for di…
Friends invited but not him (Henry, Age 8) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:56
Ep. 60 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dealing with being excluded. What should Henry do when a kid invites his friends to play but not him? Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the pod…
Get rid of toxic friends (Jessie, Age 13) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:00
Ep. 59 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Dumping a friend or working things out by changing the dance. Jessie wants to get out of some painful relationships. Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be feat…
Someone’s about to get hurt! (Kenna, Age 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:39
Ep. 58 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Safety firstKeara wonders what to do to keep a friend safe.Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUESTION TO DR. FRIENDTASTIC…
Avoiding Conflict (Zen, Age 6) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:56
Ep. 57 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: The upside of disagreements. Zen wants to know how to avoid conflicts, but what if conflicts are sometimes helpful?Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featur…
Trouble making friends (Diego, Age 11) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:32
Ep. 56 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Showing openness to friendship. Diego wants to know what he can do to make friends. Scroll down for discussion questions.Would YOUR KID like to be featured on the podcast? SUBMIT A QUE…
Say no without feeling bad (Blaire, Age 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:24
Ep. 55 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: How saying no can save a friendship. Blaire feels bad about saying no to friends. How can she think about things differently? Scroll down for discussion questions. Would YOUR KID like…
How to help a friend dealing with hard times (Dimitri, Age 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:19
Ep. 54 - Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic: Showing up for friends the way they want. Dimitri wants to what he can do to support a friend who is dealing with hard times. Scroll down for discussion questions. Would YOUR KID like…

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